SOME NOTES ON LONDON NEWSPAPERS. The Times.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 29 March 1873, Page 3

SOME NOTES ON LONDON NEWSPAPERS. The Times.

Thk staff of tlio Times newspaper is probably larger than thut-vf any other ncwspajier m tin* world Opinions may of course differ as to the ability displayed by particular enters, as to the value of the editorial articles for instance, jm to tho principle or want of principle displayed by its conductors ; but, as a matter of fact, uo one can dispute or gaiimy the great resourced of tho journal, the variety aud versatility of its correspondents, not only those who are its regular agents in foreign capitals, but of those volunteers who from time to time contribute letters to the editor. " I'll write to the Times" has become a phrase in the language for simply " I will make the matter public." It would sound an anachronism to say " I'll write to the Daily News or Standard " or whatever other paper your tastes may best approve of. This being so, it becomes a matter of interest to know what are tho sources of this power, and to get, whenever we can behind tho iceues of London journalism. The proprietary of tho Times is divided into a number of shares, which are held by many people in varying proportions The chief shareholder is ilr John Walter, of Bearwood, M.P. for Berkshire, and formerly MP. for Nottingham, as was his father before him. In the Ilouse of Commons he plays excellently well tho simple role of a ountry gentlcmnn; by inheritance and conviction he sits on the Liberal benches, and gives a general support to the Liberal policy. Another part proprietor is Sir Eobert Walter Cm-den, thes enior Alderman of the City of London, and (as his name imports) a relative of the last-mentioned. His share is not a large one. Your readers may remember that when his election for the Lord Mayoralty was unsuccessfully threatened by the corrupt longshoremen wliei ne refused to bribe for their "voices," the fact that he could command a clap or two of thunder in the Times told vastly in his fivour. The editor-in-chief is Jupiter himself — Mr John Thaddeus Delano ; lie inherited this position from his father, who was also editor. The whole ot the leading articles Varo written from notes supplied by himself to those persons that are best acquainted w ith the subject required. In these "notes" I do not I propose to refer to the personal characteristics of the people named, but it i 3 no breach of good manners to note that Mr Delano has constant access to the i highest society, and that his name is generally to be seen in the lists of guests at the leading • salons where news is to be had, and it may be said, to be made. And he may, moreover, bo beheld in the flesh nearly every evening in the " row," taking his constitutional on his cob. "The editor of tho Times" is a somebody even there, and worth perhaps looking at for a minute. Mr Delane has two assistants, one of whom h Mr Stebbings, who succeeded Mr George Webbe Dasent (the Hardy Norseman), lately appointed a Commissioner on the Civil Service Commission. Among the principal leader v, ntcrs are the Rev Canon Mosely, Mr Lawrence Olhphant, Mr Leonard H. Courtenay (Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and lately elected a professor at University College), I)r G-allenga, and a number of others. Mr Henry Wace, preacher at Lincoln's Inn, is generally responsible for articles on Church and religious affairs. In former days Mr Eohcrt Lowe, the present Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr Knox, the active magistrate of Marylebone, were regular writers of leaders. Mr Mowbray Morris is the general manager of the office. la the department of criticism, Mr Tom Taylor is the fine art critic, Mr T. J. Davidson, husband of Madame Arabella G-oddard) is the musical critic. Cuptain Hozier is one of tho authorities on military affairs, and ho is also a much trusted special correspondent, being, in fact, only second to the greatest of all specials, Dr Wm. Howard Russell. Colleagues of these are also Dr Charles Austin, Mr Broorae, Mr Kelly, Mr Dallas, &c. About sixteen parliamentary reporters are engaged out of session in reporting important meetings, and also members' speechesout of parliament. Correspondents are tobefoundnotonlyinevery part ot the United Kingdom, but in the chief places throughout the world. The pseudonyms adopted bv tho principal volunteer correspondents are as follows : — " Mercator" is (or was) Lord Overstone ; " Viator" is (or was) Mr Kmglake ; " S G-.0." is the Eev. Lord Sydney G-odolphin Osborne ; "Hi&toricus" and "H" is Mr Vernon Harcourt, M.P. ; the late Mr Grote often wrote as " Senex" 5 the " Hertfordshire Incumbent" is Canon Blakeslev, the new Dean of Lincoln ; " C.E.T." is Sir Charles "Trevclyan ; " Anglicanus" is the Dean of Westminster. Mr Eowsell used to write a* "An East End Incumbent," but he is now anything but that. The " Irish Correspondent " 13 Dr G. Y. Patten, editor and part proprietor of tho Lublin Daily Express, and a frequent writer in tho leading columns on Irish affairs is Mr O'Connor Morrn Tho city article is written by Mr M. B. Sampson. The general manager of the printing and machinery departments is Mr Macdonald. The paper is chiefly supplied irom tho Taverham Mills, the executois of Mr T. Suunders, Mr Mac Murray, and Mcssin Wrigley <t Co ; the ink used is furnished by Messrs A. B. Fleming and Co., Leith, and Messrs Black well & Co , London. The Tuneii s wholly printed from stereotype plates on the " Walter " Mnchines, a description of which we gave in the Printers' Register for Febmiry in the present year. The daily issue is over 70,000 copied.— Printers' Reyhler.