The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3384, 1 August 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1885.

To-day the Timaru Herald makes its first appearance as a penny paper. It is with very great pleasure we are able to state that already the encouragement which has been given since the announcement of our intention to make the reduction has been even more than ■we anticipated at the outset. In every direction the movement seems to have met with great popularity, and we have not only received a large accession of subscribers at thiß early stage, but gratifying promises of augmented support from advertisers, who have been quick to perceive the increased value given to the Timaru Herald ad a medium for their announcements. It is now, of course, within the reach of all classes, and every day sees fresh additions to onr list of subscribers. If any further proof of the success of the movement were desired, it would be found m the outcry which has been raised by sundry local prints which, while the Herald was published at 2d, managed to drag out a not very honest or dignified existence by taking news from our columns without acknowledgment and retailing it' at a lower cost. They now know, of course, that the public will prefer to get its intelligence at first hand, when it can obtain it at the same price aa the hashed-up mixture m these piratical journals, and the conductors of the latter, feeling that their occupation's gone, are loud m their wailings and lamentations. We confess that we should have had more sympathy for them if they had previously been a little more honeßt, and self-reliant m their efforts to gain a livelihood. We ought, perhaps, to apologise to our readers for having inflicted upon them so much that is personal to ourselves. We know, however, from the kindly expressions of good wishes that have reached us that the result of the experiment is being watched with interest by many of our readers. The venture was a rather bold one, and many worthy people shook their heads at its temerity. On the other hand, as we have said, we have met with much encouragement, and we feel it due to those of our friendß who have interested themselves m the matter to depart thus far from our usual rule not to " talk shop " and to take them m this way into our | confidence. We have only to add, m conclusion, that m future we shall redouble our exertions to make the Herald the fullest and most trustworthy local authority on all subjects of public interest, especially those more immediately relating to South Canterbury ; and that every part of the district, and every section of our readers, may rely on obtaining the utmost consideration at our handß. That they will be treated with the strictest impartiality we think it hardly necessary to give any assurance, because any journal which does not make this one of its very first objects, is unworthy of public support, and will speedily meet with its deserts. Whether we agree with the views expressed or not, all correspondents whose letters are couched within the lineß of propriety and decency, may at all times feel assured of a full hearing and fair treatment m our columns. ♦ In another column we pnblish an account of a visit to the Kakahu district by a correspondent m whom we can place thorough reliance. : ;The result of his inspection of the supposed coal-field certainly seems to justify the proposal to have the locality carefully .^ systematically, examined by a minijig expert. That is of course the only way to get a really satisfactory estimate as

to the capabilities of the district. The opinion formed from a mere casual examination is not (infrequently quite erroneous, or at any rate apt to err on the sanguine side. We should strongly advise those interested m the district to have every enquiry made into the prospects which it holds out, but at the same time to refrain from anything like speculation until there is something really definite to go upon.