THE PRESS OF THE COLONY

Globe, Volume II, Issue 141, 14 November 1874, Page 4

THE PRESS OF THE COLONY

At the dinner of the Dunedin Press Club Mr Justice Chapman made the following remarks regarding the early history of the Press in New Zealand : “ The first scheme of colonisation was by the New Zealand Company, who proposed to found the colony of Wellington. Now, before this colony started, a newspaper was projected as necessary to the welfare and safeguard of the new colony, and this was to be edited by a very old friend of mine, Mr Samuel Eevens; and the first number of the first newspaper to be established in New Zealand was published in London on the 6th of September, 1889, a month before the colonists left London. I think, therefore, 1 am not wrong in saying that I knew the press of New Zealand when it was only in the womb of time. [Applause,] The first batch of colonists started from the river Thames—and I saw them off—in the month of October. The Aurora arrived at her destination on the 25th of June. She was followed by the Oriental on the 31st of January, The third ship, the Duke of Roxburgh, arrived on the 6th of February; the Bengal Merchant on the 27th, and the Adelaide, which had the press and plant on board to which I have alluded, did not arrive until the 7th of March, in consequence of having put into and stopped at the Cape. On board, together with the press, types, &c, were an editor and two or three compositors, and on board this ship Mr Revens picked up an intelligent lafl, then known as Tom Mackenzie, but now known as Mr Thomas Mackenzie, and Tom agreed to be his apprentice. The Adelaide, with the materials on board for the newspaper, dropped anchor at Port Nicholson on the 7th of March, In addition to the types, presses, and other material used in the printing business brought out in this vessel, there was also on board a wooden house, which was built in pieces, and which only had to be taken out and set up on shore without any difficulty. This had been constructed by Mr Manning, of Holborn, and was landed a fortnight or three weeks after the vessel dropped anchor. On April 18th, just six weeks after the vessel arrived, the second number of the paper was brought out. This, I think, was great speed. (Laughter.) This New Zealand Gazette, for so it was called, was continued for four years, when Mr Revens went into other pursuits, and entered upon a country life. He disposed of the paper to Mr Mackenzie, who changed its name to that of the Wellington Independent, which name it continued to bear until this very year, when it was changed to that of the New Zealand Times, and 1 think that Mr Mackenzie is still connected with it, so that I suppose he is one of the oldest members of the press —I mean the practical portion of the press —in the colony. Although this was the first newspaper press in New Zealand, I don’t say it was the first printing press, as Bishop Williams had a printing press to print books for the Maoris, consisting principally of prayers, various religious extracts and scriptural translations, and a little grammar for teaching the Maoris English, I think many of those present would turn up their “intellectual noses,” as Lord Byron would say, at such printing as was turned out at this press. (Laughter.) There was also another and a very small press which existed in the colony before Mr Revens arrived. Colonel Wakefield had arrived in the country some years before, and he brought out with him a boy’s press, a little block press, which could be done up into a case about If in square each way. It contained three or four drawers, two or three chases, types, &c., though we may be sure on a very small scale. I believe this little press was never used for the purpose for which Colonel Wakefield brought it out. However, it had its little history afterwards. 1 had occasion to go into the office where it was kept, and I saw the press, and, having a little affection for this sort of thing, I said, “ 1 will send for one of these presses for my boys.” However, the owner told me that it was of no use to him that it was only knocking about the office, and that I could have it for my sons. So it was removed to my house. It was by no means complete for there was neither a galley nor a composing stick to it. However, I went down to Mr Ford, and he let me have a galley and a “ stick,” and out of these I introduced my sons into the rudiments of a compositor’s business. [Loud applause.] My sons belonged to a cricket club, and these lads used to hold their meetings with just as much gravity and regard for business as characterised your meeting to-night, and then, the minutes being written out, the proceedings were printed off by my son with the very identical printing press, [Loud applause.] What became of it afterwards I don’t know, I lost sight of it. But this I do know: that this was the second printing press introduced into New Zealand. You know very well that the first colonists arrived in this country before there was any Government to rule them. Shortly after the arrival of the Wellington colonists Captain Hobson arrived at the Bay of Islands, and was proclaimed sole Governor of these islands. He purchased some land of the Maoris at the Bay of Islands, and founded Russell as the capital of the colony. Fortunately this place was found to be very inconvenient, and the seat of Government was removed to the harbor of Waitemata, which is perhaps one of the beat, if not the best, harbors in the colony. And upon the banks of this harbor Auckland was founded, and made the seat of Government. One of the first papers here established was, 1 think, the Herald, and was, I believe, printed by Mr Falwasser. He had plenty of type and other necessaries for a paper, but he had not got a pi tilting press. But, however, he bought what answered the purpose, that is to say, “ somebody’s mother sold her mangle,” and he bought it. (Loud laughter.) As policemen say. “ I don’t know it of my own knowledge,” but I have heard it so often that I quite believe it. You used to see such announcements in the Herald as this: “ We have been compelled to stop the mangle to record ” so-and-so. [Loud laughter,] Mr. Harrison, now Chief Justice of New South Wales, was the next to venture in newspaper speculation in this colony. The paper was well written, but somehow or other it did not find favour with the colo nists, and it existed for only twelve months. I will next refpr to England, which brings me to my own experiences. When the colonists started for New Zealand, in 1839, I had a great number of old friends amongst them. For instance, Mr Eevens, Mr Fitzherbert, Mr Henry Petre, and others. After a great deal of discussion with some of them on the subject, I promised some of them that I would, about the time they would arrive in New Zealand, start a small paper in London to advocate their interests in the scheme of colonisation. It was to be published once a

fortnight, and for three years I kept it in existence. At the end of that time I gave up my connection with it, for I was getting into practice at the bar, and about six or rfght mouths afterwards I was appointed Judge, and came out to this country. This paper was printed for ten years afterwards, and I have several volumes of it in my library now, [Applause.] Every document of importance which was brought up in our Colonial Legislature, or was of any interest to the colonists, made its way into this journal for the first ten years of its existence. It was afterwards amalgamated with the Australian Gazette , and edited by a gentleman named Eypie, who I believe continued it on for many years. In this form, however, I only possess two volumes (if it, at the end of that time losing sight of it through losing, to a certain extent, the interest which I formerly possessed in it. About this time the first batch of colonists only amounted to 1100. I came out in 1813. At this time there were only 11,000 Europeans in the colony. Nothing was then known of this, the South Island. I can sum up all that was known of it in half-a-dozen words. We know there was such a place as Port Cooper —now known as Lyttelton. We had 'also heard of Mr John Jones, of Waikouaiti; and wo also knew there was a place called in those days Otako. The only knowledge we had of its topography was derived from Cook’s charts, and was as you may be sure very imperfect. Look how the colony has grown since then ! Then our exports amounted to £13,000, nearly all of which was in the shape of whale oil. But this was from a population of 11,000, and really was no mean thing. [Applause.] The idea of sheep and wool for exportation only came long afterwards. It was not believed that grass would grow in the colony—(Laughter)—that fern alone could exist. It was only in later years that our fine grassy plains were discovered. It was first whispered about that grass had been seen, then a few specimens were brought into town, consisting of a few blades of grass, carefully tied together with tape or ribbon. (Laughter.) Now look at the vast wealth and resources of the country —at our goldfields, our coalfields, and our wool. Why the very prosperity of the colony depends upon the fluctuation in the price of wool. And now there are 300,000 people established in these islands, and many great institutions are in existence. And all these things have grown up in the short space of thirty-three or thirtyfour years. t.Loud applause.) There is no doubt, however, that the press of New Zealand has greatly contributed to the welfare of the colony. I look upon the press of Dunedin as comparing most favorably with that of any other place in any part of the globe. Now and then, perhaps, a newspaper, like a lawyer, loses its temper; but take it generally, and there is no doubt that it is greatly alive to the interests of the colony, and that its columns are open to any contributors who will take the trouble to understand their subjects and push them forward for the general good. And the farmation of such a club as this cannot fail to benefit those for whose use it is intended. Therefore it is with great pleasure that I rise to propose the toast which has been entrusted to me, viz, “ The Dunedin Press Club.” It is likely to improve the good feeling and amenity which I have no doubt exists among you already, and in this way it will tend to improve the tone of the Press continuously and successfully.