THE DISTRICT PRESS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1938, Page 6

THE DISTRICT PRESS.

FIRST PAPER ESTABLISHED IN 1867.

ORIGIN OF THE “WAIRARAPA DAILY TIMES.” PROGRESS THROUGH THE YEARS. The establishment of the “Wairarapa Daily Times”—or, as it was originally named, “The Wairarapa Daily”—is 'so closely associated with the early newspaper history of the Wairarapa that a reference to the birth of the Press in the district would be a fitting introduction to this article. Tne first newspaper in the Wairarapa was the “Wairarapa Mercury,” established by Messrs. E. and C. Grigg in 1867. The first issue saw the light of day on January 6, at Greytown, in premises close to where there stood later ihe store of Mr. M. Caselberg, the business which subsequently became the W.F.C.A. Mr. Edward Grigg was the editor. After the paper had been in existence for some time, Mr. A. K. Arnot, of Masterton, purchased the interest of Mr. Charles Grigg, and assumed the editorship. Mr. Arnot was engaged in farming to the north of Masterton, and was also the Court Sessions Clerk. The paper was burned out and publication was removed to the building later occupied by the “Wairarapa Standard.” That building in its turn was destroyed by fire. Mr. Arnot eventually became the sole proprietor of “The Mercury,” retaining the paper until his unJimely death at Masterton. The paper was published every Saturday, and the price was 6d. The size of the paper varied from four to six pages, each of six columns, 22J inches long by 17 inches wide. The price was for a time at least increased to Is per copy, and in this connection an interesting story is told by that veteran journalist, Mr. William Roydhouse, of Carterton, now in his 82rid year. Mr. Arnot’s duties associated with the court and the business of his sheep run often saw him pressed for time to write leaders, and for a period no leaders appeared in the “Mercury.” A number of subscribers made complaint to Mr. Arnot in the matter, and the latter cheerfully replied: “You desire leaders? Oh, yes, certainly, you shall have them” —and he forthwith increased the price of the paper to one shilling. On the death of Mr. Arnot, the “Mercury” was purchased by Mr. Richard Wakelin from the Arnot Estate. Mr. Wakelin was then editor of the “New Zealand' Mail,” a weekly paper issued in Wellington from the office of the “Independent,” later the “New Zealand Times.” Mr. Wakelin changed the name of the ‘Mercury” to that of the ‘Wairarapa Standard,” and was sole proprietor and editor until he was joined as partner by Mr. Joseph Payton.

THREE NOTABLE MEN. It may perhaps be worth recording that during the later period of Mr. Arnot’s ownership of the “Mercury” he was more interested in his farm and in the work of the court session than in his newspaper, and often the reporting, printing, publishing and delivery of the paper from Masterton to Featherston was carried out by three youthful apprentices whose names became household words in New Zealand journalism—Mr. William Roydhouse, Mr. William Smith later owner of the “Manawatu Daily Times” and "Rangitikei Advocate,” and Mr. William McKenzie, who subsequently joined the “Wairarapa Daily” and afterwards owned the “Observer” (now "Daily News") at Carterton, the proprietors of the latter paper to-day being Messrs. William Roydhouse and his son, Mr. Reg. Roydhouse. EARLY MASTERTON PAPERS. The first newspaper was established in Masterton in 1874, by Messrs. William Smith (who at that time was just completing his apprenticeship with Mr. R. Wakelin on the Greytown “Standard”) and Mr. Morgan F. O’Meara. A meeting of business men was called in Masterton by Messrs. Smith and O'Meara for the purpose of considering the advisability of establishing a newspaper at Masterton. The meeting was well attended, and it was unanimously decided to give a full measure of support to the project, as it was consid-

ered desirable that a town of the size of Masterton should have its own newspaper. The paper was duly established and called the “Wairarapa News,”'with Mr. Smith as editor. After a short while, Mr. O’Meara retired from the firm, and a Mr. J. G. Fawcett came in as partner, the firm being known as Smith and Fawcett. In the meantime, Mr. Martin Rockell (a journalist connected with the Wellington “Independent,” and a son of the proprietor of the brewery at Masterton) started a new paper in Masterton, which he called “The News Letter.” . The “News” office was later destroyed by fire, and the paper (a triweekly) was then printed at the office of the “Standard” at Greytown and carried on horseback to Masterton, where it was delivered. This continued until the building and plant of the “News” were re-established in Masterton. Then “The Wairarapa Register” came on the scene, incorporating “The Wairarapa News” and the "News Letter,” Messrs. J. M. Rockel and J. G. Fawcett being proprietors when the office was destroyed by fire on July 23, 1878. It was following this fire, which, besides the “Register” office, destroyed the shop of Messrs. Williams, Cameron and Company, the auction rooms of Messrs. Wylie and Girdlestone, and the big general store of Messrs. Sellar and Hales, that a public meeting was held in Masterton to form a fire brigade. THE “WAIRARAPA DAILY.” The merging of various newspaper interests. resulted in the establishment of the “Wairarapa Free Press.” . This paper was purchased by Mr. Joseph Payton, who was then partner with Mr. R. Wakelin in the “Standard,” and subsequently dissolved partnership. Mr. Payton was joined as partners by Mr.- William Roydhouse (still living in Carterton, and who, up till two years ago, when he was 80 years of age, was actively engaged as editor of the paper owned by himself and his son, only a serious operation necessitating his retirement), 'and- Mr. Herbert Samuel (headmaster of the Carterton School). The firm was known as Joseph Payton and Company. • Mr. Payton was editor sub-editor and business manager of this new paper, which was called the “Wairarapa Daily,” and was the pioner daily newspaper published in the

Wairarapa, the date of the first issue being Monday, November 4, 1878. Mr. Roydhouse was the general reporter and manager of certain parts of the business, with Mr. Samuel engaged in outside work and casual reporting. In a short while, the outside work proving uncongenial, Mr. Samuel retired from the firm, and the business was carried on by Messrs. Payton and Roydhouse, the latter having Mr. Samuel’s outside duties placed upon his shoulders. There was no railway to Masterton in those days, and Mr. Roydhouse attended meetings at Carterton, Greytown and Featherston, reaching his destination on horseback. Later agents and resident reporters were appointed in various towns and districts in the Wairarapa, and the visits' from Masterton to report meetings or functions were discontinued. When the “Free Press” was taken over by Mr. Payton, the number of employees consisted of three men and two boys, and the progress of the paper was. such that the staff was soon largely increased.

A PIONEER MACHINE. When the “Daily” commenced operations the printing machine was an enormous one' with a non-stop drum, with one man feeding in the paper at the top, and a boy at the back taking off the printed sheets, which had then to be folded by hand. The “power” came from a big fly-wheel, turned by two strongly-built boys. As circumstances- warranted, more modern ■ printing machinery was installed, driven first by a gas engine and later by electric power. The noted product of the English firm of Payne, Dawson and Ellibtt, known as the Elliott printing machine (which was first used about 1903 in printing the “Daily Times”) was still in use, giving excellent service, when the last copy of the “Wairarapa Daily Times” was printed. The “Daily” was set by hand composers up till about 1904, when Simplex type-setting machines- were installed, these being later replaced by linotypes. A newspaper folding machine was also introduced.

In the early days of its existence, the “Daily” was delivered by men and boys from house to house on foot, bicycles being then unknown.

THE COURIER SYSTEM. For delivery beyond the town of Masterton the firm had what was known as the “courier system.” A boy or man would leave Masterton on horseback laden with newspapers for Carterton. Here the papers would be taken by another boy on horseback, who would carry the Greytown and Featherston parcels to another horseman at Greytown, who would take the Featherston parcel on to that township, while sometimes a horseman would carry a parcel of papers to Martinborough. Thus the “Daily” was delivered throughout the South Wairarapa every week day. This method of delivery continued until the railway arrived in Masterton and use could be made of the trains and the Post Office. In the districts north, east and west of Masterton, mail coaches and horses were used for delivery.

The “Daily” was first published in a building in Queen Street owned by Mr. Walter Perry, past where the Prince of Wales’ Hotel stands to-day, pending the erection of the premises so long occupied in Church Street. The name “Wairarapa Daily” was retained till about forty years ago, when by power of attorney while Mr. Payton was on a visit to England, it was changed to the “Wairarapa Daily Times.” Over forty years ago Messrs. Payton and Roydhouse dissolved partnership on the friendliest of terms the latter seeking a wider field for his talents and establishing “The Press,” a daily paper, in Wellington. Mr. Payton then conducted the business of “The Daily” as sole proprietor.

Originally a four-page paper, the “Daily Times” was enlarged to eight pages over 30 years ago, with an occasional additional two pages when circumstances warranted. A weekly edition was also published over a long period of years, this being chiefly for the use of subscribers in the backblocks, where a mail reached them only about once a week. For some thirty years Mr. Payton edited the paper —right up till the time of his death, about 30 years ago. The “Daily Times” was later formed into a private company, consisting of relatives of the late Mr. Payton, and during the past quarter of a century or so Mr. D. M. Graham has been managing-editor.