THE CLUTHA LEASER. THURSDAY JULY 9, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 1, 9 July 1874, Page 2

THE CLUTHA LEASER. THURSDAY JULY 9, 1874.

OURSELVES. * In introducing to the general public the first number of the Ci-tjtha Leader, we desire, according to the practice in such circumstances, to offer a few words of explanation relative to the origin of this new enterprise in the field of Colonial Jour-nalism^-its aims, claims,; prospects, &c This we shall endeavour to do fairly and truthfully, believing as we do that in dealing with the public, as in all other matters, . honesty is from beginning to end the best, policy. Such a policy we intend shal 1 throughout ite future* career be the main Characteristic of the Leader, in dealing with all subjects which come within the ephereof a public newspaper to treat of. As to; the origin of the present undertaking, it is almost unnecessary to say it his been patent to every one for years past that the time was last approaching when the extensive and varied interests of tbe Clutha "and surrounding districts would demand the establishment of a local organ of public opinion. , These districts have long contributed liberally towards the support of the Provincial P?ess; but it was felt that notwithstanding this their interests were either ignored or almost entirely neglected. From the wide extent of these districts and the rapidly increasing population, lit was the 'unanimous belief of the;iohabitants as well as of tbe proprietors of the Leader that there was an ample open field for the' establishment of a local Journal— hence the appearance of the Leader. ; It is our intention to produce such a paper as shall fully and creditably represent the Clutha and adjacent districts amongst the newspapers of the Colony, and no effort shall be wanting upon our part to render the Cltjth a Leader worthy, of the inhabitants, the interests/ of the district and the influential position to which! it aspires. While local matters will always be held as of paramount importance, -the general interests and politics of the Colony shall receive due attention. It shall be onr endeavour to give a condensation of -the whole local, colonial,, and most important European news up to' the " date of each publication. We shall advocate liberal and progressive measures in the great work of Colonisation in : ' w'hlch 'country is at present engaged, but shall ally ourselves to no faction or party in politics. We shall judge of whatever measures may be brought forward, independently of by what party they may be introduced, and should we consider them calculated to promote itfie best interests, of the community, they shall have bur eupportr contrary, we shall > o'ppdse them. The public ActtOM^jiubiic/ men.we shall hold as^. open to the- fullest criticism ; but ' in / dealing /with gentlemen who have been sby theijrifellow meri raised to positions of honor and resnonsibility/i:W€i : shall never forget,' even when differing from, i them in opinion, that by virtue M their .office, if not.from p^rsbnal merit, they are

at^ntwn,,and we sh a ll ßdvo^|fcn.f seyvation of the W^^e Lands settlement on jlfeett' : * S-SF* iMj*»» °f «drtid-aall^^are and^ilhfjg to hei sMgtfte .that th* legal and^ equltaM^rln^ahd y jn crests of the pastorartenaats M&be ' lully recognised and respected. : We have thus given a brief" geirltidea of the line of policy adopt^dlbphe Leader/ This wiU be more fully tfeveioped m our treatment of the various subject** they crop up for discussion. ;#i We cannot conclude without e^reisirir our very great gratification at the#V*btit unanimous support which hasbeen "s-«&«•■* us by the inhabitants of the Cluth^okrj. mainro, and elsewhere-a snpporretspbhv taneous and general as probably wlstnever before accorded to any newspape^stafted in the Colony. We can only « a \fit*hali be our endeavour to make the^EA-osa worthy oi the favor by which its kO>efit Ms been received. \--- In the present number imperfections will no doobt be found ; these, however,; will be remeoled in future issues, when the whole working arrangements have been i criaipl ted. To Advertisers we would point out. the facihty>fforded byHhese columns as a medium for giving publicity to their announcements. The field occupied by the Leader will extend from Dunedin to tbe^Mataura, Tapamii, &c, thus including a number of the most important and fully populated agricultural^districts .of the Province. Such a medium must, therefore; prove invaluable to* all who desire an extensive town and country circulation. ? Our enterprise is thus afloat, the CLUTH AL E ADE R will henceforth have its appropriate position amo'ugst the Co-, lohial Newspapers, and from the exceptionally favorable circom-tances^ under which it has been started, weanticipatefor it a long and prosperoui* career.

• * — ' — For some weeks prior to the; opening of Parliament, rumors were in circtila* tion to the effect that the 'present Session would prove to be of but sliort . duration. These rumors, howeyer, could be traced to no reliable soufce, and the public were ]pft vi-v much; in the dark as to the length or"importijnce of the programme Ministers Lad prepared &r the consideration of Pafliajneut. That programme has now been jfhvulged in the opening speech b ot his JEkcellency the Governor-^-a/'speech business-like, curt, and explicit^ and remarkable by. the absence of thatnauseous self laudation which has been a characteristic of such 'speeches:, of late years. The programme, like the speech, is shorty and. it is evident it is the .desire of Ministers that only : /those matters which oannot possibly ■ 7 stand ••< over should ;be taken up; thar> such - matters should be attended tbht- once, , J and the Assembly prorogued at; -as ; ] early a date .as possible; so that" Alinisters may devote themselves r t6j^the urgent demands upon their administra- j tivef attentioji, consequent ; v upba the -. § rapid progress of the; Colony^ahdtthe ; j many matrjSrs to which ■/ that progress 1 makes pTOmptTattentioh^desirable.'^Al-t I few in humber/hovyever, aaithe | measures foreshadowed af e,/^tßey^^a ! 1 not lacking in importance, and wf e v ar* '§ much mistaken if t^ey do not give rfrwi to -animated and leh^thened -p!ebatss.s§ The manner in which-the* immigratiqn 1 policy of the Colony carried I gut, the manifest .recklessness displayed 1 ia the selection of immigrant,; 1%1 careless and imperfect shi^pihgarran^l ments, &c.; all of which have sofproi;! j minentlyand frequently been brpugh|l under, the notice of tho public, ; cannot | be. passed [over f without fulLeipianationi and discussion, r The Natavepolicy alsp^ has long formed .'the* foundatiohlof anfl annual debate, and/ notW;is^^^ his Excellency's reference ta;fltS con^B tinued peaceful refationlftwltat^tneß Native ra?-e," indicatior^^Stmli^H ness oh their part have" noWJoeen- altpi-ffl getherawaniing,;infT^^|sr:T^ expected that the session wili^ptss -pverH without this ' : 'WAie^oii''s-^ing^^a§i^| bronight up. We are . also promMtill measures to provide r an^riaitioMajß election qiialification^'Vph^whicfc oa Wy/will place our^^ electbra^liaw iiporH the basis Ibf ;Mahhb(^{Su^fi*agej '£w.itH an. additionakprcroep^ the owners of property r^^atev "an^H conserve StaW Gpyernment Ihsuranco !SP-iey^old|riH "such profits as" ma^«beA^bniiderem safely divisible " : Wej^arV: 0sof i6l(B that Ministers ' « cbnsider-tlw ;p)?lynesiaijß Islands, j^eirt pivilisati6hl|; setth^ fi<raimerce,^4rorms/d problem of £reat interestt an&^mPrW tence^b-thjs-ebl^^^ of tbis is: ? sbmewhat oWeur^i; awl quires explanation; : JMK tend by it that the problem; :£s&&s§ to should be solved by ? !is«elirjWi this Session ?- Tf j-S^hr^^emrje^p may have caufe^folbrfg^^ the Ll' arday the LI OO a i session, as at^Mß^ ; <ssHaßi la^in^tnieasufe to provide against im^oto^eii^^^ "dead lock " between^the two >Drahch^P of the Legislature. Of the hfttiirWnlil this measure^arel^ it^pp;c,u^|tp)rj^%ao^ .its,;; t^^^i«o^^^^^^^^m wvwfip^&v^^ mm items te^ *u^74h Cadditibn kXoo^^mMM3m