The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 704, 27 May 1879, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879.

Yesterday was altogether given over to holiday making. It was a day closed against business. There, was a large gathering on the Recreation Ground of men, women, and children. And this much might be observed, which may well be subject for philosophical reflection. We have had bad times, as we all know. Theie has been little or no show of late of the circulating medium. " Things never were so dull ; never,, sir, within my j memory ; and, sir, I speak as an old colonist." "Well, we believe all this. We kuow things have just been dreadful, but in despite of all croaking, there were no signs of bad times at yesterday's holiday-making. The women were as well dressed as ever ; their children the same. There was the grand stand well occupied ; gentlemen took up sherry and biscuits, or lemonade with a little something in it, and sandwiches, to the ladies — to their wives, or sisters, or sweethearts, just as might be the case. Gentlemen went frequently to the drinking booth, and indulged without stint, calling upon others to join them. They bet their pounds, and five shillings, and half-crowns on the events, without thought of coasequence.B If they lost they paid without a murmur ; when they won they pocketed the money almost as a matter of course, and as if it was of no consequence the least in life. They would merely say, " Come and have a drink," and the two would go aud have a drink, and would bet another five or ten shillings on the next race with a nonchalance which was charming to behold and gaze upon, when we only come to think what very bad times we are living in. There is this noticeable circumstance in Colonial life — that however bad times are, however dull trade, however difficult it may be to collect money, we never consider for a moment the question what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or what we must avoid. We avoid nothing that is pleasant to us ; we order of the best. If a stock-raiser could breed bullocks that should be all sirloins and ribs of beef, those are the bullocks our colonial butcher would buy, for these are the only joints they can readily sell ; in fact, the worse the times, the better the joints are required to be. We doubt whether these little secrets ought not to be kept entirely to ourselves, and not be allowed to become known to the outside world, who will want to come and participate in our enjoyments in a way which may probably bring them and ourselves to an untimely end. Were we not — we, the people of Gisborne and Poverty Bay — eighteen months ago, living happily, comfortably, and contentedly, when we were foolish enough to wire all over the colony how beautifully we were getting along. The consequence followed ; other people also wanted to get along beautifully, and they flocked this way, bringing with them a little money each that came, and it was fine for the old residents to sell their bits of sections for ten times the sum they ever expected to receive, and more than ten times their intrinsic value. The result has been, that we have now what is called bad times upon us. Still, we see how it is all of no consequence, because it makes no difference with us whatever, or rather I let us say, that up to the present time lit has made no difference. What, however, we have to consider is whether this sort of de'il-may-care life may not come to an end, and result in eventual disaster. Whether, in fact, living beyond our means j speculating beyond our resources ; trading upon our credit instead of our capital, are not things we should take more into account than we do ; and this is all.