The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 29, 1901. THE PRESS OF THE COLONY. No. II.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 200, 30 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 29, 1901. THE PRESS OF THE COLONY. No. 11.

A few words may be given to papers published out of the Colony, but having a direct relation to it. The first number of the Colonial Gazette, a weekly journal published from the Spectator Office in London, was issued in December, IS3S. It was in this paper that Edward Gibbon Wakefield : aired his views on colonizing. The New Zealand Journal made its first appearance in February, 18-10, as a fortnightly paper. It was published in London, and was for some three years ably edited by the late Judge Chapman, then a Barrister of the Inner Temple. Both these papers, but more particularly the latter, were energetic in furthering the settlement of emigrants in New Zealand. In January, 1848, there was published in Edinburgh The Otago Journal, its

editor being John MeGiashan. It object was "to assist the Presbyterian settlement at Otago. The settlement having been successfully launched, the paper ceased publication iu August, 1552. As to illustrated papers. In the four principal cities of the colony the leading papers publish weekly editions which are liberally and admirably Illustrated. The New Zealand Graphic is- a pictorial weekly paper, very creditably produced, and apparently growing steadily in public I favor. The New Zealand Illustrated ! Magazine has “come to stay.” It is usually well filled with entertaining and instructive matter, and is steadily improving, both as to the letter-press, and as to its pictorial branches. There are several publications; the Observer, etc., published in lighter vein, for which, no doubt, in every community there is room. Many of these publications liavo appeared meteor-like, as political exigencies have prompted, and have characteristically disappeared. One of tho j earliest serious attempts to establish a | comic journal must have been that of | The Dunedin and Otago Punch, first published on eptember 3rd, 1800. •The first Maori newspaper we have heard of was the “ Karere Maori” (tho Maori Messenger). This was published, or subsidised by the Government as a Gazette, being printed in Auckland and issued fortnightly. It was started in 1856 and ceased publication about 1803. In 1562 the disaffected Natives, or King party, esta- | blished a newspaper to disseminate j their views ; it was published in Maori, | being edited by Parata to Tuhi and his brother, and was called the “ Ilokioi ” (a fabulous bird, presaging war). To counteract the influence of tliis paper, and to introduce Sir George Gray's new legislation as to Na live lands, Mr (now Sir) John P. Gorst started a rival papor, also printed in Maori, which he called tho “ Pihoihoi Mokomoke” (tho solitary ground lark). This paper was printed at To Awamutu. in the Waikato. Its existence was summarily ended on March 24th, 1803, whoa the Kiugites, headed by Eewi Maniapoto, destroyed the press, and, t > save worse, Mr Gorst had hastily to leave tho district. A paper called the “ Korimako ” (Bell bird) was conducted by Mr Henry Davis, but it ceased publication somewhere in the “ eighties.” A Native paper called tho “ Tiupiri ” (jubilee) was published at Wanganui on 4th of January, 1898, and after a flickering existence of about two years it expired early in 190 U. The “Pipiwharauroa ” (harbinger of spring) is published from the Native College, Gisborne. The “ Paki o Matariki ” (brightness of Pleiades) is published monthly by tho Natives at Kalianganui, near Cambridge, by the King party, and the “Pukeke ki Hikurangi (the sacred bill, Hikurangi) is published at Masjtorton, Wairarapa. In September, 1857, there was published at Wellington a weekly publication printed in Maori called the “ Messenger.” Wo have only thought it of interest to note tho early papers in the leading centres of populations. Every township, or nearly so, has now- its newspaper. A Mr Puseloy, writing in 1857, comments very severely on tho then tone of the New Zealand press. Without claiming for a moment to have the special knowledge requisite to tho formation of an authoritative opinion on such a subject, we venture to think that the tone of the New Zealand press, as a whole, is now, and for many years past has been, distinctly high, and further that the writer referred to would now freoly reverse his opinion. It must never be forgotten that while the press is a powerful instrument in moulding public opinion, it is and must be considered also an index and reflex of that opinion. The author of tlio Jubilee History of Nolsou claims that to that city belongs tho honor of having been the first town in New Zealand to possess a newspaper. This claim cannot be admitted if the foregoing particulars may be relied on—as it believed they may be—on this point. According to official returns there were last year no less than 208 publications registered as newspapers issuod in the colony. Of these 50 wore daily papers, 36 were triweekly, 29 were bi-weeicly, 61 were weekly, 3 wore fortnightly, and 29 wore monthly publications.