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Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 350, 24 August 1878, Page 2

“ The first anniversary of the Ashburton Mail," says that journal, “ was celebrated by a dinner given by the proprietor (Mr Joseph Ivess), on the 6th of August, in the composing-room of the new office in Burnett-street. The “12th of June was the Mail’s anniversary day, but it was thought advisable to postpone its celebration until such time as it could be held in the new office, which, it may be allowable here to remark, will be one of the best of its kind to be found in any country town in New Zealand, with the exception of, perhaps, the Herald office in Timaru [and the Patea Mail office]. The new office of the Mail is built of wood, and according to an elegant design and plans prepared by Mr J, S. M. Jacobson, architect, Christchurch ; the contractor being Mr Jubal Fleming, builder, of the same town. On entering the large double front door, the shop will be found on the right, having behind it the manager’s room. To the left is the editor’s 100m —comfortable, commodious, and well lighted by means of double windows, arched at the top. Behind the manager’s room is the machine room, in which is fitted up in the most approved manner one of Connisbee and Sons’ patent self-delivery presses, with the latest improvements. Oti the machine room, to the left, there is a suitably-sized store room. Between the store room and the editor’s room is the staircase, by means of which the composing room is reached. The composingroom is large and cheerful looking, and is supplied with no fewer than ten windows; each apartment in the building ■■ is, with the exception of the shop and

the store room, furnished with a fire place, so that the comfort and convenience of the companionship have received d'de consideration.”

Mr Joseph Ivess is the “ enterprising proprietor” of the above, and who, by the way, is about to Start another newspaper at Walpawa, in Hawke’s Bay. Mr Ivess is known in Patea. He owns the Patea Mail plant and premises, for which the present lessee pays at the rate of 150 (one hundred and fifty pounds sterling) per cent, on cost. It is cheerful to Hearn of any person’s wollwhen, as in the present case, contributing, if not cpiito cheerfully, to the income of such an enterprising newspaper planter as Mr Joseph Ivess is credited with being - , and may with truth be said to be. The Napier Telegraph referring to the latest projected new paper, says — u To those who may not bo acquainted with Mr Ivess, we may state that he has started about half a dozen journals in New Zealand, few of which have proved, unfortunately, a success.” Our contemporary might have added, “to the unfortunate lessees who have been in discreet enough to attempt to work districts after the ‘enterprising’ Mr Ivess’ usual twelve, months term.” The Telegraph adds —The last journal started by this gentleman was the Tomnka Leader , which was bought by Mr Utting from Mr Ivess. Mr Utting has gone through the Bankruptcy Court.” Not at all a surprising result. Mr Ivess got the plant, and is about to test the pulse of the settlers about Waipawa. What that means is well known here. It is pleasant to read of the splendid new building just erected for the Ashburton Mail , and of the elegant—yes, “ elegant” is tbe word—premises, and the comfortable quarters which have been provided for the manager, editor, compositors, down, it may be supposed, to the p (1 : it is in such marked contrast to the (according to the terms of the lease) “ good and convenient” premises, which have been provided for the lessee of the Patea Mail, For example, on Thursday, there was a stream of water extending from the front door along the passage, and half way across the printing office floor, which would have served admirably for the floating of toy boats, and through which members of tbe stall Lad to wa-dc every time they required to cross the room—while, during the height of the storm, shelter had to bo taken from hailstones, which were pelting down through openings in the roof, which also necessitated the stopping of the printing press, to prevent damage to type, and loss of paper, as well as work. The accountant, working on the weather-side of the pigeon-hole—which also servos as editor’s sanctum and general reception room, all nnlinod—had a shower bath, which, as well, completely soaked the pages of the books spread out before him, turning the paper to pulp, and the neat writing, on which said accountant (and generally useful) prides himself, into smears and blotches. The editor, who had been quietly driving the quill on a strip of a deal board, fixed under the window, which serves as a writing table, was seen to bounce up suddenly from his seat, and after doing a dance inside his den, wading through the stream of water in the passage, vanished through the front doorway, muttering excitedly, “ I’ll stand this no longer.” Editors, are not, as a rule, easily excited. One look inside the sanctum was sufficient. The accountant’s mishap was trifling compared to the editor’s. The wind was whistling through the weather boarding quite galey, and from above water dropped steadily on papers, books, letters, &c. The composing room is so breezy that the lights have been blown out when the wind has been slightly high, and to enable work to proceed on breezy nights it is nccessai-y to devise protectors for the lamps. It is pleasant under such circumstances other discomfits might be enumerated—to read of the elegant premises and of the consideration shown to employees by the enterprising paper planter J.I. We only wish Patea could see a little of his enterprise, and that ho would —out of his high and regularly paid rental—find a few week’s work for a carpenter in an attempt to make the premises habitable,- if not “good and convenient” as they should have been made over two years ago, had the terms of the lease on his part been kept. He, however, having the best of the bargain, and being ever ready bawk-like to pounce down on his plant, as has been threatened, and pocket also £SO cash deposit which ho holds, the lessee is powerless to do other than submit.

We trust the Waipawans will have different experiences of the enterprising paper planter to what Pateans have had. J. Ps advent here did not prove an unmixed blessing.