The New Year.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 38, 6 January 1844, Page 2

The New Year.

It is usual to dedicate one propitiatory article to the New Year. Thiß custom,, like many others,, has its foundation more or less in superstition. Periodical

changes were expected to be favourable to the development of other great changes. So far perhaps the circumstances of our own colony would warrant tome faith in the truth of the observation. Our New Year has been indeed productive of changes which we trait will be highly beneficial. The prospects for this year are certainly brighter than at the commencement of the last — and so far we have all good cause to rejoice. This time twelvemonths we were groaning under the dead weight of anarchy — the New Year has upset tha Anarch, and good Government is being established, About this time last year we were on the eve of being plunged into a Native war — this year a foundation j| being laid for permanent friendship and good feeling between the two races. During the past year trad} and commerce were almost entirely blown away from our shores — this year will be remarkable for the total abolition of Customs and the establishment of Frei Trade in New Zealand. The mechanics, the cmi. grants and the labourers were unemployed and starring in 1843, public works and public improvement! were suspended— in 1844 the former are being regarded as rational creatures, their wants and comforts ate deemed worthy of some consideration, and the prosecution of local improvement is thought to form a part of good Government. We could mention thousand! of remarkable events for 1844, differing widely froa j those of 1843, but we shall be satisfied in concluding this brief notice to mention two other, perhapß the moßt extraordinary events of all, we mean the present appearance and bearing of the "Southern Cross," and the total disappearance of the Great Bear. The latter was in the ascendant tbis time twelve months, where it j his influence felt now ? Alas ! this is the way of tha world, and Time in all its periodsis a fit emblem of Man himself. Spring, Summer and Autumn succeed oneaD. Other, and Winter at last puts his hoary seal and icj stamp upon human events and human beings. Eacl season and each event teach lessons of wisdom, for. bearance and humility. Time, like death itself, is the great leveller, the mighty conqueror. Let us all be wise and humble, not knowing what another year may bring forth. Let the prosperous j enjoy their prosperity with meekness and compoged feeliDgs, and let not the adverse abandon themsehei to despair ; time in its mysterious progress may effect a change in the condition of each.