The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Dec. 23, 1865.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 277, 23 December 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Dec. 23, 1865.

To discard the cares of the world—political, commercial or mining—for a time, is a boon often sighed for by those whose destiny leads them to live amidst an active turmoil such as a goldfields' existence generally is. It is rarely that boon can be obtained, although once in the year a good opportunity is presented to ourselves from as near an abstinence —as is compatible with ordinary precaution—of all the cares that press upon us during po many of the other three hundred and odd days that go to complete our working stage of life. Christmas presents that opportunity, and especially so to a goldfields community. In Victoria and New South Wales the holidays are legally proclaimed on the goldfields for fourteen days. The founders of Otago came from Scotland, and as Christmas there yields the palm to New Year's Day, they have not considered it necessary to lend any legal sanction to making Christmas a public holiday. This is sorely felt on the goldfields, but the Wardens do all they can to afford protection to those who, desiring to avail themselves of the festive rejoicings of the season, abandon for a few days their claims. The matter, however, requires to be set at rest, and a class so numerous as the miners, whose titles depend upon so precarious a footing, in many cases, as that of actual daily work, have no right to obtain their eagerly looked for holidays either by stealth or sufferance. We are glad to notice this year in the Wakatip district evidences of an intention to enjoy Christmos generally and heartily. This feeling pervades all sections of the people of the district, and wo can see no sound reason why they should not at this period follow the advice of an eminent statesman, " rest and be thankful."

But while we may congratulate ourselves upon being able to do so, and to start this Christmas from a new era in which sociability,

settlement* and oo operation "'ill be the lead ing features, a thought, and something more appreciable, may be allowed for others who Cannot join us in our relaxations. Prosperous and rich as we may be as a community, there nrp nmnnget us those ho are obliged to seek the shelter of the Hospital, and the aid there so generously afforded to all who require it. If it is remembered that in subscribing to its funds a duty is being performed that lays upon everyone to fulfil, there will also be the satisfaction of knowing that that duty is a noble one, and that the Christmas season is one chosen chiefly in the Old Country to perform these voluntary obligations. Let it be so here, for, we would add, a good example is ever worthy of imitation. It only remains for us to wish our readers a happy and joyous Christmas, and we are quite certain that the relaxations of the season will prove both beneficial individually and collectively.