Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

The Outlook

The Outlook.

A rash prophet indeed would he be who would venture to predict for Auckland an undeviating course of prosperity. Yet even such a one would certainly be nearer the mark than the gloomy pessimists who are for ever prophesying seasons of retrogression and disaster, greater than any yet experienced by the city. The main conditions point to fairly and substantial advancement. The people who constitute the foundation stock of the community are hard-working and honest, and of a high order of morality; and though smoking, drinking, horse racing, gambling, and the minor vices and grosser pleasures generally receive too much attention from a not inconsiderable portion of the population—the public sentiment is in the main healthy. Patriotism runs high, growing stronger daily, and though the ill-concealed mistrust of Wellington may be questioned as a matter of policy, the rivalry between the two town's acts as a spur to Auckland. The city is well-circumstanced as a great manufacturing centre; and, if the strong political power of the community, and particularly that of
Entrance to Auckland Harbour.Photo Presented by Dr. L. Campbell.

Entrance to Auckland Harbour.
Photo Presented by Dr. L. Campbell.

page 62 the workers, be wisely directed, Auckland must take a leading position in industrial enterprise.

The trade with the Pacific Islands is slowly but surely extending, and must develop into gigantic proportions. The favourable geographical position as the best New Zealand port on the line of route between Australia and America is an advantage of great and increasing magnitude. The truly wonderful impetus given to the local coasting trade, and the consequent development of the province, the main benefits of which are yet to be felt, must in the near future tell a cheering tale. The improved methods of gold-getting, recently proved practicable, will steady and extend that industry; and last, but perhaps best of all, it is being conclusively proved that the despised gum lands of the north are capable of being brought to a high state of cultivation and productiveness. These with all the host of minor advantages which tend to make Auckland the most popular residential city for persons of independent means, must so tell in her favour as a commercial centre that the temporary draw-backs from which she is suffering—in consequence of her not particularly rich lands, and the difficulties of internal communication—will be quite powerless to prevent her continuous and fairly rapid expansion. Fortunately there is abundant room for a very great increase of population, even within the comparatively narrow limits of the borough, without causing any appreciable increase in the civic expenditure; and this is still more true of the suburbs.

The recent ably conducted and magnificent Industrial and Mining Exhibition showed very clearly that Auckland has within herself resources hitherto inadequately estimated and capable of practically unlimited development. By many the success of furze as a food for sheep is believed to be assured, and if it is so, the lands of the north will rise in value with a rapidity hitherto unexampled in the province. Looking at the prospects of Auckland from all points, it is probable that no other part of this thriving Colony offers to speculators of experience so excellent a scope.

Auckland and Environs.

Auckland and Environs.