The giving and receiving of presents occupies ab this time a very prominent place in our thoughts. To some people we like to give, to some people we ought to givo, whilst bo others wo aro simply com pelled to give. Jusb now, a very serious item to some is tho derogatory system of tips or Christmas boxes. If we do give presents other than in hard cash, for goodness' sake let us see that they are sen sible and accepts b?e. What is the use of a handsome cignr-caso to a man who does nob smoke? Oi a beautifully-bound copy of Browning's poems to n lady who abso lutely detests poe'ry? A small gift of an appropriate nature is valued a thousand times more than nn expensive, useless one. It require? some thought bo select exactly the mosb suitable present, and many people do not know how to think—mote's tho pity. ■** * * *

Christmas has como, and with it brings the usual festivities, and also the annual distribution of presents. Looking at tho variety of toys, etc., from which the young Aucklander ot to-day has ■to choose, I almost regret being born so soon. What an advantage tho small boy and girl of this generation lias over those of the last, but even this carries with it some compensa tion. Papa of to-day may be bewildered at the demands made upon him for all sorts of things that were nob procurable in his childhood, but if ho judges by past progress in this line, ho may look forward and con gratulate himself upon the fact that twenty years from to-day his successors will be in even adverse position unless the in ventive faculty of tiie toy a:;d- curio manu facturer gives way beneath the strait: of finding continual novelties each succeeding year.
