BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1872. CHRISTMAS-THE PAST.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 25 December 1872, Page 2

BAY OF PLENTY TIMES.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1872. CHRISTMAS-THE PAST.

The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” SINS TTiIT.-

Christka.3 comes but once a year,” and overtaken us under circumstances wmcby thougb admitting of improvement stiU afford matter for congratulation. Christmas past is to ujany of ua a sad topic, and recalls many memories-—the da * Bof y° re round the severed— ard ’ the — tberlDg of relatives When fri g nd s that have been long estranged _An« bearta that ha l ?* grown cold, ’ Meet agaio like parted streams And mingle as of old. When the pent up hospitality of the E™lil° Und fi a V6D , t ’ and the fine old English geptiemwi kept up the hid K- aS^ m T hßn Chri*ln«w came, 1 o bid ha friends repair aßfc a »d ball be did for them prepare. And though tbe rich he entertained. He ne er forgot "the p«torL * Hospitality is not in the power of -W knt the true Christmas spirit—of injuries (real or imaginary) forgiven onoe f^ S °fi teD, tl3e p l eaaur6 of feeling for ™ the .l ear u t - at an is htnEd? ® Wlth a mankind, and with himself, imparts to the season' and to the

day a serenity and quiet h&nni^l^^ :/ JTHEPBESBNT. * ? Christnxar present finds U 8 n ot , rially advanced mJrprldJy propel *s' marks by whieh.such. is indicated . 6 our ease,*tfot fwy.. striking avSI J '* force themselves /on the nS L no{ stranger. A visitor lately . n 6tilA a the only change, he observed twelve months' absence from g were the sea wall the belfrv «* !? a Catholic Chapel, and the re-built; ur B ffloutn-rMotibf. - Ke -aright "W 7? £ * /the. establishment of;the, Bat o» pS?' lime ? , We do; not wish to ? 0 2S vainglorious or egotistical/ but 4IS tamly consider the institution of a \ ' paper one of the most important in? 8 " community. A faithful record, ofYJ5 J events cannot, fail at times to IS? rancour, and the duties of a joSS not unfrequently compel him to* ; S? plain and sometimes paiaful truths w we hope that the present Christina! S /witness a truce of all aninSS? jealousies, or heart-burnings" B nV motto on this occasion will be the tin* yr s u oidi! De now neariy tw ° th^s Peace on earth, and good will toward njen. THE FUTURE. °l ,? hTiat^. as , futur e we 1 must deal carefully. TVe know the capability o? our district, we know that-it onW quires population to place it foremo^of all districts m the province, or fevenin the colony. That population has b*e n promised. We are now on the bestir terms with our native neighbours, th ; -«o tue poncy of the lion. Donald McLean And the able local administration of h Commissioner Clarke. We know all tV has-been said about painting the Kir gilding refined gold, and throwing fume on vtolets, but we also know iki 'envy doth merit like its shade pursue/' and we agree with Spenser that, "if good men were not praised more than ii!, none would choose goodness of theiro™a free will." We therefore give welldeserved praise to the Defence Minister and Mr Commissioner Clarke. We can dodo so without the slightest being charged with flattery, for ° Praise that's due doos eiva no more to worii than jwhat it had before. It is probable we shall never more hear a shot fired by the Maoris in anger, aud Tauranga, which once bore the reputation, of being an unusually disturbed district, will in future present the spectacle of two different races living ia harmony and perfect accord. Already "the natives have returned to habits of iodustrv, and, ia: the growth of grain, 'set an example to -their European neighbours. Chiefs of mark have accepted'seats in the Director; of a proposed flour mill, and take the liveliest interest.in its establishment. We : cannot possibly look with gloom towards the future. Everything points to l s -prosperity as eminent as the advantages of the Bay of Plenty are remarkable. The settlement has indeed progressedslowly, it. is. true,'but most surely. "AH we require -now is people to till the soil, to- prospect the ranges; aod to open diversified branches of industry. Befo» another advent of this joyous season, this desideratum so devoutly to be wished may have come to pass, and our retrospect on that occasion be more cheerful than the present. Meanwhile, on this day, of all other days in the year, we wish our readers, cne and ail, heartily and a* 3 ' ; fully, A. iIEEBT CHKISTMAS, THE 05* new TEi.ES, and many, many of them.