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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 539, 13 September 1881, Page 2

It is always a sad task to s.iy farewell, but to the journalist whoso heart has

been in his work it is perhaps more difficult than to many others. According to strict journalistic etiquette, a mere change in the proprietary of a newspaper is not matter to be necessarily referred to at all in its editorial columns. " The King is dead. Long live the King! " Whoever owns or manages such a con--■cern, the journal still exists. But in a small community such as ours it is impossible to look upon the local organ as an abstraction. Spite ef the editorial " we," the individual wielding the pen is recognised,is criticised, and is awarded praise or blame according to the views his readers take of liis actions aud sentiments. Casting aside then practically the cloak of anonymity, we wish to say very briefly a few words of f:irewell to our Peninsula friends. First, we have the pleasing duty to perform of thanking them very heartily for the very kind and cordial support wo have received from all sections of tin community during the time we have conducted this journal. In using the word ''support" we include iwvSn more than is implied in business reiaiions. Wo have to thank our friends for many acts which have assisted tho Mail to achieve such success as has attended oar endeavours, for much kindly sympathy and appreciation, and last, though not loasb, fjr a genero'.a forbearance regarding such dca* urts almost inse:>;iablc iVoni country journalism, aud which hi'v, , . !.>"iMi pru'inps more app;iioui. to oui':.;oivoo thin t> mr.iy of our readers

It is therefore, with the most sincere regret that we feel that we are now addressing for the last time those with whom we have held converse week by week for the past three and a half years. In laying down the pen we can conscientiously assert that during that period we have never written a line with the intention of injuring or wounding the feelings of man, woman, or child. If in the discharge of what we believed our duty, anything has appeared which has been considered harsh or unjust by those whose public acts hare been criticised, we believe that even the aggrieved individuals themselves, have long ago acquitted us of any malicious or unworthy motives, however much they may differ from us in opinion.

In conclusion we will only remark that our regret in parting from our friends and supporters is tempered by the consideration that we are resigning the conduct of this journal into no untried or unworthy hands* Our successor is a gentleman of great ability and experience in journalism, and one who has made himself deservedly popular wherever he has resided. E/en on the Peninsula he is known to a number of persons who will be able to feel sure that the interests of the district in which he has cast his lot will not suffer at his hands. It is, therefore, with the most perfect confidence that the supporter* will find it in the future even more worthy of support than in the past, that we lay down the pen and wish them all—Farewell.