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Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 105, 3 September 1873, Page 3

Anxitsesaeies are privileged occasions seized on bv the preacher, the poet, and the journalist to “ point a moral and adorn a tale.” To none are they more eligible than to the journalist, for none other enjoys so large an audience as he. Vv o may with propriety, therefore, be permitted to avail ourselves of the present opportunity to adopt the character of Mentor for the moment. The pedestal on which a journalist stands is suppled to elevate him above the turmoil of humanity around. Calm and passionless, the Popular Instructor is expected to survey the almost limitless subjects of which he has to discourse, whether factions or philosophy, funerals or festivities, calamity or rejoicing, 'battle, murder, or sudden death. Nay, while acrirninous disputes are raging around, and even finding their wav into his columns, bis placidity is supposed to be undisturbed. Like the juclge'at the close of an exciting address from opposing counsel pronounces his opmions and directs the jury, so it is the office of the editor, by his judicious footnote at the end of an angry letter, to pour the oil of tranquility ori turbulent wafers, and ensure a peace which threatened to be broken. Sometimes, however, necessity requires that disagreeable truths must be spoken, and then the duty of the journalist is imperative, and his motto should bo

“ I am in the place where it is demanded of me to speak the truth, and the truth 1 speak, impugn it whoso listeth.”

Nevertheless, on the present occasion, we feel, personally, at peace with all the world, and wish that all the world were likeminded. We would, tiuuviorc, venture to-day’ from our pulpit—or rather platform—to inculcate that “ most excellent gift of charity ” which “ forgiveth ail things which iOi beareth long and is kind.” Eor ourselves we are on the threshold of another year of our existence, we intend to begin the record with a clean sheet as far as animosities are concerned, a .U shouldjbe glad to believe that such an intention prevailed generally.

It is said that the people of Few Zealand breathe an atmosphere of strife, that the air is so highly charged with oxygen as to impart vigour even to our enmities. This is not altogether a depressing consideration for vigour ia a symptom' o t robust health—" mens sanus in corpora salus." But our vigour should be employed in subduing the wildness, in spreading intelligence, in increasing the material comforts of life; and 'generally in doing the most and best we can, not. by encouraging or tolerating differences of opinion to estrange friendly feeling and weaken our power for united effort ; differences which in time to come few of us will not thoroughly despise, and regretfully wonder how we could have wasted on them so much thought and energy for useful purposes. We are a small community, —even unifcedlv, not yet capable of very great things,—but broken up into individual fragments, impotent for all but injury to ourselves and to our neighbours. This is a very old and trite doctrine—yes, as old as with his bundle of sticks. Let us, therefore, sweep into oblivion any rancour of the past, and begin a new era from the present elate, bearing in mind that each of us has a great deal of work before him and very little time to do it in. " Ask thou first with honest mind What the part to thee assigned, How thy toil may best redound To the Owner of the ground ; Then, with manly, zealous breast, Take thy place among the rest— Well-assured of doing right, Work, and work with all thy might." Remember that singly we can accomplish nothing, but much in cordiaL and hearty union. Let, therefore, our motto be from henceforth " United we stand, .divided we tall "