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Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2090, 18 March 1889, Page 3

Referring to the rise of the newspaper enterprise m New Zealand, a writer m a recent issue of the "Colonies and India," says: -T-" About the same time (1888) tome of the literary men of that day pat a few pounds together and a got a printing press and some type from Sydney, They also persuaded a compositor to emigrate to Mew Zealand, The paper was accordingly issued m 1839, and was called the " Bay of Islands Observer." This was the first paper issued m Mew Zealand. In those days everyone knew each other, and local Bubsoribere amused themselves with writing * skits ' on their friends. Later m the year strangers began to arrive, and at the | beginning of 1840 a man-of-war anohored m the Bay. The editor of the newspaper inserted anything sent to him, and amongst other items published a notice of a sale of broken* down horses, which was to take place at Okaiato, the seat of government at the Bay of Islands. Some of the government officiate imagined they were being lampooned by the notice, and sent threats of action for tbp libel. These sent a thrill of honor into all eonoerned m the newly-founded newspaper, and the bantling m Mew Zealand ceased to exist. Thus the first newspaper was frightened to death."