Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] SATURDAY, DEC. 24, 1904. Christmastide.

Manawatu Herald, 24 December 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] SATURDAY, DEC. 24, 1904. Christmastide.

“ PEACE UPON EARTH, AND GOODWILL TOWARD MEN.” Chbibtmastidb, with its merrymaking, its charity, and ita good feeling has once more come upon us —a period of the Calendar when ill-will does not exist and when

“Peace Blessed Peace ” should reign supreme throughout the civilized world. Would that it was always Christmas in spirit ! Perhaps no people on the face of God’s earth are blessed' with more holidays than the inhabitants of our Democratic selfgoverning Colony—New Zealand. Nevertheless, Christmastide claims first and foremost favour in the matter of pleasure-seeking with our happily-contented people, and do not ancient traditions command it ? How many womanly hearts will throb with satisfaction at the homecoming of husband, boy, or girl from distant parts ? How many sons, daughters, sisters and brothers are packing up their “ kits ” for the best of annual journeys—Home ? How many aching lovers’ hearts and eyes will cease to contain that anxious longing at sight of the best boy, or maybe the best girl ? One ponders over these questions, but none can anwer! Right throughout the world humanity is hunting by boat, train, coach, in fact any mode of conveyance—and suffering many inconveniences in travel—all with one object in view : “ To give comfort, joy, and pleasure to those most dear.” Man cannot imagine what peace and happiness the Christmas brings forth ! He can only assume how many smiling faces will grace the Xmas dinner table with their presence—the one time of the year when the whole family endeavour to re-assemble and partake of the Christmas meal, and when naught but affectionate thoughts claim attention. This is the season when we should all be as brothers and sisters, when no malice should be borne, and when good feeling alone should predominate ! Why cannot it always be thus? Although we have not been favoured with a particularly dry Spring, still the harvest generally throughout the Colony itt reported to be good, and certainly New Zealand shows no signs of retrogression. In fact, it can safely be asserted we are still well on the road of progress, and that from a financial point of view the Xmas of 1904 will be well up to those of former times. Wool is bringing particularly high prices a fact which should doubly-gladden many out-back settlers, whose toilsome labours deserve reward ; flax fibre, which interests Foxton mostly, is well up in market price; whilst dairy produce and grain show no decrease in value. Our legislators have certainly done much to make the home of the working man a veritable Paradise of late years, and, all things considered, the present Festival season should be welcomed joyfully. The one distressing happening of the year has been the war in the Far East between Russia and Japan, but, happily, we in New Zealand have felt very little the effect of that struggle. May the advent of these glad times be the means of fostering an end of hostilities, so that the bloodshed we daily hear of will find a hasty termination ! This is not the season to enlarge on war topics—these are peaceful times. Therefore, the “ Manawatu Herat d ” sends out heartiest wishes to its many readers, hoping that all and sundry may spend “ A Happy Christmas and a Pbos--1 perous New Year.”

Mrs Frankland advertises for a good servant. Wages 12s. The Post and Telegraph staff extend season’s greetings to all. Information relative to 3£mas church services will be found above our leader 10-day. Mr Gingell notifies our readers of special coaches to Shannon to suit holiday trains. The death is announced at Auckland of Captain Hathaway, who served with distinction in the Maori war. Twenty acres of good grass land are to let in Union Street. Apply to Mrs A. Perreau for particulars. A reproduction of the portrait of the late Mrs Nye. of Foxton, appears in this week’s issue of the Weekly Press. Bro. Fox takes as his subject tomorrow night “ Xmas in Various Countries.” There should be a large attendance at All Saints. On account of Xmas falling bn a Sunday, house to house carol-singing has been abandoned in various parts of the colony this year. Mr Alf. Fraser has been appointed agent for the Government State Fire Insurance Office, and will be prepared to accept fire risks after 4th January, 1905. The cadet corps were expected to parade last evening, though nothing eventuated. After the holidays, it is to be hoped this corps will treat drill more seriously. The weather of the last two days has been of the best, and there seems every prospect of the desirable elements continuing throughout the holidays. Our tradesmen were busy at work in the early hours of the morning decorating their premises with bunting and greenery, with the result that Foxton now bears a real gay appearance. It is pleasing to know that ye olden times are not forgotten. Probably the reported dull season is responsible for Xmas hampers not arriving at our office to-day. When we notice how luxuriantly brethren pressmen in other parts are living, we feel rather melancholy. However, better luck next time !

enable our staff to fully enjoy the Christmas holidays, the Manawatu Herald will not be published on Tuesday next. We understand a large number of Foxtonians intend visiting Wanganui and New Plymouth Carnivals next week. To-morrow being Christmas Day, a special service, appropriate to the occasion, will be held in the Methodist Church in the evening, and Christmas carols will be sung. Several arrests have been made at Penaflor, near Seville, Spain, in connection with the unearthing of eight skeletons in a garden attached to a gambling den. Juan Aldige, the owner, fled to Brazil. The London Times and New York Times will publish in January an unfinished novel which was found amongst Benjamin Disraeli’s papers. ' le of the chapters are uncompleted. A man named Ford died suddenly at Mataroa, inland from Taihape. He was on a visit to a married son, whom he had not seen for many years. Deceased took ill and died a few hours afterwards. Yesterday morning on the arrival of the Queen of the South from Wellington she discharged a portion of her cargo at the wharf, and then Steamed up the river as far as Wirokino and took on board 90 bales of wool from Mr Pharazyn’e Totara estate. In New South Wales the proportion ef solicitors is one in 420. In New Zealand the proportion is qne to every 1288 of the population. _ The actual number of practitioners in New Zealand is about 660. It is generally believed that the legal profession in New South Wales is overcrowded. At Wellington, the number of marriages for the year are expected to total about 877, which Is a record for the district, and a hundred more than last year. The births registered dropped from 163* last year to 1555. The deaths total 678, or 27 more than last year. A claim for compensation under the Public Works Act Was on Thursday served oft the Mayof dad burgesses of Stratford for £3,400 compensation for alleged loss arising through the depreciation of the selling value and the loss of water rights, through the Council taking, under the Public Works Act, a certain section, the property of Mrs E. M., Montgomerie, for drainage purposes, in September, i§oj{. Writing from London under date of November ißtb, to the Mayor of Auckland, Lord Ranfurly states that he is doing his best to secure annual subscriptions in England towards the Veterans’ home. He is already promised £xoo annually by the Soldier and Sailors’ Help Society, provided the finance committee passed it. Lady Ranfurly has not been well since her return, and she would have to go abroad for the winter. A Pahiatua telegram says a man named Findlay had a narrow escape from being drowned at Konini on Tuesday afternoon through being washed off his horse. He then got entangled in a barbed wire fence, but by struggling he freed himself and was carried, by a strong current, through the fence and against a stump. He held on to this for some time, being eventually rescued in an exhausted condition by a settler named Peters and driven home toPahiatua. Findlay’s hands were much cut by the barbed s, and, altogether, he had a very lug experience. In reference to the fatal accident at the cadet shooting range at Dandfvlrke, it was shown at the inquest, that, unknown to Captain McLennan, one ot the boys secretly placed a cartridge in the gun. The boy whose turn it was next to fire apparently did not know the weapon was loaded. In handling the rifle the charge exploded, the bullet going through the upper part of Mopherson’s body sideways, causing instantaneous death. McPherson was standing some distance at the left and rear of the firing mound quite close to Captain McLennan. Cartridges were allowed to lie on the mound served out when a cadet was ready to fire. Only five boys were present at practice. A verdict of accidental death was returned, no blame being attachable to the officer in charge.