Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 24, 1898. Christmas.

Manawatu Herald, 24 December 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, DEC. 24, 1898. Christmas.

As is the usual custom we wish all our readers v Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, The custom is a pleasant one, and it is a pity that there were not other times during the twelvemonths when the obliga tion of doing one's duty to one's neighbour accompanied with those glorious expressions of peace on earth and goodwill to all men, were not brought more prominently before us all. This particular season is the great Christian celebration of the fact of what has been done for us, and it thus almost goads us into doing something for our poorer and more unfortunate neighbours. We are very much blessed in this colony compared with the state of life in older countries, and thug our obligations must be held the heavier. Christmas here is the time when the farmers are receiving the first produce of their land and the holidays are therefore very inconvenient, but in the midst of the trouble of reaping we must rejoice that we have something to reap. We learn from those engaged in business that this season is a dull one, which seems surprising considering that our staple product has been higher than that ruling for some years past, and we know of no unemployed in our midst. We cannot think the individual is> poorer but surmise he is either more careful, or else is husbanding his resources fur a better holiday. The past year has been, on the whole, a satisfactory one in this district, and we are entitled to rejoice thereat, and we can again wish our readers, both here and in the dear old Mother land a