The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1885, OUR ANNIVERSARY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1443, 19 December 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1885, OUR ANNIVERSARY.

It is exactly four years to-day since we took possession of the lemdka Leader, and it will be three years next April since we started the Geraldine Guardian. They have been four years of great commercial depression, bnt notwithstanding this we have no reason to regret having thrown in our lot with the people of this district. When we came to Temuka the Leader was on its last legs—it had not another month to live, but we are glad tosay'thnt under our care it took a new lease of life, and now it is sound and healthy. Once upon a time this paper was an object for pity , uow it appears to excite envy. The proprietor of the South Canterbury Times, envious no doubt of its healthy appearance, made an effort to crush it by starting an opposition paper. That paper had as short a life as any we have heard of. Every effort was made to try to puff it up ; it was given to nothing on condition that they would give up taking this paper; supplements printed in Melbourne were issued with it ; bounce and blow were indulged in to make it run, but the poor sickly feeble thing perished—passed away in fact “ unwept, unhonored, and unsung.” A few wseks before it died an effort was made to resuscitate its debilitated constitution. A flaming advertisement appeared in it to the effect that owing to the unprecedented success which it had acbeived, and its circulation haring greatly increased—a tale would be given every .Maturday in addition to the Melbourne-printed supplement, but it did not do ; it died a miserable death, and not one has ever since missed it, The poor thing had not passed away when the Timaru Herald company became envious of dur success. They reduced the price of their paper to a penny for no other object in life than to crush us out of existence. If they could kill this paper they would control all South Canterbury, but they have by this time learned that “ the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft aglee.” In the effort to crush it out they have ruined the Timaru Herald, and we candidly admit that we regret it, fhat paper once held a high, place amongst New Zealand journal, and though it was never very useful it was certainly very ornamental. But, like Te Whiti’s potato, it is “ cooked ” now ; its market value has been reduced 35 per cent, and it will not be the same as it was for many a year. It will not pay at its present price, and the only chance there is of enabling it to keep np a decent appearance at all is to do what the Powers want Bulgaria and Eoumelia to do—go back to the statue quo ante . They may as well capitulate like their miserable contemporary, and adopt the policy ot “ live and let life.”

For onr own part we have only to say that every effort made to damage us has only tended to improve our position. Every day adds to our list of subscribers; almost all the business firms in the two towns are now making use ot our columns as an advertising medium, and persons who never supported us previously came forward handsomely when they saw danger threatening us. We beg to return them all our sincere thanks, and to assure them that we shall continue to watch over the interests of the district with zeal. Our friends will, we are sure, be glad to learn also that this paper is being taken notice of through the length and breadth of the colony. *At a recent meeting in Christchurch, Mr Howland, President of the Trades Protection, referred to it as one of the papers that was advocating Protection, and its articles are irequently copied into other papers. During the last month we have received two pamphlets, snd in each of them this paper is quoted in connection with the National Bank scheme. One of lbs pamphlets deals with the condition of New Zealand, snd the other is entitled “ The Cbichelian,” and is the first number of » periodica), edited and issued by the students of the upper department of Christ’s College. In “ The Chichelian ” the following paragraph appears : —“ The attention of the writer of this article was first attracted to the subject of paper money by some articles in the Temuka Leader . . . .

advocating a National Bank." Similar references are made to us in the pamphlet entitled “ The Condition of New Zealand,” and coming irom persons who are strangers to us we regard them as highly flattering. Both pamphlets hare been written, printed, and published in Christchurch, by persons who hare never seen us in their lives.

Taking a retrospective glance at the last four years we feel we have nothing to regret. Four years ago we commenced to advocate a policy of protecting local industries, and the whole country is taking it up now. We have always advised people to spend their money locally, and we are glad to say that there is far more business being done here now than there was then. Taken all round we have a great deal to be thankful for—we have not made a great deal of money, bat we have not lost any ; and if we have not done much good we have done no harm. We have worked earnestly and honestly for this diatrict and for the colony at large, and it is flattering to us that our views, put forth in a small paper published in an obscure corner of the colony like this, have been taken notice of and are subject! of general discussion. In ooa*

dufi'in we beg to lender our thanks to our numerous supporters for the many kindnesses which wo have experienced at their hands, and more especially to the people of Geraldine, who have faithfully and consistently stuck to us when tempting inducements were offered to many of them to give this paper op. We wish them all many happy returns of the day which we commemorate in this article.