OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US. (From the Colonial Printer's Register.)

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1314, 30 November 1880, Page 2

OURSELVES AS OTHERS SEE US. (From the Colonial Printer's Register.)

The " Waikato Times." | The history of the Waikato Times newspaper, like the history of the district which it represents, presents a changeful pictuie. The journal has had perhaps a more varied existence than most of its contemporaries, but it has fought the I fight Avith success, and stands to-day one of the best country papers in New Zealand. The enterprising journalist who established it (G-eorge Jones) was> at the time only a printer, and had not then developed that aptitude for writing which - has characterised his latest venture, the Oanwm Mud, and gamed for him a seat in the Parliament of his country. The Jirst office — a modest little two-roomed cottage — was set up at Ngaruawahid in 1872, that township being then the terminus of the daily coach to Auckland. The editor was a Mr E. Holloway, a geutleman who gave promise of much excellence, but who did not redeem it. The sheet was unpretending enough, and if its columns were occasionally bare, it mast not be forgotton that in those days news was scarce and hard to get, the means of communication through the district were very imperfect, and the settlers themselves, not yet alive to a taste for periodica literature, did not perhaps support it as they ought to have dono. However, content with small beginnings, the paper held its own, and in February, 1873, was removed to Hamilton, that being a more central position ; and there it h;^s since remained. Later in the year, Mr G. Jones disposed ot his interest to Messrs L uigbndge and Silver ; Mr ifontrose, a journalist of experience and ability, taking the helm. His spirit, however, soon proved to be too independent for the proprietors, and he was succeeded by Mr Yon Stunner, who held the office for nearly rive years. In September, 1876, Messrs Langbridge and Silver's affairs wore wound up, their heavy demands upon the paper's resources, coupled with the fact that one of the firm at least had put nothing into the business, proved too much for it to bear. The property was purchased from the trustees by Mr F. A. Whitaker, now M.H.R. for Waipa, and continued in his hands up to December last, when another change took place in j the proprietary. Mr. Whitaker erected the handsome brick building in which the institution is now housed, and effected many other improvements. The present proprietors, Messrs E. M. Edgcumbe and Co., have since the commencement of their reign made vast improvements in every department of the concern ; new type has been purchased, and the office j now possesses every facility for turning out almost every description of printing. The literary staff is under the immediate control of Mr E. M. Edgcumbe, and embraces two other practised journalists. The sub-editor is Mr S. E. Gr. Smith, u ho formerly occupied a similar position on the Not th Qtago Tunes. The increasing prosperity of the district of Waikato has, it is not too much to say, been largely brought about by the efforts of the representative journal. With the district, the paper continues to improve in its literary and (what is perhaps of equal importance to the "props") paying qualities, and is a monument to the enterprise and energy of the people of Waikato. The business management is under the control of Vlr George Edgecumbe,who is well acquainted with the district, and carries out his duties admirably, whilst the news and jobbing departments are under the supervision of Mr Richard Edwards, for many years on the staff of the Melbourne Art/ us.