Mr. George Main is a very Old Colonist, and also a very old pressman, but as he was a colonist first and pressman afterwards, he is brought into this section, though it is almost entirely as a pressman that he is here spoken of. On the 22nd of May, 1901, Mr. Main entered the fiftieth year of his connection with the Auckland newspaper press, of which he is popularly known as the father. It is doubtful if there is in the whole colony another journalist with such a long record. Mr. Main is now the sole surviving member of the original staff of the “New Zealand Herald.” He entered the service of Messrs W. C. Wilson and John Williamson, of the “New Zealander” (the former the founder of the “New Zealand Herald”) on the 22nd of May, 1852, and has ever since been in the service of that firm and its successors, Messrs Wilson and Horton. During this long career he has interested himself particularly in the study of old Auckland history, and has compiled an instructive and comprehensive “History of the Auckland Press from 1840 to 1891,” which he intends to bring up to date when released from his regular daily duties. Mr. Main was one of the “Herald's” representatives at the Tarawera eruption, and on his return to Auckland determined to illustrate, photographically, the story of that memorable catastrophe. It took him six years to complete the work, which consists of four large and interesting volumes, which he intends to bequeath to the Auckland Free Library—the Sir George Grey collection. Mr. Main is still a copious contributor to the pages of the “New Zealand Herald,” and his paragraphs and articles over the pen-name of “Mercutio,” are cleverly and humorously written.