The Thames Star. Resurrexi MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1900. THE CLOSING YEAR.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9830, 31 December 1900, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1900. THE CLOSING YEAR.

Few of the present generation can recall a year which has been so pro lific of important events as that no *r passing away. It has been marked by many incidents which will have a large influence for good 0" evil over the destinies of many millions of British subjects in every quarter of the globo. From a military point of view the year has been exceptionally active. The war in South Africa-—,. the chief events of which—such as the relief of Kimberley Ladysmith and Mafeking : the capitulation of Bloem* fontein and Pretoria; the flight of Kruger, and the complete demoralisa* tion of the Boer forces —are still fresh in the memory of our readers, and it is therefore needless to recapitulate them. The revolt of the Boxers iSpjhina, their siege of the Foreign Legations at Pekin,*|and horrible massacres of ChristijSji missionaries and thousands of native converts ; the bio -"ivg up of the Taku forts by the 'allie.-. and the cqptsr? of Use '$»!«{£■"sagiial ss.d

flight of the Dowager Empress and Emperor northward ; the relief of the Legations, and many other notable events occurred during the last half of the year, which served to divert public attention from the progress of the war in South Africa. In the former both Australians and New Zealander* participated—this colony sending over fifteen hundred men to assist the regular forces to cope with the Boers, and in the latter the gunboat " Protector," manned by Australians, proved useful to the allies. The most remarkable military operations were those connected with the strife in South Africa and China, although the British, in addition to having to bear a share of the fighting in the East and to prosecute a costly war in South Africa, had to face serious trouble in Ashanti and lately in Somaliland, j Last Easter Monday the trouble in Ashanti commenced On the 29th April Governor Hodgeon def ated ten thousand Ashantis. In the middle of May there were 30,000 Ashantis besieging Kumassi ; on the,.loth July a portion of the garrinon jreachec? the coast; on the 27th Kumassi was relieved by Colonel Wilcocks; on August Ist a force of 3000 Aehantis were defeated by 400 British 'troops, and on the sth September the Ashanti forces were finally routed by the punitive expedition The trouble in Soiiialiland arose over the murder of Mr Jenner, the British Resident, by the Somalis, and a force of 500 men was despatched recently to punish his murderers. While the British soldier has thus been busy in four parts of the world, *he Germans, Italians, French, Russians, Americans, and Japanese had oppor tunnies of winning distiiction on the battlefields of China. In the early part of January the French troops achieved a victory over the Chinese in Southern China. In view of the fore going events, no other conclusion than that this year has been of exceptional activity in military and naval circles, is possible. In a political sense the year has witnessed great events ( ,The Imperial Parliament passed the Australian Commonwealth Bill and: Her Majesty was graciously pleased to appoint Lord Hopetoun to the high and responsible position of Governor General of Federated Australia To-morrow will witness the initiation of a federation which in the course of time will be followed by an Imperial co partnership for mutual benefit, between the Mother Country and every part of the British Empire. Locally, the New Zealand par iament authorised the annexation of various island groups to this colony, and His Excellency the Governor formally annexed the Cook group on the Bth October, and it in probable that this colony's boundaries will bo furtner expanded before many years have elapsed In Great Britain the electors, by returning Lord Salisbury to power with an overwhe'ming majority endorsed the policy of Imperialism, the prosecution of the Boer War and the annexation of the two lebellious Dutch republics. In America the advocate of imperialism and the gold standard —Mr McKinley — was re elected President of the United States by a good majority o^er his opponent Mi" Bryan'. A 1 apy more events of importance might be mentioned but the limits of this article preclude their inclusion.. Whether there may be any good reason for believing that there is a peculiar significance attached to certain combination of figures, is a debatable point, but judging from the tragic occurrences in 1900, there would seem to be some justification for the supposition. The past twelve months have yiel ed the following terrible tragedies ; An earthquake in Armenia by which 300 lives were lost; fearful colliery explosion in Virginia—loo lives sacrificed , 85 million* of people famine stricken in India.; extensive fires in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and France.'involving millions ot pounds worth of damage; 400 miners killed by an explosion in Utah ; the fire at Hoboken Dock, New York, with 500 casualties ; fire at Standard Oil Works, New Jersey — with a million damage ; enormous damage from floods iv New South Wales; attempts to shoot the Prince of Wa!es and the Shah of Persia ; assassination of King Humbert of Italy ; many deaths from plague in various parts of the world ; tidal wave at Galveiton, U.SA., 5000 victims ; 49 children drowned at Desmoins—and many other minor accidents and fatalities.

Among the eminent and notable men who have joined the great majority must be mentioned John Buskin ; General Joubert, Duke of Argy;e Duke of Saxe Coburg-Gotha Duke of Edinburgh, Lord Russell, chief-justice of England, Professor Max Muller, Baron Armstrong, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and many other leaser lights in the arena of politics, literature, and science In cone usion, the last year of the most remarkablecentury in the world's history, has evidence of the undoubted vigor of the Anglo Saxon race, and :.n every sphere—commercial, scientific, political, social, religions, civil, and military—there has been steady progress which „-augurs well for the future.. Before we again address our readers a new century will have dawned, and we take the oppor-. t unity of wishing them all a very "HAPPY NEW YEAR."

New Year's Eve. There will be mo issue of the Star tomorrow—New Year's Day. With this issue wo present our readers j with the Star Almanac for 1901. Watch-night service at the Baptist and Congregational Church tonight, commencing at 11 o'clock. W. S. Wylie's drapery establishments will be closed all day to-morrow (Tues day) and both shops will be open on Wednesday morning from 8 to 10 ii.m Advt. Mr W. Pitkethley, who was conducting a drapery business here some years ago, is at present on a visit to the Thames. A promising find of coal is reported from Mercury Bay. Julia Steenson, of Waihi, has been ar. rested charged with -murdering her infant illegitimate child. Numbers of WaUri people have gone holiday making on .the other side of that township this year. "■" Notwithstanding the attractions of lackland and Rotorua, 500 people are camping on: the Waihi Beach. The number makers passing through Paeroa is estimated;at 3000. ■ >

The Hon. Jas.' McGowan, Minister of Mines and Justice, was a passenger from Auckland by the Waimarie at 6.30 last evening for Than-.es via Kopu. A vehicle left here last night for Kopu, and tho Minister arrived in town shortly after 1 a.m. The hon. gentleman intends leaving by the train to-morrow morning for Matamata where he purposes spending a few days with his sister.

Wo have to acknowledge receipt of a neat New Year's card from the editorial staff of the Wellington Post, and to hearti'y reciprocate the kindly sentiments it contains.

Mr Hetherhigton'si establishment will be closed to-morrow and Wednesday.

A Wellington telegram states that Mr R. Hunt, of Kaiwarra, has won tho first prize of £5000 in Tatter-sail's sweep on the Sydney Summer Cup,he having draw* Blue Metal.

A boy named Peai'ce, who '.sustained injuries to the head through falling from a horse at Hikutaia on Christmas Day, was admitted to the hospital yesterday.

Wo understand that the Minister of Mines has approved the appointment oi Mr. W. H. Baker, B.Sc, to the Director, ship of the Karangahake School of Mines.

Five volunteers for South Africa gave their names to Adjutant Sommerville, who left for Auckland on Saturday night, but four of the volunteers stipulate- for enrolment in Baden-Powell's' police, and it is not certain whether they can be accepted on these terms.

Two accidents were treated at the hospital during the holidays—that of Wm. Clune, who sustained injuries to his eyes; and Rewi Ford, a Maori, who met with a blasting acciden* at Puriri, with the result that three fingers of the left hand had t<> amputated at the first joint.

It is reported that the fishing at Oko. roire is extremely good this season, some excellent catches being made. The attractions of this pleasant holiday resort are receiving due attention from holiday Keekers during the present season.

A.Hamilton telegram states that Mrs Chas. Harwood sustained a fracture of tue thigh yesterday in a peculiar manner. She was crossing the yard when a calf which was tied up there entangled her with the rope and brought her violently to the ground.

In this issue Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Berry and family thank the doctors and nurses and all who lent assistance on the occasion of the accident on tho first day of the races to Mr. Harold Berry, who rode Evermore in the Steeplechase. Mr. Berry •was able to leave tbe hospital onl Satur. day.