THE DEPARTING AND THE COMING YEAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2650, 28 December 1904, Page 73

THE DEPARTING AND THE COMING YEAR.

Bt John Thornton. -j

/ - THE OLD YEAR. Toll ' on, ye bells, the end is nigh ; ,The precious 'moments all are gone, "With thee we sympathise and mourn That now this year of life must die. OH Year, ,good T bye! We take thy hand, And with- on© last and sad embrace -Now turn away alone ' to face The jouxney through an unknown land. CoulS we but live -with thee again, ; We should not, when we came to leave, Have failures such as now to grieve — And failures' tears cause parting pain. Oft from cmr purpose we liave gone, Or by the hill we have turned back ! To foLow on some' easier track, Or left the work we should have done. But still we feel "joy too is dve — I The year has bsen an upward one, With great ideals it was begun And by God's help we've been more true. Toll on, ye bells, t-he end is nigh; The precious moments all sure gone, "With thee we sympathise and mourn, That now this yea.r of life must die. THE NEW YEAE. "The King is dead! Long live the King!" Cease toiling bells; the past Las gone! "With joy now gr&et the newly-born ; Peal music forth! A welcome ring! "We feel it good at such a time With solemn thoughts the past to view, To gather lessons for the new, And s take fresh strength before we climb. ' The world has need of many a change, And onward change works from the nig-ht, [ When each man truly lives his light, t The ways of progress are not stiange, — j Each day some alterations come, The hour ends not as it bepan, [ And every act of every man I Is as a factor in a sum. God help us keep before our sight Those lessons which, experience teach, And by tkem and Thy help to reach j To higher goals and purer light. Still we shall move as heretofore, \ Amid the common things of life, But may we see above the strife A high, ideal shine bright before. "The King is dead! Long live the King!" Cease toJing bells; the past has gone, With joy now greet the newly-born ; Pea! music forth.! A welcome ring!

1 j — In Egypt 800,000 acres of land remain for reclamation, and 1,200,00 C acre* for con- I version from flood to perennial irrigation. The mean value of these lands is estimated by competent authorities at £25 per acre, and by the aid of perennial irrigation their value could easily be increased by at I least £30 per acre. Therefore, given ade- ' quato supplies of water properly applied, the result would be a gain of no less than £60,000,000 in Egypt alone.