Untitled

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 15 February 1851, Page 5

We promised in our first leading article, that Aye would from time to time publish,along with the Lstttelton Times, lithograph drawings of objects of interest in the colony. We made this promise in perfect good faith. And as soon as the confusion of first starting our journal was over, we attempted to produce a drawing of the town of Lyttelton. Our readers must believe in, and bear with. us when we say that we have made every possible exertion to produce the drawing, but up to this time without success: and we confidently appeal to the public for every indulgence in making this announcement. A colony just formed is not like England. In London, even in any country town, if any thing goes wrong, if labour is wanting, if materials are deficient, if an accident happens, all is overcome, almost at a moment's notice. All the appliances for producing such a work as we contemplated, are, so to speak, ready atband. Here all is different. If any thing has gone wrong, some make-shift must be adopted to put it right. If labour is wanting to make up lost. T time at the last moment, it is not to be obtained. i.t is not that it is expensive, or that we grudge the outlay, but, simply, that it does not exist.

Our readers would hardly believe the amount of trouble which has been undergone merely to get the newspaper printed in time every week, owing to the difficulty of procuring assistance which would be obtained in a moment in England.

Now the argument here used is one which all our readers in Canterbury will understand. When we see persons of all ranks in life, from the highest downwards, putting up with all kinds of what their friends in England would call inconveniences; daily experiencing how impossible it is to do every thing as quickly as they desire. We are quite sure they will forgive us when they recollect that the work on. which we are engaged, must be done week by week, and that it cannot be put off or delayed, whatever difficulty there may be.

We assure our readers we have done our best, and we can do no more. It has been found impossible hitherto to find time to print the lithograph, and several accidents to the stone and the materials have occasioned addditional delay. We can only say, that as soon as it can possibly be effected, our promise shall be faithfully kept, and the drawing shall be produced.