The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3657, 31 December 1879, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1879.

The year 1879, with all its brilliant hopes and wretched failures, bas but a few more houra to run before ib dies away into tho dull region of the past. 1879, with all its troubles, must be acknowledged to have been a much happier year for mankind than itß predecessor. When, twelve monthe ago, it became our duty to glance, hurriedly and briefly, at the leading events calling for notice in the different quarters of the woild, the tale when completed was found made up of horrore. The terrible famine in Obina, in which uncounted millions perished miserably; the famine in India, with its ascertained mortality of about six millions ; the terrible struggle in Turkey ; and the ravages of yellow fever in America, in tbemselves were sufficient to render 1878 for ever memorable. In addition to these heavy items there were others in the Bill •which gave to IS7B a painful significance. A patriot King, a beautiful Queen, and a venerable Pope, bad lefc their peoples in mourning ; the Eurydico, the Princess Alice, and tbe German ironclad disasters, had carried sorrow into many a home; the Glasgow a-d "West of England Bankß, in conjunction with a terrible array of commercial failures, had been productive of a genoral want of confidence and great trade depression ; following upon which came the Lancashire and other strikes with their story of poverty and suffering. In comparison with the heart-stirring events of '78 the year now drawing to a close seems uneventful and tamo ; but it will be found tbat it is only so by comparison. Toere have been many stirring events in 1879 that at present call for more fchan a passing notice, and which in due course will no doubfc occasion much thought on the part of the future historian. In Asia the Afghan war haa added yet another proof to the great bulk of evidence, that over tbe people of that continent the British arms are supreme. Shere Ali has been driven from bis throne, and Yakoob Khan set cp in his stead. Incompetent; or faithless, probably both, certainly untrustworthy, Yakoob ha 9 been pulled down again, and is now a prisoner in a Britiah fortress. The burning of the Reaidenc ; and the slaughter of Major Cavagnari and his escort at Cabul, is a sufficiently tragic event to eaafc a lurid glow over the history of any year ; bufc ifc was immediately followed by an ener-l getic advance, and a comparative hand-/ ful of British haß amply avenged the murder of their ccuatrymen. Eveu now as the year draws to its last few moments the news cornea to us that after a twe days' fight in whioh tbe most terri'Jt havoc wa3 inflicted upon the masses ofl the enemy, tbey were finally routed and dispersed with great slaughter, and the flag of England waves once m>re in triumph over the towers of the Afghan capital. Whilst the British have thus vindicated their power in Asih, ifc ia worthy of noto that 1879 has witnessed another disastrous repulse to the Russians in their advanco upon Merv. This time, it would appear, the lesson has been sufficiently eevere to cause a doubt in tbe Muscovite mind ac to the possibility of achieving tho desiderated success by way of Khiva and the Tekke country, and it is rumoured that the next effort put forth to reach Merv will be by way of Persia if the consent of the Government of tbat country can be obtained. The close of the year finds the British Arms triumphant also in Zululand and Isandula, Rorke'e Drift, TJlundi, and other African names have been added to tbo household words of the British people. The end of the Basuto war has been signalised by the capture of Sococoeni, and tho dispersion of hia power, so thafc both fche "little" wars, which in their turn have vexed the British people, havo boen brought to a conclusion honourable to the British arms. In tho North of Africa, 1879 has witnessed the deposition of one Khedive, and tbe installation of another, Prince Tewfik, in bis power; thus theauthority of England and France to control tho destinies of Egypt has been asserted and maintained. The cloae of 1879 findß the Turkish reforms ' in Asia Minor as far from being in- j augurated as they wero at ks beginning, and the Greek frontier question btill a thing to be settled. The utter incompetency of the Turks to govern themselves hap, during the past twelve montbs, been rendered moro and more - apparent, and tbe Great Powers of Europe seem to bo agreed that tbH present condition of affairs in the land of the SULTAN cannot be much longer tolerated, 'he difficulty — and ifc is a great one — is to provide a satisfactory change. In Russia, Nihilism bas been tho greatest power in the State, and has shown the daring of its leaders, and the longths to wbich they are prepared to go in numerous — and in some instances gigantic — outrages. Th© Emperor, however, is firm in his refusal to yield the Constitutional Government demanded, and it is certain the struggle will be yet much further prolonged. The Austro- German alliance, wbich it is said also comprehends Great Britain, is regarded by the statesmen of the Mother Country as a substantial guarantee for the futuro maintenance of peace, and if this is so, then tbat alliance is entitled to be regarded as one of the greatest achievements of tbe year. In Germany the Sooialißts have been quiet ; but the Fenians have been talkative in Ireland. In Franco there is said to be a failure in tho wino crop, ' accompanied by suffering and distress ; j bat in England manufactures are re. <

viving, whilst trade and commerce have entered upon a new career of prosperity. Lord Bbaconsfield's Government Btill leads the nation j his party is united and strong; and when he thinks the opportune moment has at length arrived and gives the word that sends his followers to the country, they will go with confidence and almost assured success. The dissatisfaction in Ireland seems to be the only cloud that dims the veteran statesman's sky. Crossing the Atlantic, there has been war between three of the States of the Southern Continent, which so far has been principally valuable as testing the powers of ironclad ships. The close of the year finds tbe Chili versus Peru-Bolivia story to be continued in our next. The United States, beyond the uaual railway and mining accidents, has found 1879 a comparatively uneventful year. A bountiful harvest is again promised, and when it is considered that the States of America are rapidly assuming the position of the granary of the world, the importance of a good harvest in America is one of the items to be carefully appreciated. In our own Colony of New Zealand — to which we return at length — 1879 is a year commercially, I socially and politically to be remembered. On December 31 last year, we closed our article with a predic tion of tbe bad timeß ahead. Tbe bad times bave oome, and, hard though they were, they proved not so distressing as we anticipated. Let us thank God that they are past. Tho Kaitangata Disaster and the Dunedin Fire caused tbe most painful sensations to thrill our little community, and within the last few days the Christchnroh and Timaru outrages havo filled the minds of our population with indignation and shame. There haa been a general election. The Liberal .Government has been thrown from power, and the unscrupulons party who for months hounded down the only proved patriot we can boast amongst us, has succeeded to office. How they have used authority since their accession it is needless here to state. The facts are only too shamefully notorious. The year, however, will leave us in comparatively good circumstances. Tbe revenuo is almost cirtain to largely exceed the low estimate which has been formed of it, and upon which our expenditure is founded. We have a splendid harvest waiting for tbe reapers, and trado is reviving. The tarff of New Zealand is second only to Victoria amongst the Colonies of Australasia, and if there is any virtue in incidental protection, our local industries ought to thrive. In closing our retrospect, we are thankful that the year has not proved even worse for our people, and we are entitled to look forward to the time tbat in a few houra will dawn upon ub with feelings of hopefulness which we could not entertain last year. We conclude now by heartily wishing all our friends A HAPPY NEW YEAJEt.