The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1914. THE PASSING OF THE YEAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 174, 31 December 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1914. THE PASSING OF THE YEAR.

Down through the countless ages of the past, and long before historic times; it has been customary to mark off the periods of existence -by seasons, moons, or other means of noting the onward progress of this terrestrial sphere. For lirnny long years the 31st day of December and the first day of January have been used as 'the end of one year and the commencement of another, though this lias not always been the case. 'Coday the year 1914 comes to a close, and to-morrow a new year begins. There is something parti ;ularly impressive about the passing oi the year, although it is an event that many regard with no moro concern than the ending of a week or month. Most people regard the years as milestones on the journey of life, the young ever wishing for the hastening of the flight of time, while the old find th» years flitting away with ever-increasing swiftness as they glide down the hill of ' life. Looking back over the past twelve months, there are many blessings for which the people, of New Zealand, and especially the people of Taranaki, have good cause to be thankful. The progress and prosperity exhibited in 1914 have been remarkable; indeed, in this respect; the year may be regarded as a record one. Not only did the products of the land yield excellent returns, but the prices obtained both locally and at the outside markets were maintained at a high level. As against this there was a slight increase in the cost of living, but that was of no account compared with the high prices of butter, cheese, wool, hides, and other commodities exported for sale. Then, with the exception of strikes, which for a time had a very irritating and detrimental effect, there has been little to disturb, the equanimity ' of the citizens of the Dominion so far as internal affairs were concerned, the one serious occurrence being the terrible calamity at Huntly. In politics the year was almost a blank, it being the last session of Parliament before the dissolution. Tho election itself has shown how very nearly the people are divided over parties, while it has emphasised the growing power of Labor. So closely are 'the parties balanced that there seems to • he no chance of cither being able to carry on the Government without mutual aid and forbearance. What will happen is mere matter for conjecture, but the way out of the trouble is so easy that no one need be disturbed on account of politics. The one great aim should be tho development of the country's resources, and the granting of facilities to the back-blocks residents, so as to connect them with the towns, and give them a place in the sunshine of social life, with all its appurtenances, In all departments of the State there has been a commendable activity. The year was a good one in all respects but one—the outbreak of the greatest war in history. It is this terrible conflict of armed forces that will make the year 1914 for ever memorable in the history of the world. Early in the year (in March) the war-cloud loomed on tho horizon, but after a while it morecf away. Then in August it burst "with sudden fury over Europe. At last Britain's long peace with the Powers was over. The German Eagle, bent on a campaign of carnage, swooped down on Belgium, and tho British Lion had to intervene. Once set in motion, the war soon spread, and the closing of the year sees nations sapping tho life-blood from other nations, cities in ruins, fugitives taking refuge wherever they can, industries crushed, cruelties and atrocities too horrible to mention —death and do. struction on an unparalleled scale, with misery, destitution, and worse in its train. Far removed as is New Zealand from tlie scene of conflict, the call of the Empire met with a ready response, and the gallant sons of the Dominion have gone fort.i to aid -the Motherland. Every part of the Empire has rallied round the grand old flag, with snblimo confidence in the ultimate triumph of the cause of justice and the crushing of the disturber of the world's peace. This war has been looming in the distance for many years, and the closing year has seen its initiation. May the coming year see its close, and the inauguration of a durable peace. What of the coming year? Fortunately, it is not given to us to lift the veil, nor would we if we could. That it may have many rich blessings in store for which-we can devoutly thank an all-wise Providence is the sincere hope of all men. Mingled with these will doubtless be a fair quota of trials and troubles that should be met with cheerful fortitude. The out- i look for general prosperity in the. Dominion is bright with promise. As in the past, so in the future, some will pass to the Great Beyond. Meanwhile if each one tries to be helpful to the other it will materially help to promote the general good of the community. In spite of the depressing effect of the war, we can face the new year cheerfully and optimistically, and in the face of these good prospects we can in all sincerity, and with all heartiness, wish our readers "A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS '

| THE DEATH ROLL OF THE YEAR. Apart from the terrible toll exacted by the wreck of the Empress of Ireland and by the great war, the death roll of the i year which closes to-day is a heavy one. I It is only possible, of course, to mention a few of the most distinguished names of those who have passed into the silent land within the last twelve months. January witnessed the departure of a great statesman who was little known simply because his best work had been done so long ago. The Marquis of Strathcona, High Commissioner of Canada, died in London at the age of 95. He went to Canada at the age of 18 and gradually rose to a position which won him the proud name of "The Maker of Canada." He was the founder of the great Canadian Pacific lailway, which he croscid hundreds of times. His closing years were spent in England. Up to the age of 9:i he was able to attend his office every [ day and used to say that he had no I time for a holiday. He passed peaceI fully away amid the honor of the Empire. During tho last week of the month ' April saw the death of the Duke of Argyll, a wealthy scion of a noble house. He died at the age of 64, leaving behind a sainted memory as a loyal patriot, a gallant courtier, and a high principled statesman. Dr. Driver, t)f Oxford, one of the revisors of the translation of the Old Testament, and the most fearless champion of the Higher Criticism, died I the same month in his 70th year. The I Nonconformist world received a icrI rible shock, in May by the announcement I of the death at the early ago of 49 -of J the Rev. Sylvester Home, the only ' Congregational minister who ever succeeded in Obtaining a seat in the British I House of Commons. At tho time of his . death he was member for Bedford, havi' ing resigned the pastorate of the Whitfields Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, twelve months before. It was I said by those who knew him best that no man in London was ever more dearly beloved or more deeply lamented. ■ Strange to say ( within a fortnight of his death his friend, S. R. Crockett, the eminent novelist, passed away at the still earlier age of 47. It Is doubtful whether any other author of the century did so much good work in such a short time. He left behind him nearly 50 novels, all of which are great, several of them illustrious, and at least a few of them, like "The Men of the Moss Hags" and "The Lilac Sun Bonnet," are immortal, His premature death is a tragic illustration of the cost of good literary work. He died at Avenion where the "White Plumes of Navarre" and several others of his fine continental stories were written. The Rev. Arthur i Munsell, one of the most' popular of : British lecturers since Charles Dickens i passed away in London the same month, at tho ripe age of 82. In June New Plymouth sustained a severe loss in the death of our esteemed townsman, Mr. . C. W. Govett, at the age of (52. He fil- . led several offices, notably that of cliair- , man of the Pukckura Park Board, of , which he was one of the founders, with great dignity. Reserved in manner, lie was a man of strong principle, deep devotion, and unfaltering courage. No ' word of complaint of the sufferings through which he passed ever escaped his ' lips. He levaes behind a memory which will never fade. During the same month. Prince Francis Ferdinand and his wife were murdered, and their I assasination proved the spark to igI nite the conflagration of the great | war still raging in Europe. July i j witnessed the death, at the age of 77, of the Right Hon J. Chamberlain, one of the I greatest of Britain's sons, and one of iI of Britain's leading statesmen. In i August the Presbyterian Church lost the oldest of all its ministers, and one of the ablest of all its servants in Dr. Sidey, who died at Napier at the advanced age 'of 97. Up till ten years ago he was clerk of the Assembly, and for over fifty years was one of the prominent and ' forceful speakers in all its debates. In , ] August Pope Leo X. died at the age of j 79. He was not a man of pre-eminent j intellectual ability, nor is his pontificate marked by the passing of any great | reform. But he has left behind him I two undying claims to our honor: his passion for purity and his passion for peace. He tried his best to keep tho Church pure and also to save Europe from war. His last effort was a desperate attempt to dissuade the Emperor of Germany and Austria from plunging Europe into war. His last words were: "I thank the Almighty that in His great mercy he is sparing me from living to . see the horrors of the cruel and unrighteous war now coming." The last eminent death is that of one whose memory is still green. Earl Roberts, the greatest soldier England has had since Wellington, the greatest patriot the world has seen since Gordon, died in France as the result of a chill caught in paying a visit to his old Indian troops. He was followed to his*grave in St. Paul's Cathedral by the love of the whole Empire and the honor of the whole civilised world. The mention of his name eclipses that of all who have passed away since. The year 1.914 will through all future time be remembered as the year of tho passing of the hero of the century, and the favorite of all time, Lord Roberts.

LOCAL AND GENERAL „

Root crops in the Stratford district avu reported to be looking remarkably well and good yields are anticipated

A peculiar form of blight is at present attacking carrot crops in the Paljiierston North district.

There are 33,707 acres of land in New Zealand 'planted in fruit trees. "2!)47 acres of which were planted last season. It is expected (says the Journal of Agriculture) that 311)7 acres will be planted thijj season.

A peculiar result was given at the Tuylorvill,. booth in tile Wanganui election, Ciu-li of the three candidates polling 'JO. One of Mr Pinni's supporters, however, m ins elation, marked Ms ballot paper: 'J. vote for Pirani," rendering it invalid, fhe joke is that one of Mr Pirani'a lavoimte recitation is "The Ninety and Nine.''

■Watchnight services, to mark the close of the old year, will be held at a quar-ter-past eleven to-night in Whiteley Memorial Church and the Fitzroy Methodist Church.

A Palmevstonian who has just returned from a visit to the South Island, says that a well-known farmer in the Oanmru district told him he fully expected to see wheat at 15s and oats at 10s a bushel next season.

Matters in connection with the Breakwater Picnic on the Nganiotu •Foreshore are well in hand, and it promises to be the attraction of the province for New Year's Day. Swings, seeeaws, rafts and many other seaside amusements have been arranged for the juveniles, and last but not least, there J3 the finest ocean front in the Dominion to bathe and frisk and frolic in.

I was greatly surprised." declared M.St. John WJiitney. a San I'rancisco Imainess man who arrived lw the Mahciio ) esterday, "to find that the Australians have an erroneous view of what tli» American feeling is in regard to the war The feeling is absolutely in favour of the Allies, with the exception of those of t.crman descent. The balance of sentiment is overwhelming."

What is probably a record for the Puhiatua district for fat lambs, has been established by 'Mr T. Hodgins of Tane (says the Herald). Out of a total of 800 lambs yarded, direct from the ewes, the splendid tally of 503 was picked out by the fat stock reprcsenattives as fit for freezing. This works out at over 70 per cent of fats, a really good percentage so early in the season and under the conditions mentioned. It also speaks well of the fattening properties of the land in the Mangone Valley. In Mr Hodgkin's ease, the lambs were reared on hilly country.

The energetic committee of the East End Seaside now have all their arrangements for the annual provincial New Year picnic completed, and are now merely awaiting the arrival of their thousands of patrons to open their sluice-gates with a deluge of j'un and frolic. The enjoyment of the kiddies is the special charge of a number of experienced committeemen, and games, races, swings, donkey rides, and bathing will provide them with almost a surfeit. An added attraction for all isitors will be the Highland events, for which a large number of '-kilties" have notified th'ir intention to compete. The extensive bathing pavilion will be atllie cisposal of the public, and boiling water from a 400-gallon boiler will be continuously available. A number of novelty side-shows will strengthen a gala programme. The Citizens' Band V'lll enliven the proceedings. Fruit soft drinks and refreshments are available °, u , the , P'-nw grounds, which will no doubt be again thronged with a reco-d crowd.

Writing from Cavoreones, British Protectorate, South Africa, to a friend in Wellington, a former resident of New Zealand, who is now resident in that part of the world, gives details of the terrible havoc wrought amongst stock by the terrible drought that has been experienced there for many months past. Nothing like it has ever been known in the part he writes from in the memory of living men. Tens of thousands of cattle have died in the Protectorate, and the drought is general throughout South Africa. The natives say it is worse than the great rinderpest outbreak that in Africa some thirteen years ago. ' "We have held out here," says the writer, "better than most people, but are now absolutely at the end of our tether, and can but sit down and watch our cattle die." At the time of writing, November 20, the country was in a very disturbed state, commandos of rebel Dutchmen, with a liberal sprinkling of Germans, wandering about the veldt, looting from settlers and storekeepers, and generally terrorising the people.

Messrs George and Johnson, of Waitura, have just placed in commission in connection with the Waitara-Awakmo mail contract, a most up-to-date motor vehicle. It is a 40 Ji.-p. Kissel ear chassis, on which, has been mounted a comfortable and commodious motor-car body, capable of easily seating 28 passengers, or of comfortably carrying 20 passengers and yet allowing the necosEary space for mails, parcels, luggage, and the usual paraphernalia of a busy and popular coaching route. The car is beautifully upholstered, and is painted _a light cream, picked out in red, financing the resemblance to a huge motor-car, which effect is heightened by the hood that telescopes and folds when not in use, just as does the familiar fiveseatcr motor-hood. The coach travels smoothly, and at a reasonably fast rate, ar.d though only placed in the service on Christmas Eve, has already proved popular with the travelling public. It should be admirably adapted to the needs of a coach service, whi'-h oftimes required four or five cars to cope with the traffic that the progress of the district, combined with a progressive, courteous and considerate coaching proprietary, has created. It is the intention of Messrs George and Johnson to utilise this vehicle on the metalled portion of tile road, using motor-ears in summer and horse vehicles in winter on the tinmetalled portion. One of the sevc-rcjt sentences ever imposed (m any body of men in this town is the sentence imposed on t'h> iNgamotu Seaside Committee to deal with the extraordinary number of visitors that_ will be present at the Breakwater licnie on New Year's Day. However, there W!?I h c littlo difficulty and no disappointments, as th e beautiful foreshore will accommodate the whole of the people, m the province. There will >e a host of seaside amusements, so that every person attending the picnic can rest assured of a most pleasant day viliilo the juveniles have the time of their life. No eoffeeless, moniin?. no mi«m ] trains, no delay r.ie:. Damn J..fr«. \ #t hand.. ,A.ld biiliri- —•>■■>■-■ ■ ■■-'

By a typographical error in yestor. (lay's :33».:, the amount of a further instalment from the lnglewood Patriotic I'una for the Poor in Britain and Belgium Relief Fund was credited as !0s liil instjad of £IOO, as was subscribed

in accordance with the directions of a day of humiliation and intercession 'the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and by tin; wish of the Bishops in- this country, next Sunday is to be observed as in connection with the war. At St. Mary's Church on Sunday evening a special service will be held'at the Usual time, with appropriate pnahns, pravefs and lesions, and tin; Vicar will prcaci a senium dealing with the subject.

llho Hon. \V. Frascr, Minister of Public Works, broke his return journey from Xcw Plymouth to Wellington yesterday to visit the proposed site of'the junction of the Opunake railway and of the Manaia station. This trip was done by car, the Minister being accompanied by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. Mr. Fraser 'returned direct to Wellington after his visit.

■Some of the X. :\v Zealand dairy factories are turning out excellent butter (writes a London correspondent on Xovember 11). A West End dairyman is still handling butter made in March last by the lnglewood Dairy Factory, and the following is the opinion of an authority on it.—"To the uninitiated the butter would appear to be almost freshly made, there being not the least sign of deterioration of quality so far as I have been able to discern up to the present time."

The condition of the road from Eminent VilUg'i to the radius line leaves much to bo desired. The wind and rain have scoured out the binding of the. metal, which is exposed and somewhat dangerous to motor tyres. The early attention of the Road Board to this pressing work would be appreciated by the general public. A satisfactory job will never be 'made of our roads until the surface is treated in a way similar tc- that of the Elthain county, which is fortunate in possessing an engineer in Mr Basham who has made a special study of road formation and evolved an 'effective treatment.

A London correspondent wrote on November 13:—The lirst important arrival of New Zealand butter b just landed — lo.'<i!)S boxes ex Remuero—but it is receiving scant attention at 12Cs to 128s for finest salted.. It -may be necessary to accept lower prices for a time. It may 'be necessary also, in the case of Australian butter, to make some reduction to stimulate the demand while the competition of Continental continues. It is reported that the Remuera's .cargo of butter is very satisfactory. There is no New Zealand cheese yet available, lmt the prospects are good. High prices have been paid for outputs for the season.-

An unusual and exceedingly sad surprise awaited .Mrs. L. Sinclair, of Wairarapa, who was visiting her mother-in-law, Mrs. Katherine Sinclair, of Waterloo road, Lower Hutt. Arriving at the residence of the latter shortly after noon on Monday, the visitor (says the Dominion) found the place locked, and after entering by means of a window, was shocked to discover her mother-in-law dead. The police were at once informed, but as Dr. Mirams, who had been attending the deceased for apoplexy, is prepared to grant a certificate as to the cause of death, no inquest will he necessary. Mrs. Sinclair visited Dr. Minim's surgery on Friday, and was given a prescription for her complaint. It is thought that in all probability she died on Saturday evening, last at about 0 o'clock. She was a widow, aged about 50 years, and resided with a grandchild two years old. The child was found undressed, as though ready for bed, and had managed to exist by some means till discovered on Monday. It had been shut up in the house with its grfli''mother for at least two days, but i-t evening was reported to be in the b:vt of health.

Up to the present time (Decembjr 30th J Paten has dealt with 7S,7CC cases of cheese and 8920 boxes of butter. Last year the totals were: Cheese, 69,712 cases; and butter, 5038 boxes, the increase thus being 19,054 cases of cheese, and 3SS2 boxes of butter. What the figures represent cannot well be fully appreciated at first sight. In actual milk the 78,000 cases of cheese alone represent sonic 125,700,000 lbs. Placed in ordinary buckets side by side, holding, say, two gallons each, this would represent a string of buckets over 1200 miles long. To put it another way, if this milk were to be put in two horse waggons, each carrying half a ton, it would require something like 115,000 waggons, drawi by 230,000 horses, to convey it at one time to the factory. The figures aro truly stupendous, and serve to show what the cheese output alone for South Taranaki really is.— Press.

Fifty first-class bicycles are offered -'or sale by Webster Bros. They form tiie balance of a 'bankrupt stock and f •« to be sold without regard to cost.