The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2767, 30 December 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1871.

With this number of the Emnhig Star, the working year 1871 closes. It has been a year of cloud and sunshine. It commenced in gloom: it has closed with brighter prospects. It has been a year of difficulty, that his tried men’s nerves and disciplined them to patience. It has now passed, and those who have endured and overcome have been fitted by the contest to enter upon successful enterprise in the year to come. The brightening prospects for industry and commerce have enabled us, as a community, to enter heartily into the festivities of the season, and fortunately thus far our capricious climate has favored us. Do all we can, we cannot reproduce all the timehonored amusements that render Christmas-tide so attractive indoors, at Home, Our summer skies do not accord with the frolics of the Lords of Misrule, with blindraan’s buff, hunt the slipper, and the pleasantries under the misletoe. The altered conditions under which we pass our Christmas under Southern skies, force upon us the fact that we are the founders of a new nation, and that fondly as we may cling to the traditions of our native _ country, its institutions, grafted into our social habits, have to be modified to suit our circumstances. This, on the whole, is not matter for regret. We think a healthy match at cricket, a summer excursion to Porto Bello or the Heads, a country drive, or a pic nic in some romantic nook on the Town Belt, more enjoyable tVui a game at snowball, and of each of these thus far, the people of Dunedin have been enabled to avail themselves. It is, however, pleasing that our favorite sports partake of the athletic character of the National amusements at Home. We brought the love of them with us and we trust that it will be perpetuated in the youth growing up amongst us. The traditional trials of strength and skill of Scotland and England are reproduced at our Caledenian games, and connect us in spirit with the land we have left. The climate of New Zealand is highly favorable to muscular development. It is not so hot as to be enervating • not so cold at any season as to become repellent to out-door exertion. In such temperate climates both body and mind are placed in favorable conditions for expansion; and we may, without boasting, point to the intellectual progress of the past year amongst our youth, as well as to their athletic associations, as evidence of promise of a highly cultivated future. The growing interest in our College and schools was shewn in the crowded audiences that assembled at the examinations. In no previous year has the same marked progress been made. Art has advanced, and a love of music is becoming general. Of course there have been some few drawbacks. It is impossible that a people can reach the front rank at a stride. Our progress now depends upon ourselves We have made a good beginning—laid a good foundation, but because just as watchful caro is required to retain health as to acquire it wlien lost-, our efforts must continue, We cannot—ought not to be stationary. Each step reached should be a means to the attainment of a higher. Amid months of discouragements, much has been gained, and many will look back with pleasure to the year 1871, as the period when first they were enabled to enter upon studies

and engagements that have proved th e foundation of prosperity and social position. But there must be no folding of hands. We have dawning upon us° 1872, with its unknown events, which we shall have to meet. These we must be prepared to grapple with and turn to good account. Happiness consists greatly in successful effort, and in the hope that each of our readers will through it realise their highest desires, we wish each a Happy New Year.