A VENERABLE NEWSPAPER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1074, 24 November 1882, Page 4

A VENERABLE NEWSPAPER.

It may not be generally known that the oldest newspaper in the world is the King Pau or Capital-Sheet. publi lied in Pekin, and. since the 4th dt last Ji me, issued in anew form prescribed bv special edict of the reigning Emperor Quangsoo. It first appeared a.d 911, hut came out only at irregular intervals; since the year 1351, however, it has been published weekly, and of uniform size. Until its reorganisation by imperil decree, it contained nothing but Orders in Council and Court News, was published about midday, and cost two kesh, or something less than a half-penny. Now, however, if, appears in thiee editions daily. The first, issued early in the morning, and printed on yellow paper, is called Using Pau (Business-sheet), and contains trade prices, exchange quotations and all manner of commercial intelligence. Its circulation is a little over 800. The second edition which comes out during the fotenoon, also printed on yellow paper, is devoted to official announcements, fashionable intelligence, and general news. Upsides its ancient title of King Pau. it owns another designation that of Shxen-Pau, or Official-Sheet. The third edition late in the afternoon, is printed on red paper, and bears the name of Tilani-Pau (Country-Sheet). It consists of extracts from the earlier editions, and is largely subscribed for in the provinces All three issues of of the King Pau are edited by six members of the Han-Lin Academy of Sciences, appointed and salaried by the Chinese State. The total number of copies printed daily varies between 13,000 and 14,000. Considering the population of Pekin, and the fact that King-Pau is.a journal well advanced in the tenth century of its existence the circulation of this venerable press organ is scarcely so large as might reasonably have been expected.— Daily Telegraph.