DEATH OF VETERAN JOURNALIST

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1083, 23 March 1911, Page 5

DEATH OF VETERAN JOURNALIST

1 — ME. GEORGE HART, CHRISTCHURCH (By Tolesrauli.—Press Association.) Christchurch, March 22. Mr. Geo. R. Hart, one of the best-known journalists in New Zealand, died suddenly at his residence, Latimer Square, about mid-day to-day. . , . The late Mr. G. Jtt-. Hart arrived in New Zealand as a. small boy with his parents by the Cressy, one of the first lour ships, and spent practically the whole of his life in Christchurch. He watched the city grow up from a tiny settlement until it became what it appears to-day. He was apprenticed to the printing trade, and then joined the prolession of .journalism, continuing at that work right up to the day of his death. In fact, lie actually died in harness. Mr. Hnrt joined the staff of the "Press on October 1, 1870, and was easily the oldest working journalist in the Dominion. He was known in newspaper circlca from Auckland to tho Bluff, and was. exceedingly popular. He was apprenticed as a compositor to the "Canterbury Standard," Christchurch, in 1854, and in 1809, when out of his time, he went across tc Melbourne, and was engaged as a compositor on "Bell's Life." In 1860 he joined the "Ovens and Murray Advertiser" as a reporter, but next year returned to New Zealand and secured a position on tho "Otago Daily Times reporting staff. In 1862 he returned to Christchurcji, and rejoined the Canterbury Standard." In 1863 he married, and during the same year he joinedtlifi 1 firm of Tombs and Bent as a compositor. ; On October 1, 1870, he joined tho 'Press I as a reporter, ultimately rising to the positions of chief of staff and dramatic ' critic, v/hich positions he held at the time of his death.. • , There was hardly any public movemjnt in this city that Mr. Hart had not seen initiated, and in very many he took a close and personal interest. In 1871 he represented the "Press" and the Wellington "Independent" in the press gallery of the House of Representatives. From the time he joined, the staff of the_ "Press till the abolition of the provinces in 1576 he continuously reported the proccd'imrs of the Canterbury Provincial f'nnnril To mention all the important events with which Mr. Hart has; bceii connected would involve the narration o the history nf the city lor the past .11 vcirs Mr Hart also took a keen interest in matters affecting his fellow journalists, tind was a member of the fCew Zealand Institute of JonrnnlisK iTr Inst, his sole surviving «nn (Mr. Fran , Hart) on .Tune 2"> last. Mr. 1' rank I[l art who was also ■" member of the renoitin. staff of the "Press," cl-wl equally suddenly. An elder son died in about- three years arjo. M l '. Hart leave, a widow and peveral daughters.