Mr G. M. Reed’s Departure.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 274, 16 March 1889, Page 2

Mr G. M. Reed’s Departure.

New Zealand journalism will lose a worthy leader by the departure from the colony of Mr G. M. Reed, at present leader writer on the New Zealand Herald. An Auckland telegram statesA testimonial and purse of sovereigns from numerous friends in Auckland was presented to Mr G. M. Reed, the well-known journalist, who leaves Auckland shortly for Melbourne to take up the position of editor of the Evening Standard. Captain W. H. Colbeck presided. Sir George Grey made the presentation, and in a brief address remarked that he did not believe that any man had ever more sincerely labored than Mr Reed to obtain justice for those whom he believed to be wronged. In the present state of the world it was, he believed, the duty of every citizen to do his best to recognise the merits of those journalists who do work for the public good. In point of fact, if they considered that the news of the world was kuown to us almost within a few hours after it was known to the inhabitants of those countries in which the events recorded had happened, and if they considered that a journalist had it in his power greatly to form public opinion, he thought they all might say that ability of the highest order was required for that profession, and that honesty of the very highest class was necessary, and integrity also, so that no feeling of friendship, no party feeling which he might indulge in his own heart for particular causes, must prevent the journalists from doing what is right. Those journalists who labored to keep the public in the right, whose lives were a continual series of mental labor day by day—it seemed to him that those men occupied somewhat the position that the ancient Roman orators did in the forum, directing public opinion ; in fact, they occupied a much higher position, because they formed public opinion on every event that took place throughout the world. When, therefore, th <" parted from a man who took what he believed to be the right path in public duty let them do so with every expression of goods will.—Mr A. Bell also presented an address to Mr Reed on behalf of the Auckland Industrial Association, pointing out that he was the first journalist in Auckland to advocate Frotectiop for local industries.—ln replying, Mr Reed said that during the twenty year; of his residence in the Colony he had, as a public journalist, said many hard things as well as some kind things, but ha trusted that the harsh words had bean forgiven and forgotten.