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Star (Christchurch), Issue 3351, 4 January 1879, Page 2

!he readers of the Star must have oticed how frequently lately we have een compelled to omit our leader, cut own to the Bmallest our local news, ad dispense with other items which wmld find, a place in, every well con-

acted daily journal. Such has been le pressure upon our space that the rrival of mail news, the occurrence of ay more than ordinary event, two or iree reports coming together, or an ctra advertising pressure of the smallest md, has necessitated the elimination of >me portion of our usual reading tatter. To obviate ibis, it has been )lt that some course of a decided and ermanent character would have to be dopted, and that course has shaped iself into an enlargement of the dimenions of the paper. Less thai twelve lonths ago the proprietors of the Star, x the same reasons, were driven to dopt a similar expedient. The change ffected upon that occasion was conidered very large for such a journal as he Star, embracing as it did a ;reat deal more than met the eyes of he ordinary reader. A ohange in the ditorial supervision, an addition to the ources from which local intelligence waß [erived, and the publication of original aatter,. were amongst the features which narked the important — to us at all ivents— -change. We do not care to ipnceal, the pleasure derived from a iurvey of our successful efforts. We lave been the advocates of large views md liberal politics, and have sedulously lought to deal with the great subjects iffecting the progress of the human •ose, in whatever quarter of the yorld they might occur. We have lought to make the Star the medium 'or the promulgation of liberal views, generous sentiment, and elevated thought upon every Bubjeot likely to interest, more especially in regard to those great questions in which the safety, welfare, and honour of the great Empire with which our Colony is associated, is bound up. Nor have we forgotten New Zealand politics or local administration. In these subjects we have never been afraid to differ from the majoiity when we have believed that a too generous sympathy had for a time ob« scured their usual clearness of preception. This has been, as our readers are aware, our simple policy ; our hope has been that it would carry us not only into the drawing-room of the villa, but render us a welcome member of the domestic circle in the cottage of the artizan and the working-man. We have not been disappointed in the result. Our policy has brought us success — a success we have no intention of throwing away by meaner efforts or the adoption of any lower platform. With the enlargement of our space to-day our resources for good are increased. Our leading oolumns, we trust, will continue to be filled as here* tofore. Our means of laying before our readers full telegraphic news have been increased, and there can be no doubt that after the new machinery employed for collection and transmission has settled into its proper grooves, it will work smoothly and well to the public advantage. The inevitable hitches that are certain 1 to occur in the starting of any large and somewhat complicated administrative maohinery, appear to have afforded great delight in some quarters not distinguished particularly for good taste in their treatment of such matters, but the exercise of a very little patience is all that is necessary to overcome all difficulties. Again the sources from which our local intelligence is derived havo boon greatly extended, and the means of collection increased. We hope that now no complaint need be made — against us at any rate — that the reports of public bodieß have been unduly curtailed. These improvements, which will greatly increase the interest of our journal, will also add greatly to its value as an advertising medium. To-day, the Star is one of the largest evening newspapers in New Zealand, and there is no daily journal in any of the Colonies of Australasia where it can be said that more is given for one penny. We have no intention of rating ourselves under the value of that humble but very convenient coin. We are quite ready to take all the oonsequences of the assertion that if we are not worth that sum we are not worth anything. Publio journals like private individuals are to be largely taken at their owa valuation. A good article will always command its price : rubbish is always dear — if it is paid for at all — and is generally expensive at a gift. We have little doubt that in the future as in the past, these principles will continue to hold, and that the Star will continue to win its way into the confidence and regard of the people of this City — our constituents.