AN HISTORIC RELIC.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 643, 21 June 1921, Page 7

AN HISTORIC RELIC.

EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

COPY OF OLD NEWSPAPER

To go back eighty years in the history of the Dominion is to go ® back to the infancy of the colony. This is what a most interesting document in the possession of Mr Pul-, ham, at the Pukekohe Dairy Factory, 'does in the form of a copy of Auck- . land’s early newspaper, “The New Zealand Herald,” dated December, 1841. This -“Herald.” must not be \ confused with the present journal of that name. The present day journal wo nob. established until about twenty years later The “ Herald ” in Mr Pulham’s possession was run by a public company, and according to the reports in. its pages was not in a too flourishing con-, dition. The price per copy \yas 9d, and the size of the journal was less tbar. four pages .of the “Fia.nklin Times” to-day. Still it is a most inteiesting link in the growth of Auckland city, and \ hateve r its shortcomings it should be viewed with pride. One of the features of the number we were permitted to peruse by the courtesy of Mr Pulham, was the number of sections of land for sale in the city at very low prices, such as £2OO for a quarter acre section with . a raupoj whare thereon, let at 15s. per week. Quite a number of these were available on easy terms. Then there were interesting ’ advertise- * ments from old firms who have since riser, to wealth and fame—Brown and Campbell, L. Nathan, etc.

Another feature noticed was the holding of a race meeting on the Auckland racecourse. The highest prize was £3O. the majority £3. Quite . a change from the munificent sums offered at EHerslie to-day. An

interesting personal item noticed was that the wife of Govenor Hobson was safely delivered of z

daughter. But it is in the price list of'produce and merchandise that the greatest interest lies. • For instance, tobacco is quoted at Is 6d per lb, butter Is 6d lb,' coffee there was none, a laconic “none” \ being placed alongside the word. It is likely that a full price list will be published in these columns shortly. the old “Herald” is an interesting document, and we understand that it

is Mr Pulham's intention td hand it to the ’ Old ‘ Colonists’ Museum', to

safeguard,