NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1842. OURSELVES.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 51, 12 February 1842, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1842. OURSELVES.

We have perhaps to apologise to our readers in not having before now declared the principles upon which it is cur intention to conduct this Paper, but the all-engrossing subject of the “ Land Claims’ Bill,’’ will, we hope, be ‘deemed a sufficient excuse for this delay. In looking, at the Prospectus of this Paper, as it now lies before us, we are happy to acknowledge that it is very nearly what we should have made it were we about setting up a Newspaper of our own ; and such it shall be our endeavours to make the “ New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette ” to be, so long as we shall have the Editorial management of the same:—“A Newspaper affording every necessary and useful information, upon all topics connected with the Colony of Mew Zealand; — conducted entirely upon independanl principles ; to be devoted to the dissemination of all news affecting the interests of the Colony, and residents in New Zealand to uphold the Law—support and advance the Religious and Moral character of Society ; and in every respect have, as one of its chief objects, the improvement and civilization of the Aboriginal Population.—lt shall contain no rrtisreprsentation, exaggeration or abuse; and care stall be taken to avoid any approach to offensive personalities.” In carrying out tiiese objects, we may state in one word that we shall be guided by Truth. Truth, eternal and unchangeable, shall t>e our polar and guiding star —the southern cross of our Paper. We mav,- and doubtless shall be, on many occa-

sions wrong in our estimate of truth ; but if we

shall happen to commit a mistake in this respect,

we beg to assure our friends and the public, that

the error shall be that of the head and not of the heart.—We have no object in acting otherwise ; by our contract with the very liberal gentlemeu who hold the property of this Paper in trust; we are left “ free and unfettered—at liber-

ty to write what we will.'’ —We have no more favours to ask of them, of the public, or of Go-

vernment. We are aware that many persons supposed that this was a Government paper, bound to uphold and support them in all their measures; but .we imagine that any one who shall peruse the last numbers of our paper will

soon disabuse his mind of this mis-

take. There are some Government Officers connected with the paper as Shareholders in the joint stock of the Printing

Company, and the printing of the Government, is made by contract at our printing establishment, we imagine because the Government cannot get it done so well, or so cheaply, or at all elsewhere.

Could they get it equally well and more cheaply done at any other place, of course they would not be j ustified in giving the preference to our establishment.—Such is our connexion with the Government. —We .are aware that we ourselves have in an especial manner incurred the displeasure of some members of the Government, because we have conscientiously opposed them on public grounds on account of an unjust measure, which would inevitably bring ruin upon the whole Colony. Such displeasure we have laid to our account, and it gives us not one moment’s pain : we would not sacrifice one single principle for all the smiles and patronage, or all the anger, ire and frowns of the whole Government; we value our reputation as an honest man more than all their favour or countenance. While we say so fearlessly and honestly, we must at the same time I admit that it is a foolish and wrong thing unne- | cessarily to oppose a Government. We have no ! desire to do so. We came here, as all our friends | in Sydney know, with the full determination of assisting and supporting the Government; in proof of which we need only say that some months ago, when the Port Nicholson settlers (as we then thought) on very frivolous pretences prayed Her Majesty to remove the present Governor, we, together with our friends Mr. William Wright and Mr, William ABERCROMBiEofSydney, did, at considerable expence, get up a petition praying that Capt. Hobson might be continued as the Governor of New Zealand. We did so without expecting or receiving thanks. How far we were justified in so doing, we shall at present refrain from stating, we deemed that we were right at the time. We shall continue this subject in our next.