The Bruce Herald. TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 30, 1904 A GOOD NEW YEAR.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 99, 30 December 1904, Page 4

The Bruce Herald. TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 30, 1904 A GOOD NEW YEAR.

If real heartiness of wishing were sufficient to ensure long life, good health, much happiness, and great prosperity to the people of the County of Bruce, then would our wishes bring about a condition of things in this our county that would make Bruce a synonym for a "Heaven upon Earth." Yet with the hope that the effect may be in greater proportion than the sleeve to the proverbial silk gown, we shall, and hereby do, most heartily wish all these things to the inhabitants ot the County of Bruce, including, of course, the people of the borough therein.. It is customary, we have' noticed for editors and publishers of newspapers to address these "compliments, of the season " to their readers — sometimes, for the occasion, " dear readers " — but we extend our good wishes to all. If we desired to be particular in this, we should begin by giving our attention and courtesies for the New Year to our readers in the chief centres of our interest— Bruce and its boroughs. Next we • would extend similar dutiful expressions to all our readers, far and wide, in New .Zealand; and then to | those scattered throughout the other parts of the civilised world. So be it ! We ought now to enter upon a retrospect of all that has happened to lni terest us during the past year and to

moralise thereon ; but the task is, in some respects, either too colossal or too small, according to the end of the mental telescope that is presented to the editorial eye. For example, how grand the work that was expected from last session, of Parliament, and how meagre the real issue. There were tinkering amendments of this, that, and the other Act, but no commemorating deed done. Drastic measures were eagerly looked for regarding license, but the result is only an abortive amendment that " no fellah can understand," and. fitted only to give work to the lawyers. Of the true bearing of its sections even the judges are no judges. An Education Committee sat and brooded o'er a nestful of necessary re- ' forms, but only a puny one-legged chicken was hatched. Nothing was done to remedy the medus vivendi that is both keeping men from entering, and driving men out of, the profession. Railway and other civil servants are treated differently. Even surfacemen have a retiring age with a pension or allowance, and their average i wage is greater than that which the bulk of teachers receive. It cannot be ; looked for that educated men will remain ionger at the irksome and thankless work of teaching than they can help. Although siding with the Government in its general line of politics we have found it necessary, from time to time, to voice our opinion against it, when glaring instances of thoughtless administration appear. It is true that certain steps have been taken to put dentists and midwives on a better footing with respect to the lieges ; but the registration of these practitioners can neither banish toothache.nor ensure the restoration of the normal, increase of the population. These can no more be brought about by Acts of Parliament than drinking of alcoholic beverages can be abolished by law. Drinking is an act of volition, and the direction of the will can only be affected by solid reason and convincing fact judiciously applied to the individual. We hope, in the future, to see and hear more of better ethical and Christian methods being used for this end than are any attempts at compulsion, which weaken both the will of the individual and the " cause " that appears to seek a most desirable end. Our County Council has pursued the even tenor of its way. Though two new members have entered the membership, they have not had time to show individuality. But no great things or effective work can be expected from any body burdened with a load of impecuniosity. If only some one could be found in the council who had such perspicuous knowledge of finance as to be able to turn the small end of the telescope to this load, so that its bulk might be reduced to the vanishing point 1 We are glad that, in spite of the general lateness and inclemency of the spring season, the farmers of Bruce are well forward with the in-putting of crops ; not a few of them are finished or nearly so, and now await the increase that bids for prosperity. From visits to the neighboring districts lately made we have concluded that the Tokomairiro Plain is second to none ; — that, indeed, it now takes the lead in fertility. This conres of the liberal use of lime, and the consequent improvement in methods of agriculture. Long may this pre-eminence continue ! Its brightness need not wane now that our farmers know the way. The result is even in high evidence at the local agricultural shows, and the stock bred in Toko, takes no mean place however far it goes, from home. To the farmers of Bruce we say " more power to your elbow !" and again to one and all we wish a Good New Year !