The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 1573.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 885, 8 January 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 1573.

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

To-dat the Evening Star enters on the fourth year of its existence. On this day three years ago it commenced to twinkle in the Auckland heavens, nor has it suffered eclipse, nor been shorn of its beams. On such an occasion we shall be pardoned if we indulge in a little self laudation while acknowledging the kind and generous and liberal treatment which we have received at the hands of the people of Auckland. It is not our object to review the somewhat stormy life of the Auckland evening journal. There are some plants that thrive best in the little sequestered nook where the pleasant sunshine enters and the boisterous winds can never blow; ours, on the other hand, appears to have sprung to a vigorous maturity owing to the wild storms with which it has been lashed. Three years ago, when it first ventured to present itself before the public of Auckland, it was without friends, or resources, or prospects, such as warranted the hope of its dragging out a miserable existence, even for a short period, in opposition to an established and successful competitor; now it has swallowed up all its opponents, and occupies the proud position of having outstripped all the other journals of New Zealand in the extent of its circulation and the number of its readers. This success it has honestly achieved without fawning or flattery to any man or any party and while boldly denouncing abuse and wrong, whether in friend or foe. "We can confidently state that this journal has been threatened with more lawsuits than any other journal in New Zealand; but it is a significant fact that though we have never yet dipped our colours to any legal braggadocio, and have hurled back defiance to every threat, not one has ever yet brought his complaint before a jury. In the cause of the public

good we have assailed abuse, and we

desire to record our cordial acknowledgment of the fact that on every occasion, when involved in a struggle, we have received not only the sympathy, but the tangible and increased

support of the people. We do not assert that we have been invariably right, but we have always intended what was right; and, if in error, we have felt as much pleasure in acknowledging it and making reparation, as in running abuse to earth. It has been the aim of the conductors of this

journal to achieve the alleged impossible feat of steering a course perfectly independent of party, and we do not hesitate to appeal to our columns in proof of our assertion that we admit allegiance to neither party, person, or interest, and that with perfect impartiality and fearlessness we have assailed wrong under whatsoever protection it may have been sheltered. This course we pursued when it was with the Evening Star the day of very small.things, and when but little might have quenched its rays in darkness, and this independent course !

we shall continue to pursue now when there is not a power in the province with which we need fear to grapple. Our commendation and censure we have distributed with great impartiality, and we believe there is no public man or institution in the city but has shared in both in accordance with merit and demerit in the particular circumstances in question. The kind and, generous reception which we have always had at the hands of the people we have endeavoured to reciprocate, extending and improving the character of the paper in proportion to the increase of its circulation and improvement of its prospects.

We need scarcely add that it is our determination for the future to continue the same independent course which, in the past, has brought this journal to its present position. As it will not be our interest, neither will it be our desire, to be allied to any party or section of the community. Our party is the people; what is their interest is our interest, and by their cause we shall stand or fall, ever ready to unsbeath the sword For the came that lacks assistance, Fov the wrongs thr.t need resistance. For tho future in the districts, And the good that we can do.