"THE YEAR THAT'S AWA'."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

"THE YEAR THAT'S AWA'."

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January l p 1904. "King out the old, ring in the new." It was hard to feel much sympathy with 1903 in its passing. The old year had had a chequered career, a sadly mis-spent life. Shameless in the iniquities which, marred its twelve black months in England, old 1903 died unrepentant : for after spending the best part of his time in trying to drown the people of these isles, he ended by attempting to freeze them. Who could weep for such a ruffian, the worst which the weather-clerks have ever known since 18, ; 1? The feelings of most of us are, perhaps, most accurately voiced by the "Chronicle" in its address to the dying year:^Hnmid sojourner through months we fancied centuries (Xou can well imagine why). At your going all the forecast that I venture is— You will miss the passing tribute of a sigh. If just here and there are found One.ac two you have not drowned. While you "stay, they have no chance of getting dry— So, good-bye. You have settled aims, and never seemed to vary 'em, They were twain, yon can"t deny— One to make onr island home a vast aquarium. One to teach our truthful weatner cJerfcs to lie. You were worthless, loathly, bare— But I can't say all yon were. It's enough to know you are about to die— Oh, good-bye.