The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1925. FRIENDS IN NEED.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 May 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1925. FRIENDS IN NEED.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock -n Hawera, Manaia. Norman by, Oknia.wn, Eltbain, Mangatoki, Kaponga. Alton, Hnrleyvillo, Patea, Waverley, Mnkoia, Wbakamara, Obanyai. Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

The immediate, '.sympathetic and liberal response which is, oeing made to the public appeal on behalf oi the unfortunate family at Kakaramca, who suffered both deep bereavement and heavy loss of property in the, early morning lire last week, is indeed gratifying. Instancies such as this, happily not of frequent occurrence, furnish a complete answer to, those confirmed croakers whose one occupation in life is to move around bemoaning the decay of neighlbourly- sentiment and the hardening of mens hearts. Our (life in these times may be so, much of a rush that our humanity lies buried beneath a thick ciut of material things; but when the hand of death or of black misfortune strikes one , down in our midst the husk of indifference is stripped from our souls, and human hearts are. proved to -beat as warmly as ever. Doubles® it is to our loss that we hurry past our neighbours with hardly a nod of friendliness in the ordinary course of our daily round; life would be much more worth living if we unbent a little more and got to know each other a little better. So far the croakers have a just grievance—■although their lamentations will never improve * matter® —but they are quite confounded at such a moment as this, when the suffering of another touches uis all to the quick. Even if we might

be more free with our kindliness in times of sunshine and fair weather, it has to be admitted that the true friend is the friend in adversity; and, eo long as the misfortune of our fellows calls out alt that is highest, and best in each one of ns, so long may we face confidently and unashamed the challenge that we are false to the greatest tradiitioins of our race.