The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 20.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 417, 20 July 1880, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 20.

The Akauoa Mail has now completed the fourth year of its existence. The present issue commences a new year. Since its initiation The Mail has seen various changes in proprietors and directors, but we venture to assert that a continuity of purpose has been apparent throughout. In the editorial columns of the first number of this journal Aye find the following remarks, and although the hand which penned them hns long ceased to contribute to these columns, we still think that they express what a journal published in a small community ought to aim at, and what we trust This Mail has succeeded in achieving. The remarks referred to announce the course about to be adopted by the infant journal as follows :—

We intend no servile adhesion to h cause, when we imagine that it in derogatory to the interests of the common weal. and are entirely detached from any one party or section of the community, holding ourselves entirely free to comment fearlessly upon the actions of public men and to expose any evil or grievance that may aiise from time to time in our community, and shall be content to ailow our readers to pronounce their verdict in regard to the fulfilment of this part of our policy. In small communities, the public journalist ban generally a difiieuil tank to pursue, as it is utterly imposMhle to write to suit the tastes of all ebcw-. What plcnses Mr Brown, occasions puin ro Mr Kobinson, and it too often happen< that the persons whose action it i.-i found

necessary to unfavourably criticise never loses an opportunity lo seek retribution against the proprietor of the paper \n which the censure appeared hy systematically endeavouring to divert all public patronage that lies within his power.., But sink or swim we are determined to wield our pen in tha advocacy of independence.' Wo are content to rest our claims to further favors Irom the public at large on , ihe. faithfulness with which the promisps contained in this paragraph have been carried out. To say that mistakes have been mode—that articles h?tve--appeared in our columns which would as welliliavo been omitted—is merely to confess that humanuin est errare. Biifc we coriEd'ehtly" and conscientiously assert that we ihave never prostituted our position out of any motives of " fear, -favor, or affection " ; that we have attacked no man's private character, and that in criticising public men—as we are bound by the very reason of our existence to do—we have kept within the bounds of moderation, and refrained from imputing improper motives, or descending to scurrility. If we have needlessly trodden down on any corm> we now assure the sufferers that it has never been out of private malice; but. always from a sense of duty,even thoiigh in their opinion mistaken. Referring for a moment to the business side of this journal, we have to thank our numerous friends for their loyal support, and for the kind indulgence with which from time to time they have overlooked defects which have been more patent to none of them than to ourselves. At the same time, we wish to assure, them that arrangements have been made by us which we hope will avoid a recurrence of any such drawbacks. Despite the general depression, we are happy to say that this journal holds its own, and is at any rate not retrograding in public favor. At the same time we would urge upon all who desire to see an independent organ of public opinion maintained in their midst. to do all that in them lies to increase the circulation of Tins.Mail. Unfortunately, there exists everywhere a certain class who are quite willing to read the local paper, who will even contribute to its correspondence columns, who like to see Jones " slated " in it, but who carefully abstain from contributing even the small sum involved in a subscription towards its necessarily heavy expenses. This is hardly as it should be, and our friends and subscribers have it in their power to render us material aid in this particular by recommending their friends and neighbors, to follow their example, and take it inj' too. V ;

In conclusion, to borrow a quotation made use of by an esteemed contemporary we assure our readers that our aim shall be in the future as in the past—to labor

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And tho good that we can do.