THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1901. CHRISTMAS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3835, 24 December 1901, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1901. CHRISTMAS.

" Peace on earth, .good-will to men " This is the message of Christmas. The optimist Christian always hears the message. It is ringing in his ears the three hundred and sixty-five days of the year. The pessimist Christian, if the phrase is not contradictory, hears the message only ouce a year. It is well that it should be heard even once a year, though we should .wish all our readers to be of the former class. And what is the message 1 What is its meaning to maukind 1 What is its meaning to us as individuals, and to us as a natiou ? These are questions pertinent to the season. Shortly answered, the questions require not the passivity o: fatalist, but the activity of the real believer. Peace on earth can only be the result of effort and striving. The goal of the effort, the finished work, is peace. If, as individuals, we strive that the end shall always be peace ; if charity in word, thought, and deed marks all our actions ; if the golden rule is ever apparent in all our relations with our fellows; then as surely as night follows day, so surely will peace follow our actions. Some may suggest the unwisdom of false peace. \iVe are not, however, dealing with the hairsplitter, but with the man whose desire is to benefit his fellow man. Niueteeu hundred years ago the wise men iu the East, while watohing the heavens, saw a strange star. Led by its guidiug light they went to Bethlehem; aud for nineteen huudred years the Star of Bethlehem has been the star of hope for suffering humauiiy. This is the season when it behoves us to take stock of oar ajtious and tht»ir results during the past year. This is the time for reflection. Plum pudding is the symbol of good cheer. When our children see it on the table they should see more thau meets the eye. They should see beyond it, aud should be taught that good cheer to the weary heart is always the result of kind thoughtfuluess. They should be taught that it is mau's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn. They should be taught always to help aud cheer, never to hinder. When tho Christmas dinner i<? eaten, the taps of our hearts should be opened and all uncharitftbleuess thoroughly drained away. Such is the message to us as individuals. To us as a natiou the message means philanthropic activity and socialism iu its highest and purest form.' Do our laws tend to poace and happiness ? Have we legislated so that vice and poverty are visibly diminishing? Have we, iu the administration of our laws, temperedjustice with mercy ? These are the national questions to be pondered oyer at this time. To our readers we wish happiness and good cheer. May noble thoughts excite thwir brains when the Bpice of the plum pudding excites their palatos. May th« inaiu spring of hope be rewound. May they rise from their tables saying that their most earnest wish and deßire is

“ Peace on earth, good-will to men.” To all our readers we give hearty greeting, and wish them “ A Marry Christmas.” THE DISCOVERY. The departure of the ship Discovery from New Zealand reminds na of the many efforts which have been pat forth to reach the poles. Every one is well acquainted with the fruitless endeavors which hare been made to reach the Worth Pole, but possibly not many know that the South Pole has not been altogether neglected. It is true that nothing like the energy and enterprise expended on the North Pole has been expended on the South. There were really only two grea' expeditions attempted towards the South Pole, and these occurred so long ago that they are forgotten by the present generation. It is true that several minor attempts have been made to discover the unknown frigid regions of the South Pole, but. Captain Cook’s effort iu 1773-74, and Sir James Rosa iu'lß4l-42, are the only expeditions worthy of the name. Sir J. Ross’s expedition is in reality the only one from which any valuable knowledge can be obtained. To the surprise of the world he discovered volcanic mountains in active operation, rising to a height of 1200 feet in the 78th degree of South latitude. Norwegians on board a whaler spent some time on Possession Island and Cape Adare, aod Victoria Land, and asserted that it was possible to winter iu that latitude, but nothing was done until 1890, when Baron Oscar Dickson, of Stockholm, offered £SOOO if the Australian Colonies would raise ' another £SOOO to fit out an expedition for exploring the southern seas. Sir Thomas Elder offered another £SOOO if the Australian colonies would raise £SOOO between them, but they did not, and so the whole thing fell through In 1895 an International Georgraphical Congress met in London at which the matter was discussed, and in consequence of its recommendations, the Royal Society took it up. A meeting was held at which Dr Nansen and several European scientists were present, and it was asserted that it was the business >;f the British Government to make an exploration. It was however considered undesirable to employ any of the British Navy in such an enterprise. So the thing went ou until the colonial Premiers met in London in 1897, when the Royal Geographical Society made another effort to get the colonies interested, but were unsuccessful. The colonial r'remiara had no time for anything of the kind, and nothing was done. At last the enterprise has been undertaken, and the Discovery is now practically on her way for the Autart’o regions. She is expected to leave Port Chalmers to-day, and we wish her bon voyage and a safe return.