The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 30 January 1888, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 1888.

For the cause that lacks assistance, Tor the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And tho good that we oan do.

Anniversary Day in Auckland, marking as it does the birthday of the colony, is fitly observed as a general holiday, in which the whole cony munity of the northern portion of the colony participate. On the 29th o* January, 1840, Captain Hobson arrived in Auckland harbour, and proclaimed British sovereignty over New Zealand. This colony had up till that time been an appanage of New South Wales, bo that the event of which the citizens of Auckland to-day celebrate the anniversary is a colonial one, marking the founding of New Zealand as a separate nation drawing authority direct from the old motherland on the other side of the globe. Coinciding with the New South Wales Centennial celebrations, our anniversary rejoicings have this year additional eclat added to them, and the interest attaching to the occasion is in no small degree enhanced by the further fact that the Roman Catholics of New Zealand are simultaneously celebrating the jubilee of the planting of the Roman Catholic religion in this colony. It was ill 1838 that missionaries of that religion arrived in New Zealand to join in the work of Christianising the Maoris—a work which had been commenced by the Church Society as early as 1809, followed by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in 1822. Considering the lateness of their arrival, the Roman Catholic missionaries were most successful intheirlabours.and there is good reason why the numerous Catholics in the colony should rejoice over the jubilee of their labours in New Zealand. Another notable event in connection with our anniversary celebration this year is the knighting of the Premier of the colony—the announcement arriving, as if by graceful arrangement, on the very day of our rejoicings. Very appropriately, the chief amusement on Anniversary Day is the regatta in our lovely and capacious harbour. With her isolated position and extended seaboard, New Zealand is certain to be a great maritime nation, and our numerous regatta clubs, no less than our large shipping companies, are proofs that the people are awake to the knowledge of their destiny. Auckland's position, her unrivalled harbour, and her advancement in ship-building, all mark her as the leading port of the colony,, whether for purposes of commerce or defence \ and our regatta, in which crews from Imperial war-ships take part to-day, is a standing guarantee that Auckland will be always ready to produce brave and adventurous sailors for any service that may arise. In various other ways the people to-day are combining to commemorate the important event which took place at Auckland fortyeight years ago. The passion for observing " times and season " is wellnigh universal, and it is one which is in every way commendable, so long as the observance is rational. The mental retrospect which every colonist will unconsciously make to-day will have a wonderfully stimulating effect on future progress, as showing what has been achieved here by British civilisation. It should also generate a spirit of thankfulness that we enjoy so many privileges in comparison with what fell to the lot of Auckland's pioneers, and it should further lead to glowing anticipations of the Jubilee of New Zealand, which will be observed two years heuco with, we trust, fitting rejoicings.