A LINK WITH THE PAST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 35, 1 June 1876, Page 2

A LINK WITH THE PAST.

It has been truly said that there exists a melancholy pleasure in the perusal of old letters. Faces long passed away appear once more on memory's canvas, and the forms of those we loved stand before us at the sight of lines traced by hands that are cold, and dictated by hearts that are pulseless. A thousand recollections of by-gone years float before us, the long vista of time is swept away, while fond memories bridge the gulf between now and then. How different, however, ara the feelings experienced when placing the paper of to-day beside its predecessor of a quarter of a century ago. There are no regrets, satisfaction reigns supreme, and whatever we can spare from self-congratu-tion we bestow in pity for those who have gone before us. Those thoughts were awakened by an inspection of No. 157 of the Auckland " Southern Cross," published on the 24th of June, 1848, almost twenty-eight years ago. The " Cross " of that date was not the imposing broadsheet of to-day, the premier journal of the once Northern Capital. But although it could not boast of the burly proportions of its present namesake, it evidently felt then that it had a destiny to work out and a mission to perform, which was fraught with interest to many nations. Though its size, in a complete form, was considerably less than one page of The Mail, and was published but once a week, yet we are told that it' ' circulated extensively tln-ough this and the neighbouring Colonies, also in England, Ireland, and Scotland." The number in our possession -was published just about the time the New Zealand Government Bill was under discussion in the Imperial Parliament, and although three-fourths of the issue is occupied with a subject fraught with such interest to Colonists, with refreshing candour it announces, that "the size of the paper renders it inconvenient to publish the whole of the speeches delivered in the House." The uncommon occurrence at that time of the arrival of a Home ship is chronicled at some length, and we notice amongst her passengers the name of Mr. Frederick Whittaker, a man whose name since then has been identified in a great measure with the progress and poli-

tics of that Province. Mr. Whittaker has held the important office of Superintendent, and besides at present being a member of the House of Representatives, he stands alone as the only member elected in the Auckland Province pledged to Abolition. Amongst the advertisements (which, en passant, we might state, would not appear to be a source of great revenue in those days) we find the following: — "Establishment for young ladies, conducted by Mrs. Wakefield " the mother, we have been informed, of the erratic late member for Christchurch. The Aueklanders were not without their amusements, as would appear from the following notice from the manager of " The Queen's " —" Wanted, for the above establishment, persons to play the following instruments, viz :—Violin, bassoon, and serpent (whatever that may have been) ; also, three gentlemen and three ladies. They must be well educated, possess considerable talent, and above all be sober." It is not at all quite clear whether these conditions apply to the gentlemen or ladies, but judging from the manager's syntax, we should imagine the " honours were easy." Such are a few of the peculiarities which grace the columns of the " Cross" of '4B, and, to quote its own words, the "size of our paper renders it inconvenient," &c, but to those who take up its representative of to-day, it must be a matter for congratulation to note its improved appearance, for there is no surer index of the progress of a Colony and the prosperity of a community, than a flourishing and vigorous Press.