The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1883. CHRISTMAS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1567, 24 December 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1883. CHRISTMAS.

The Christmas of 1883 in this neighborhood has not been heralded'by many outward signs of rejoicing, The festive season is haunted by debts and difficulties, by sickness and sorrow, as are all other periods, and to wish some " a Merry Christmas" is almost a mockery. A couple of nights ago groups of hardworking men might for example have been seen waiting in the streets of Masterton for a paymaster, who never came. These men, after months of unremitting toil, meet Christmas with empty pockets, and hearts full of bitterness and disappointment. It is only a Mark Taplcy, who, under such circumstances, could be jolly. Still Christmas, as ever, is welcome a3 a brief respite from llic everyday cares and anxieties of life as a short holiday, dur- ( ing which many can obtain that change of air aud scene so necessary to thoir physical well being, but still more so on account'of the kindly feelings and sentiments which are inseparable from this anniversary, tho reunion of friends, tlio old memories recalled by the day, the reconciliations which it witnesses, the forgivenesses it records—these are the things which hallow Christmas, Thero arc even in these degenerate days, numberless little kindnesses embodied in the orthodox Christmas boxes, which tend to keep up the real Christmas spirit. These kindnesses go more to mako a " Merry Christmas" than tho conviviality which is such a marked feature at this season of the year. In warm summer weather nature exacts a somewhat severe penalty for indulgences in eating and drinking. The real spirit of Christmas, which makes the merry heart, is to be found in the old old message of " Peace on earth and good will towards man." All who approach the Christmas festival in this spirit, be they rich or poor, hale or sick, may anticipate with a certainty of getting something .more than a glimpse of " A MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR."

On Christmas Day and Boxing Day there will be no issue of the Wairarapa Daily. . Tho Wesleyan congregation in Masterton bold their usual picnio in Billington's paddock on Boxing Day, I

The Greytown Frospooting parly (tatted for ]the ; raugsß on Saturday, intendibg being, away about ten or eleven days. ; Tile jiltoingf distance praotioe o( the Greytown Volunteers fell through on Saturday hat for the want of attendance. On Christmas Eve, the Greytown Private Band, undef the indefatigable leadership of Mr M. R. Vamham, intend giving the inhabitants of that township a musical treat. ... Mr F. H. Wood's Christmas sale on Saturday last wbb numerously attended, i bidding being very brisk. The bag of flour for the largest purchaser, after brisk competition, fell to the same buyer as last year. The new Bankruptoy Act cornea into operation on the Ist January . On Satarleat three Masterton residents filed their BOhedulea, being, no doubt, alive to the faot that it is oheaper and easier to " got through" under the old Aet than the new. The following are the speoial train j arrangements for to-morrowNorth-1 Wellington dep 8.0a,m. 4,30 p.m. Featherston 11.30 n.m, 7.50 p,m, Greytown 11.15, 8.0, Car'.erton 11,60. 8,45, Masterton arr. 12,20 and 9,15 p,m, South —Masterton dep 8,0 a.m. and 5.40 p.m.. Oavtorton 8,30,6.10, Groy town 8.60,6.30, Featherston 9,20,7.0 p.m., Wellington arr 12.60 and 10.20 p.m. The cheap excursion fares will bo found in out' advertising columns. Messrs Rapp & Hare contribute to the almanac collection of this season, a characteristic ohromo of a British workman who evidently enjoys Christmas and appreciates the Emporium, In another column is published a schedule of works to be undertaken uijder the Eoads and'Bridpes Construction Act by the Masterton Highway Board. The Board also invites tenders for formation and metalling Matahiwi road and Upper Opaki line. We direct attention to Messrs Mills & Co.'b advertisement of agricultural machinery ou our front page We regret to learn that ono of the oldest settlers in this district, Mr A. McMaster, of Groytown, is seriously ill. The annual picnic in connection with the Presbyterion Sunday school is to be held as usual on New Year's Day in Mrs Yates' paddock, The Friendly Societies annual sports at Masterton, will be hold in Mr George Dixon's paddock, on Boxing Day. The programmo which is an extremely liberal one, will bo found on our advertising columa, The managers of this undertaking havo always made it a success in past years, and will, no doubt, on the present occasion maintain its popularity. A meeting of the Match Committee of the Masterton Rifles was held on Saturday evening, when the' following team were selected to represent Masterton in the return match with the Wellington Guards, to be fired in Wellington on January 4thCaptain Donald, Lieut. Williams, Color-Sergt Dixon, Corpls. Anketell, Kibblewhite, Matthews, and MoLaohlan, Vols, G. B.entley, 0. Bentley, and F. Kummer. Emergencies Vols. Bright, and Peacock, and Sergt. Wood. Referees Sergt Dalrymple and Vol G. Blane. The team will leave Mastortou by the 7.30 a.m. train, the match to be fired in the afternoon On Boxing Day our Carterton friends will indulge in an Athletic Sports meeting, at which £6O will bo given away in prizes, and for which very satisfactory entries have already been secured,

The annual race mooting o[ tho Lower Valley Jockey Club at Wailienga od Boxing Day is certain to be a auccons. Messrs Dixon'& Jaques will,run a coaoh load of pasaeugci'd from Ma6torton lo the course, charging extremely reasonable return fares. The R.M. Court office at Mnslerton ifl closed till after New Year's Day, Lawyers' offices will also be inaccessible till after that date. Tenden are invited by tho Public Works Department up to tho 30th of January, for tho long promised Oaatlepoint jetty. Signor Otto Hug. the celebrated Swiss clairvoyant doctor, announces that he has arrived on his return visit to Wellington, and can be consulted at the Empire Hotol, Willis-street. Weunderstand that special preparations have been made in St. Patrick'a Church, Masterton, to maka tho midnight mass and the' other Christmas services as effeotivo as possible. The following' is tho programme of the Maitorton Christies who make their appearance in a variety ontertainment at the Theatre Royal on Boxing night Part I.—Overture, String Band; Comic Song, "Razorsin the Hair," Mr R. Orotty; Song, " Empty is the Cradle," Mr T. Thompson; Comic Song, "Little Sam," Mr J. Mills; Song, "Noreen Maureen," Mr J. Thompson; Comio, " Four Sarahs," Mr J. Mills. Part 11, Song; Double Jig, Mills and Orotty; Ooncortina Solo, Mr 0, Carr ] Stump Speech, local, Mr T.'Thompson, Concluding with a laughable farce " Lovo in a Fix,". Messrs Rapp & Haro, of the Emporium, | intend giving their customers New Year gifts, in tho shape of 2s in the £ on all accounts owing for the present year, and paid during the first week of the new year. _ The British King has arrived in Wellington with more female immigrants. Wo hear that , the Government have taken \over Mesßrs O'Malley and Pepporoll's Opaki contract. Tenders are invited for building two bridgai, plans and specifications at Mean's Rapp & Hare's. The accommodation house at Akiteo (erry has changed hands, and the license has beon allowed to lapse. Tho now proprietors, Messrs Handyside, Roberts & Co., intend to keep a ferryman at the house, bit no liquors will be sold.

We notice that the usual Christmas decorations in St, Matthew's Church Maaterton are in progress to-day but the Rev, Mr Paige's staff of workers ie, owing to the absence of several ladies who assisted him last year, a rather small one, Assistance recently given by Mr Rapp in training a juvenile choir in the Wesleyan Sunday Sohool, Mnstcrton, has been recognised by the presentation'to him of a handsome hymnal,

The stowaway! by the British King were sentenced to four weeks imprison* raent each, The barque Dnnedin, has arrived at Wellington, 115 days from London, The summer. season is now well ad I vanced, and notwithstanding the extra[ordinary amount of rain "that haß interfered sadly with outdoor exercise as well ao with farming operations, the usual hsppy change from winter furs and ulsters to handsome dresses and elegant dolmans has taken place in the costume of the ladies, who are fortunate in being able to obtain a wonderfully varied seleotioo without travelling from Master* ton, where the stock of drapery, millinery and clothing of all kinds ia extensive and choice at Owen, Schroder & Co.'s Hall of Commerce, Queen Street,-[Advt.J

Christmas Presents ! | The opportunity 1 to son oi daughter, brother orsister is .brought within -reach of all by the ppeoial importation of gold and silver jewellery by A, Bisn, Jeweller, Queen-street, for the Christmas season: Silver presents from Is; gold presents from 6s. All goods will be marked in plain Jlgtrn and a reduction of 10 per cent will he made on ordinary prices during tho holidays,-Aim, CffIUBTMiS AT Te AllO HoUBE.-To signalise the festive Beason of this present year of graco, wo purpose a departure from the usual distribution of Christmas gifts, and sliall instead give a liberal bonus in hard cash on all parcels bought between the 15th and 31nt December, and paid for at time of purohaeo, at Te Aro House. Bonuses,-We shall grant a cash bonus oil all paid parcels from the amount of 5s to £2O. Prom 5s to 18s we shall allow a bonus of Is in the £, The subsequent paragraph will show the cash bonuses payable on each parcel at Te Are, Tkb Bonds.—Oa a £2O pavcol," bonus ,40 shillings; £lB parcel, bonus 36 shillings j £l6 parcel, bonus 33 shillings: £l4 parcel, bonus 24 shillings; £ll parcel, bonus 20 shillings; £8 parcel, bonns 16s; £6 parcel, bonus 12s; £5 parcel, bonus 10s; £4 parcel, bonus 8 shillings; £4 parcel, bonus 6 shillings; £2 parcel, bonus 4 shillings; £1 parcel, bonus 2 shillings; 17s 6d parcel, bonus lid, 16s parcel, bonus 9d: 12s 6d parcel, bomn 81; 10a parcel, bonne Gd; 7s 6d parcel, bonus Id; 6a parcel, bonus 3d, All these bonuses payable between 15th and 31st Decembor, at Te Aro House, Cubastreet, Wellington.—Advt.