The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE Arrowtown, Friday, Dec. 27, 1872.

Lake County Press, Issue 82, 27 December 1872, Page 2

The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE Arrowtown, Friday, Dec. 27, 1872.

The poet's song," 'Tis a poor heart that never r» joiceth," is equally applicable all over the civilised world—applicable in the densely.populated countries of Europe, or the sparsely occupied British Colonies of Australasia ; the toilers on the goldfields of V.cioria and New Zealand, or the diamond-seekers of Southern Africa. It is cheery to find the hard-working searcher for gold —although tar away in the mountain ranges of the Wakatip—laying aside his pick and shovel and vieing in enthusiasm with the dwellers on the plain or the seaboard to preserve the good old custom of making merry at this festive season. We may not be blessed with annual family re-uuious, or able to discuss our plum pudding or cake in company with faces the memory of which is bles.-el ; but the same feelings of affectionate brotherhood find ample display in the newly-formed friendships of our adopted home. Kquajly with, the pleasures of rejoicing, the duty of once again during I he year setting our " house in ord. r," and farming plans for the future, forces itself upon us ; and there is no better season for this social stock-taking than the closing hours of the old year. What would not many of our renders give to start afresh ? Yet how easily can this he at'nined if we only set ourselves rightly to accomplish it; and however we mav be engaged it behoves us to summon up sufficient moral courage that in making a retrospect of the past, we should lay out some definite plans for the future. As journalists, we ate placed in the position of leaders of public opinion, and we feel assured our readers will gladly assist us to set our house in order, ie., tuat community of interests comprising the Arrow district. Our duty to others has been performed to the best of our ability, and if our means of doing good have been small, we hope they have been applied rightly. "Without taking all the credit to ourselves, the presence of the Observes newspaper in the Arrow has borne good fruit. There is a marked change for the better in everything, although it is only our second Christmas; and fiorn an almost neglected village, Arrowtown has grown into the position of chief centre of an important mining district. Justice is now dispensed in our local Courts by a resident officer, thus reestablishing the district in the position it formerly occupied; and many other strides in advancement have been made which we cannot now note. For hospitality and amusement we stand without a rival. The festivities provided for the season are made with a lavish hand, and while enjoying the pleasures of the game, song, music, or the dance, it gives comfort to feel that our merry-makings will extend their influence and afford help to those whom misfortune has confined to tte sick ward of an hospital. In improvements we have made considerable progress, and the closing year witnesses many important changes. Dilapidated old wooden buildings have been replaced by handsome stone ones; some of our business people have erected imposing edifices, which would be a credit to any town in the Colony. Private dwellings have alike undergone improvement, and handsome cottages are now the rule rather than the exception. In public buildings some progress has also beet made. The Library Hall has been enlarged, and ample accommodation provided for readers, as well as for public demonstratioi.s. Tne cause of eligion has not been forgotten. Our - hurches have undergone improvement, •nd people worship in comfort; while

two more buildings for similar purposes are about to be erected by religious bodies. Tumble down " shanties" give place to handsome hotels, replete with every comfort that visitors or travellers can desire. The education of the young has not been neglected, and both teachers and parents must find pleasure in the fact that in the High School competitions an Arrow pupil has Oirried off the highest honors. New tracks have been constructed to hitherto almost inaccessible places; and, with a Municipality for Arrowtown looming in the distance, improvement in Our town streets and water supply will likewise follow. ■ The mining and agricultural industries have flourished; valuable auriferous ground has been opened, and water profitably conveyed to hitherto deserted localities. A largely increased area of land has been brought under mills established, and machinery introduced ; while the dwellings and buildings of the farmer have kept pace in improvement with those of the town.

Turning once again to ourselves, we believe that in bringing about these great and important changes, our little broadsheet has played an important part ; and so long as the public appreciate our efforts, our desire to do g'>od will not relax; and whatever changes may overtake our readers or ourselves, may the friendship of the past ever remain a green spot in our memories. May the bonds that bind us never be broken, and the new year be even more happy and prosperous tbau the past.