The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Thursday, June 9, 1887.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 1, 9 June 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Thursday, June 9, 1887.

Be J Utt and fear not | Let all the ends thou a'm'st at be thy covutiy’e, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

FIRST WORDS. The people of this town and district are herewith introduced to a new journal, another public voice, a second organ for the ascertainment and expression of public opinion and public feeling,—in a word to all that is expressed by the term, a newspaper. A good custom demands that when a journal first presents itself to the public it should give some explanation of its appearance, say something to justify its existence and generally give a rros-peilive account of itself. That duty v.e shall endeavor briefly to discharge. l. as it I,as been said, by the learning of another language a man doubles himself, so m »<>me degree it may be asserted that a district which finds a second public voice attains- a better status than it could have with only. one. The' Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette will endeavor to justify its claim to fulfilling this high function. To making a number of high-flown professions and promises at the outset, we prefer to let our readers estimate us by experience, to speak of us as they find us. Falsehood, from however toul a source often finds a few believers, otherwise it would be needless for us to deny a malicious and malignant calumny already spread abroad with regard to this journal —viz., that it is issued by those owning a journal which this paper will do its utmost to rival and supersede by its own merits. Knowing the interested source of the slander, probably no one has been misled by it, but if there are any they are assured once for all that it is utterly false. It will be very qui<W seen whether this paper is subsidiary > any other; its own ambition is that it should be the other way about. At any rate, we are convinced that there is room here for two organs of public opinion and information, and if the reverse should be proved, and it comes to a survival of the fittest, we shall fight to the utmost to prove this paper the best and fittest. To that end we shall within a short period change the Issue from tri-wcekly to daily, either morning or evening—probably evening. If the support and encouragement received is what we have been led to hope for, the daily issue will certainly be effected by the next election, which is likely to be very soon, Meantime every effort will be made to bring out the best public tri-weekly paper. Here it will be in place to say, that as to politics we have no party, there being now, properly speaking, no parties in the politics of the State,

We profess Liberalism and Radicalism in the broadest and 'best sense of those often mis-used terms, and we shall consistently advocate the rearranging of the affairs of the Colony on a basis proportionate to its necessities. We are advocates of rigorous retrenchment in the public expenditure, of the stoppage of borrowing and of the cessation of the extravagance of the past with all its accessory evils.

As to the Native land question, the most important of all political questions to this district, we are opposed tooth an d nail to the present policy. The question is too big a one to allow more to be said now than that we advocate that course which will most speedily, and in the best manner, put every acre under production and individual title. The way we believe the best to attain that end will quickly appear. And, as bearing on the general question of political improvement, we think the representation of this district can be much improved and shall advocate accordingly at the coming election. We shall endeavor by the most scrupulously honorable journalism to win the goodwill of those who differ from us, and our aim will be rather to allay contention than to embitter it

On that most vital question, the harbor works, our views are strongly adverse to much that has been done hitherto. In this journal the ratepayers of the district will have an active and vigilant critic of the Board’s actions, and anything that requires light thrown upon it in the ratepayers’ interest will have a strong ray turned on it by us. We hold, that on this unsurpassably important matter, continued alertness and watchfulness is demanded of all ratepayers, an able representative of whom we will endeavor to prove. But on this, as on other local questions, our opinion will be speedily and fully shown in detail. Both as to the Harbor Board and all other local bodies, we believe there is wanted as in the affairs of the Colony, the most vigorous and ceaseless economy. All persons, both those who agree with and those who differ from us, will have the freest use of these columns to give voice to their opinions. We do not make

vaunts of independence, being dependent for support on the public of the tbv. n and district, but the independence that is demanded of a journal worthy of that name will be shown b'y our career. We shall believe in the sincerity and honesty of those finable to agree with us, and shall hope for that feeling to be reciprocated. We think that in journalism hitherto in this town that MS been much that had better not have been—too much malevolence, Considerable ill-directed energy, and 'much writing of a nature that could Serve no good purpose within the district, but which could da it nothing but harm without) We shall endeavor to deserve support by conduct strongly in contrast With this. All local news will be given with the greatest accuracy and fullness, while intelligence from the outeJ WoHd will receive ample space. Means are now being taken to break down an iniquitous monopoly as to the supply of cable news, which will result in our treating the public as te> forelgf'. fiews much more liberally than they have been treated hitherto. For some shortcomings at the blitset we ask indtiTgent’e, it being a difficult task to ige't d newspaper in thorough going order within a short time.

It is Our desire in particular to do justice to the interests of the people back in the country, who have many disadvantages unknown to town dwellers; and any local news of interest to the people of the district, no matter how small, will be welcomed and published. Our aim will be to serve ih every possible way the settlers in the country, on whom those in the town depend. In conclusion we beg to assure our readers that our desire being to prevent the Press becoming a monopoly in Gisborne, with the ill consequence that all m onopolies have, we shall do our utmost to deserve and attain success, and we hope to get all the support which we shall try most strenuously to merit, giving in return a journal which every reader will feel an interest and a pride in. Our faith in the growth and progress of this district is shown by our embarking in this venture, to help forward that progress we shall ever strive to the best of our ability, hoping to grow and advance with the district till both district and paper have reached the utmost limit of development and attainment.