Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 203, 21 December 1871, Page 5

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1871.

"MEASURES, NOT MEN."

In a few weeks, colonies distant only 1,100 miles from New Zealand, will be enjoying the benefits of daily telegraphic intercourse with the great centres of the world's civilization and enterprise. Such is the tenor of Australian news. We ask what has New Zealand done to promote the extension to its shores of the telegraphic system now swiftly spreading over the globe ? Do our leading men think the matter of telegraphically connecting New Zealand with Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia

of such trifling importance that it may be left to chance, or do they disbelieve in the value of such connection ? Or has the great Public Works and Immigration Scheme so absorbed their attention that they have not had time to give the matter a thought? New Zealand labors under disadvantages enough from its isolation without increasing them by remaining outside the pale of the telegraphic sj^stem. Can we, whose communications with Europe will only be at fitful intervals, expect to receive the same attention from the emigrating classes as colonies which will be extensively and constantly advertised by having the events which transpire in them, published in the leading European journals the day after their occurrence ? Judicious advertising has attracted to America the greatest stream of emigration that has ever flowed. • Now we are inaugurating great public works, whose success depends, in a great measure, upon thg population we can induce to settle in our midst, we cannot do better than follow the plan which has been attended with such signal success in the Great Republic. This plan, as we said before, is judiciously advertising. And no better mode of advertising can be devised fchau the establishment of telegraphic communication between the Colony and the countries where those we wish to attract reside. The other immense advantages which would accrue by the establishment of such communication are so apparent to the intelligent that they do not require to be touched upon. No difficulty, that we can see, lies in the way of finding the money to do this work. Let the Government offer a fair guarantee on the amount required to be expended, and despite the gloomy vaticinations of the " Daily Times " we 'do " not doubt that capitalists would be found who would be only too willing to lay a •cable from New Zealand to Australia, or even America, if required.

Nowhere are the time-honored festivities of Christmas more observed than on the goldfields. Long before the month of December is ushered in the mining public initiate measures to provide amusement for the approaching holidays. Committees are elected, wways3 v s and means are found, programmes of sports are drawn up, and all concerned then rest upon their oars to await the arri/al of their wellearned holidays. And it is good that such interest should be taken in providing recreation, for their appetite for innocent enjoyment shows that the denizens of the gold fields are happy and prosperous people. We sincerely hope that the forthcoming Christmas and New Year's Sports will be productive of much enjoyment to those who witness them, and that those who seek recreation in other ways will have their desires gratified, and we wish our . readers, one and all, " A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.". • '

iNithe programme of the Coal Creek Races, iwhich appeared in our last issue, the distance of the hurdle race was erroneously stated, as 3, 2 miles. *If should have been 2 miles. An addi-J itiori has also been made to the rules to the' , effect that there must be jthree entries for each event or there will.be no race. Having made, these corrections, we repeat our last week's wish, that our Coal^ Creek friends may be satisfied with the result of their meet.

THE annual examination of the pupils attending the day school at tbe Blue Spur will take place on Friday (to-morrow) commencing at 10 o'clock a.m. The parents and friends of the pupils will be gladly welcomed liy the School Committee and the master.

A " Daily Times " telegram states Mr. C. E. Haughton is appointed Commissioner of Water Supply for Otago without salary.