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Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 178, 23 December 1876, Page 2

Whatever theological opinions any may hold, all are agreed that Christmas is, has been, and should be a merry time. A time for sport and laughter, a time when animosities of ail kinds should bo buried, a time when there should bo in the grand old words nothing but “goodwill on earth and peace to wards men.” Before the Mail next issues its shoot, the anniversary that has been celebrated for 187G years, will be a thing of the past, and we therefore taka tin's opportunity of making a few remarks respecting it. In the first place, wo ‘ may say that the contrast between a Colonial and Huropcan Christmas, must strike the most unreflecting, and the sterling prosperity of the Colonies, as against the so-called Home countries, must, at this time, be made move apparent. We don’t believe that there is a man, woman, or child, in New Zealand, but can sit down to a comfortable Christmas dinner, a meal not earned by charity, one for which no slavish thanks are expected, but one earned by honest toil and enjoyed, as only those who work can enjoy their food. It has been customary for years gone by to compare the condition of the Colonial with the Home people. Taken in any way, the position of the former is so infinitely superior, that comparison ds absurd. Taking any class of Colonial society, as compared with the middleclass or lower English society, there is no comparison as to the higher condition of comfort on behalf of the New Zealander, In Patea there are special circumstances, for thankfulness, that, rve trust, will not be forgotten at this season. The time of year has come and gone but seldom,'since “ Peace on earth and goodwill towards men ” was unknown in tins district, when murder, outrage, and war, wore the watchwords prevailing. Borne of the most sanguinary scenes of the struggle between the Maori and the British race took place within the district of Patca, and, as it happened, Christmas was, at times, the season for their occurrence. At those periods neither life nor property was sale within miles of this place, now, wo arc happy to say, both arc as safe as in the largest towm of the colony. Instead of deserted farms, blazing homesteads, and other mischance, the district has steadily advanced, every acre is taken up and profitably occupied ; land for which a pound an aero could hardly have been got is now worth twelve times that sum, and a tide of prosperity such as we could hardly have hoped for has set in. Let the lesson bear its own fruit at this time especially, lot it teach us to be charitable, merciful, and forgiving, to try and carry ont the great principles of humanity and benevolence laid down by Him, whoso natal day we shall on Monday next celebrate, and by helping all whose worldly position may be indifferent, carry out as far as possible the last commandment as laid clown by our Saviour, that w r c love one another. With every hope that all who read those lines may have a jolly time of it in accordance with the season, we heartily wish them A Merry Christmas akd a Harry New Year.

An amateur performance will, conic oft on Tuc-alay evening next (Boxing night), when great fun may lie expected. In addition to songs and music, most amusing farces will be played; and Messrs McCoy and Adamson will exhibit some new and daring feats on the trapeze. The efforts ’of the amateurs at (his season will, we arc-sure be appreciated, and they may expect, should the weather be favorable, a full house.. The enquiry, to which we- previously referred, held by Dr Giles, R.M., of Wanganuq terminated on Thursday last, and- that gentleman left ye-fcrday. What the result will be is as yet a matter of doubt, but wc arc happy to say that the most that lias boon proved is laxity or negligence, and for this a reprimand to the official in question will probably be deemed sufficient.

Wc recently had something to say in connection with advertising iu the Provincial districts. Since that time the various tenders sent in have appeared in the “ General Government Gazette.” and the allegations contained arc, to say the least of them, extraordinary. The proprietors of papers who tendered must have had most clastic imaginations in reference to the circulations of their papers. The most fabulous numbers are set down as correct, and an amount of the most carefully compiled—fibs we will say—arc set out, that we have seen printed for some time. Be that as it may, the successful tenderers will not make a rapid fortune out of their contracts.. Our special friend, Hie » Taranaki Nows,” who has got the contract for this district, and is one of the few lucky ones, takes advertisements for sixpence an inch for the first insertion, and threepence fur the second lime. In this our contemporary lias a due appreciation of his value as a circulating medium, but for the sake of so few halfpence, and for public utility it is almost a pity that ho so sacrificed the public. The “ Hawke's Bay Herald ” were better iu their own self-estimate, valuing their columns at one shilling an inch, but the “ Marlborough Express” doubled the latter journal. The “Nelson Colonist” was as contemptible a specimen of journalism as the “ Taranakj News,” and took advertisements for sixpence an inch. Competition must be keen in that direction, and things mast be low indeed to induce prices of that kind. The " Lyttelton Times ” has four shillings an inch, a price not one penny 100 much; the “ West Coast Times” half that sum. The “Otago Daily Times” takes one shilling, one-sixth of what it demanded when Vogel amt Fargeon ruled the roast. How indeed are the mighty fallen, the prices of what ought to be a first-class journal having came down to those of a Itttlo penny-whistle paper. There are other papers •whom proprietors have shown the low' value of their advertising columns, iu their tenders, but, strange to say, even, this self-abasement lias not been successful. To such we say, “Go and sin no more.” To a largo majority of those whoso tenders have been accepted, w'o wish them joy of their exceedingly bad bargains. All our cricketers, and a great many other people, will remember Mr W. J. Garwood, formerly connected with this paper. Wc arc glad to learn from a contemporary that he has fallen into more pleasant places than usually happen to the lot of the “ fourth estate,” having come into a fortune of, as stated, some TIT,OOO. May his shadow' never grow' less !

Mr W. Dale will hold a sale of groceries, clothing, &c., at his store, to-day, at 2 o'clock sharp. The Wesleyan Sunday School treat, usual at Christmas, will come oil on Tuesday nexton Messrs Patterson’s farm Kakaramca. A throughly well got up entertainment for the juveniles will be improvised, teachers and scholars all alike proceeding in conveyances to the scene of festivity. These will leave at 9 a.m., and the attendance' of the public generally is invited to this interesting and innocent gathering.

It was rumoured that the Hawcra candidates intended to effect a compromise and decide between themselves who should be returned. This idea was wholly incorrect, as it it probable the whole four arc going to the poll, and will fight the battle out manfully as well. It has been proposed that the civil servants, necessarily discharged through the action of Abolition, might be employed as teachers in the various schools of the colony. We are informed that the Minister of Education, whoever he may be, has had the following telegram transmitted to him : —“ The Patca teachers view with feelings of misgiving and apprehension the late mischievous proposal of the Hon. Mr Whitaker, to appoint gentlemen, unskilled in the profession of teaching, to experiment upon children in the public schools.”