AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9300, 30 December 1895, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Pre 33 Association—By Telegraph—Oopyrißht THE HOLIDAYS. Sydney, December 28. Under the calm, influences of Christmas time, when-city life with its attendant worries and anxieties sinks to peace, and tired humanity has a brief resting time, for many years past, at any rate, Sydney has not been so thronged with visit'oi's. The crowded streets onChristmasEve carried one back to the days before the financial crisis swept the colonies. Shopkeepers who growled so much at the dullness of past years- have forgotten to do so on this occasion. On the contrary, they bsar testimony to a lively time, and are jnore optimistically inclined, seeing in the improvement a good omen for the future; It is a thing devoutly to be hoped that the experiences of 189G will fulfil these anticipations. To the large crowds of holiday - makers, both to and from the country, the weather could not have been kinder. Australians are accustomed to stew in a humid atmosphere at this period of the year, but they have been favoured by tempering breezes. Our southern neighbours are no less fortunate in having agreeable weather, but the Queenslanders, as Yankees say, " got all their proceedings rained on." After a long spell of dry weather the rain poured with sub-tropical violence, three inches falling in forty-eight honrg, compelling all sporting fixtures to be postponed. Quite as cheering a note comes from South Australia in regard to the improvement in business. Much of the mcreased activity is said to be due to the large number of hpliday-rpakers. from "Western Australia. Up to date the Victorian journals do not chronicle any marked improvement in affairs at the festive season in , the Southern capital. PRAYEES FOR PEACE. It is not to be wondered at that, with the two greatest nations in Christendom, figuratively speaking, at one another's throats, reference should be made to the fact by the Churches at a time when the burden of their song is " peace on earth." Cardinal Moran urged his hearers to pray that the passions of politicians should not be allowed to spill the blood of