CHRISTMAS DAY. (To the Editor of the North Otago Times.)

North Otago Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 792, 20 December 1872, Page 2

CHRISTMAS DAY. ( To the Editor of the North Otago Times. )

Seb, — I am an Englishmiiii, a member of the Anglican Church — there 1 are several others in town— and have been brdught up in the belief that the Catholic Church did wisely in settinp apart a day on which all Christians throughout the world flhoulrl palehrato by praise, thanksgiving, and holy joy, the birth of Him " after whom we are called," and among Englishmen and Christians of etery nation and tongue it jb bo celebrated I believe, except in this portion of oui? Coloriy. In 1 this Province I knew a ploughman, a yearly servant, sturdily refuse to abstain from active labor on a Christmas Day, although his employer insisted upon his doing so 1 ; and he did so because, aB he said, "He had been 1 aye taught to lift up his testimony against idolatory." And I remember in a Licensing Bill ■which was under discussion by our Provincial Council, every anti-Englishman present voted against the insertion of Good iViday and Christmas Day into the clause which regulated the liquor traffic on holy days, and struck them out. I confess that the incidents named above occurred during the mediaeval or dark ages of Otago's history ; but even in these more modern, and consequently more refined times, there were still to be found only a year ago some intensely good and overpoweringly pious Presbyterians who insisted on working on Christmas Day, and unfortunately, but probably inadvertently, chose some very noisy operation, suoh as rivetting a boiler or some Buch work for that special time. Now my object in writing is to express a hope that by this time civilization may have sufficiently advanced among our Doric compeers, to have taught them that if they still object to public worship on the 25th December, it would be a courteous act on their part to respect owr prejudices as we honor their convictions, by staying our hands on the kirk-ap-pointed fast-days ; so that at least during the time set apart for divine service, those who take pai't in it may not have their peace disturbed by the noise of hammer and anvil, and other signs of labor. I am, &o., Ionicub.

■Ieleoeaphy.— The " Hay Standard" states that the local lelegrapli master, Mr R. S. Arnott, hris long used a simple contrivance, discovered by himself, which prevents the wire from being fused by lightning, and avoids all Chances of danger. It is this : — An iron peg is driven into the earth outside ; to thiB peg d wire is secured, of sufficient length, and hooked at the end, td hang over the tele, graph -wire. On seeing a storm approach, Mr Arnott hango hia safety conductor over the telegraph line, and the" lightning is carried harmlessly into the earth. An interesting thing occurred sdme time 1 ago — the safety wire was over the line, but the iron peg had become unedrthed, and was dangling near the surface ; a lightning dash suddenly came along and burst at the point of the peg, making a loud report, and radiating in thousands of brilliant sparks. Mrs Arnott happened to be looking in the direction at the time and was somewhat frightened, but her husband speedily seized, the peg with a noncoriductor, and had it securely driven into the earth again.

(For remainder of News, see Fourth page .) /^HEAF CLOTHING ! CHEAP CLOTHING! HOOD AfcD SdENNAK' Itchen-street, having purchased extensively of Men's, Youths', and Boys' Ready-made Clothing, at last season's prices, can offer I really pood bargains in this department of their business. Their establishment hat long been famed for 1 keeping a good article at a I moderate price, and giving satisfaction to i purchasers. As they have no Jobbish goods in their stock, at any 1 price, inexperienced judges may rely on obtaining the best of ! goods, and at the same price as in Dunedin Working men and others from the country are specially recommended— to— this— aatabliali^.

JUDGES AT AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. (To the Editor of the Norm 'OfcAGO Times ) I Snt. — We are getting up a show here Tot the 26th inst, amj had some difficulty about f tho judges ; but one tiling we wore determined upon, viz. — That no principal, overseer, -or • servant, even remotely connected , ytith an j exhibit, should act as judge in that class. 1 Without knowing it, -we were *" just carrying ■ out the spirit of the resolution arrived tit by' your Oamaru Committee after your show, •was over. _,_ The onljr .dissentients was (he manager of tho two great companies, who ■could sec no reason why a servant might not tjunge his master's stotik. , We have been 'fortunate in securing the services of suitable men, mostly from'Christ* •church; to 'there cannot be tire least doubt as to tho result. ' 1 The great difficulty in organising agri•cnltural shows is selecting: Judgei. my opinion it is a gross impropriety to permit ; -any persons^eting a§ 'judges w,ho are connected with the^ stock-oxhlbited.— "I am, &c.j \ - EXHIBITOB. 'Bnnedin, 11 th 'Dec. '1872. P.S. — Servants frequently take a greater ' interest in shows' thaD their employers. 1