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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 9 (December 1, 1936)

Early Auckland Newspapers — Politics and the Press

page 38

Early Auckland Newspapers
Politics and the Press.

When the Englishman came to New Zealand nearly a century ago for the purpose of colonisation, he brought with him the printing press and the materials necessary for the publishing of a newspaper. The newspaper had become even by then so great a factor in his life that he felt himself unable to live without it.

The first thirty years of colonisation saw the rise and fall of a large number of newspapers, especially in Auckland and Wellington. Most of these early journals were without any literary qualities and were, in the main, merely weapons in the stormy political fights that were waged in the colony in the 'forties and 'fifties of last century. The disputes between the New Zealand Company and the British and Colonial Governments led to stirring times for the press in Wellington, which not only assailed the Administration, which was situated in the north, but the northern colonists and press as well. The quarter-deck manner of Governor Hobson and Lieutenant Willoughby Shortland was in large measure the cause of the forming in the north of an anti-Government faction, which had its own newspapers, and was just as violent as that in the south. These papers usually assailed the Administration with such gusto that the authorities deemed it expedient to take extreme measures for their suppression.

In his “Story of New Zealand,” published in 1859, Dr. A. S. Thomson, surgeon-major of the 58th Regiment, says: “All the papers in the colony were in the habit of using strong language; indeed, savage scurrility supplied the place of wit, and harshness of expression the want of keenness. Many articles were actuated by personal feelings, but as some excuse for this state of affairs it is to be remembered that the press was the only check the people had on their rulers.” The measures at times taken to suppress the freedom of the press were such that they would be impossible under present day conditions.

In this article it is intended to give a summary of the newspapers which existed at the Bay of Islands and Auckland prior to 1870, the year in which the city's present evening paper was founded.

The North's First Journal.

The earliest newspaper to be published at the Bay of Islands was the “New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette,” which made its appearance as a weekly in June, 1840, about six months after the establishment of the colony. It was published by G. A. Eagar and Co., at Kororareka. It will be noticed that in many cases those responsible for the naming of the early journals had a partiality for long names. The “Advertiser” had the distinction of being the second newspaper to be issued in the colony. The first was the “New Zealand Gazette,” issued at Wellington in April, 1840.

Getting ready for the day's run. A camera study at the Locomotive Sheds, Auckland, New Zealand. (W. W. Stewart collection).

Getting ready for the day's run. A camera study at the Locomotive Sheds, Auckland, New Zealand.
(W. W. Stewart collection).

The late Dr. T. M. Hocken has described the North's first journal in the following words: “The Rev. B. Quaife was editor—a Congregational minister and a gentleman who, in addition to his editorial functions, combined those of a preacher and an instructor of the young. Whilst the contents of his paper were as might be expected eminently respectable, they were undoubtedly poor. The burning question of the hour was the land claims, which bore a somewhat different aspect from the same question amongst the settlers at Wellington. But in both instances the common ground of complaint was that the Government refused to recognise the validity of any purchase of land from the natives until official enquiry had been made and a Government grant issued—a tedious and expensive process indeed. Whilst this grievance was attacked in the distant South with the utmost vigour and acerbity, in the North it was approached with great circumspection, for there the Government was close by and its iron hand was felt at once…. The land question proved the absorbing theme to which all others were subsidiary and it, and the native connection with it, formed almost the sole politics of daily discussion. Not for long did, or could, Mr. Quaife avoid it, especially as other matters of perhaps more domestic concern, such as the police and the post office, were shamefully mismanaged. So, like the proverbial moth, he circled nearer and nearer to his doom, and after the issue of his twenty-seventh number on 10th December, which contained various moderate suggestions for reform, he was peremptorily directed to appear before Mr. Shortland, the Colonial Secretary, and threatened with all the pains and penalties of an old New South Wales Act regarding the print- page 39 ing and publishing of seditious newspapers. This meant, and proved to be, the extinction of his paper.”

Early Wellington. A view of Lambton Quay in 1863.

Early Wellington. A view of Lambton Quay in 1863.

Neither Captain Hobson or Lieutenant Shortland were by their training able to tolerate anything approaching insubordination, and the following statement which appeared in the “Advertiser” would have been more than sufficient to condemn it in their eyes: “There are police officers whose chief business is to act in defiance of the law they are sworn to maintain and defend.” In a circular dated 15th December the proprietors said: “One thing has become manifest, the Government of the British Colony of New Zealand does not wish a free press, while, on the other hand, our feeling is—A FREE PRESS OR NONE AT ALL.”

Government Gazette.

The Government, however, found it necessary to have a paper for the publishing of its notifications. The result was the appearance on 30th December, 1840, of the Gazette Extraordinary. It was printed at the Church Missionary Society's printing office at Paihia. The reason given for its birth was that the “Advertiser” had declined to publish any advertisement for the Government. The fact that a newspaper chose to decline good money in this way is some indication of the bitterness of feeling that existed at the time towards the Administration. With the second number the name was changed to the “New Zealand Government Gazette.” Nineteen numbers had been published when on 7th July, 1841, it was superseded at Auckland by the first issue of a new series, the forerunner of the present Government “Gazette,” which is thus the oldest journal in the Dominion, being ninety-five years of age. Moreover seven years ago the Full Court gave as its considered opinion that the “New Zealand Gazette” is legally a newspaper.

Of the early issues Dr. Hocken says: “From internal evidence I am inclined to think that the printer of the crushed ‘Advertiser’ was employed, and that he was permitted to make the best private use of the paper after satisfying official requirements. Comical juxtapositions thus happened—private advertisements for lodgings, salt beef, and other merchandise displayed on the same page as those signed by His Excellency's command; and in addition there were a few items of news. It was published gratis, which, remembering the mode in which it rose from the ashes of its predecessor, seems enough.” Dr. Thomson writes in a similar strain: “It was partly official and partly not, although there was often difficulty in detecting which was which, and some of the articles were curious compositions for a paper ‘published by authority’.”

“The Bay of Islands Examiner” had also been started as a weekly about the same time as the “Advertiser.” It ceased publication some time the following year.

A Challenge to a Duel.

Meanwhile Mr. Quaife had not been inactive. He re-appears as one of the promoters of a company formed to protect the interests of the public from the “continuous misrule and indifference of the Government.” In furtherance of this purpose the “Bay of Islands Observer” appeared on 24th February, 1842. The price per copy was a shilling and the charge for twelve lines of advertisement three shillings and six pence. “Mr. Quaife, who was again editor,” says Dr. Hocken, “no longer approached abuses in a gentle indirect manner, but handled them with so much candour and bluntness as to find himself and his company in danger of an action for libel, which was averted only by humble confession and apology.” A little later—in October—“The Observer” ceased to exist, deploring as it died the little aid it had received from subscribers and the public.

The last of the early papers in the far North was the “Bay of Islands Advocate,” another weekly, which appeared on 4th November, 1843, price one shilling. It succumbed after three months.

To come now to Auckland itself. The first of the city's many newspapers was the “New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette,” the first issue
A view of Lambtom Quay, Wellington, 1936. This photograph was taken from approximately the same position as the one shown above. (Rly. Publicity photo.)

A view of Lambtom Quay, Wellington, 1936. This photograph was taken from approximately the same position as the one shown above.
(Rly. Publicity photo.)

page 40 page 41 of which appeared on 10th July, 1841. It was printed by Mr. John Moore for the Auckland Printing Company and the price was the usual shilling. It had as its editor a Mr. Corbett and the views of the journal were more those of a Government clique than of the public. This, together with the fact that those responsible for the management did not realise that a newspaper is dependent upon the securing of advertisements for its existence, resulted in the venture soon showing signs of failure.

The services of Dr. Martin, a medical man of considerable literary ability, who was at the time in Sydney, were procured. He, however, owing to having a grudge against the Government over the land question, wrote in so violent a manner that there was little chance of the journal surviving his appointment for long. Indeed within the first two months he had been threatened two or three times with actions for libel. The climax came when Mr. Fitzgerald, a Government official, seized from the printer under pains and penalties some of the editor's manuscripts. Having failed to secure the return of his property, Dr. Martin thereupon challenged Mr. Fitzgerald to a duel. The challenge was declined, and in the midst of the tumult Auckland's first newspaper came to an end in April, 1842, after an existence of only ten months. The whole of the company's plant was bought by the Government for £1,700. It remained, however, under the management of Mr. Moore, and a week later saw the birth of the “Auckland Standard,” issued presumably in the interests of the Government. The editor was Mr. William Swainson, who had come to the colony as Attorney-General. The “Standard” fared no better than its predecessor, and after four months' struggle it ceased publication on 28th August, 1842.

Printing with a Mangle.

The next paper to appear was the “Auckland Times,” owned and edited by Mr. Henry Falwasser. The first issue appeared on 5th September, 1842, and was printed by Mr. Moore on the Government press. But before three months had elapsed Lieutenant Shortland, then Acting-Governor, stepped in and stopped the publication. Mr. Falwasser, however, was not to be beaten, and gathering together all the old type which he could find he continued, with the aid of a mangle and coarse paper, to bring out his paper every week. It has been said that he once started a leading article in “canon” and ended it in “nonpareil,” after having gone through his whole assortment of “founts.” In one of its leading articles the “Times” denounced the Administration for having attempted to destroy the liberties of the press by monopolising certain plant and type, thereby reducing Mr. Falwasser to great extremity. The imprint of the paper contained the words “printed in a mangle.”

To quote Dr. Hocken once again: “It is plain from the specimens that the compression of the mangle varied very much; sometimes it was so violent as to drive the ink through the paper so that the letterpress can be read by reversal, and sometimes it was so faint as to be barely legible. Words were printed with letters of various type so that capitals, italics, and old English met together in the same word, producing a most comical and mystifying result. If not a confusion of tongues it was certainly a confusion of letters. Of course, the paper afforded great amusement and doubtless had a good circulation especially as it lashed out to the complete satisfaction of the public. Its comical characteristics and scanty pages no doubt protected it from the fiery persecution of those days, especially as the numbers were issued gratis until, as the editor assured his readers, proper type and paper could be procured from Sydney. But gradually its strange appearance improved with the occasional addition of a little newfound type, better paper, and better handling of the mangle until in its forty-second number, on 13th April, 1843, it said farewell in quite a presentable form.” The new material arrived in due course from Sydney and in November the paper was revived and continued to flourish until the death of Mr. Falwasser in January, 1846.

At intervals in the course of its career the “Times” had a spirited rival in the “Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist.” The first number was issued on 8th November, 1841. It suspended publication the same year, but was revived in October, 1842, only to disappear again in July, 1843. It made a third appearance a short time later, and finally died in 1845. It was printed by Mr. Moore in the interests of the Government. The “Times” referred to it as “that administerial thing called the ‘Chronicle’—bah!” The “Chronicle” retaliated by calling its rival “the Old Lady of the Mangle,” and by advertising “For sale, a mangle, apply to the proprietor of the ‘Auckland Times’.”

The “Southern Cross” in its first issue had the following biting reference to the “Chronicle”: “For sale or hire, in about a fortnight, a defunct Government engine used for stifling the fire of people; rather shaky, having lately stuck fast in the swamp of Queen Street…. Has been well greased lately, its head turning with marvellous facility in any direction. Apply at the ‘Chronicle’ office.”

A Maori publication, “Te Karere O Niu Tireni,” had a life of nearly four years. It was first issued on 1st January, 1842, and died towards the close of 1845.

One of the many fine views of Kapiti Island, obtainable from the train north of Paekakariki, North Island, New Zealand. (Photo. J. D. Buckley.)

One of the many fine views of Kapiti Island, obtainable from the train north of Paekakariki, North Island, New Zealand.
(Photo. J. D. Buckley.)

page 42 page 43
A suburban train near Auckland. (W. W. Stewart collection).

A suburban train near Auckland.
(W. W. Stewart collection).

Higher Standard Attained.

We now come to two papers much superior in standard to those that we have so far referred to. Dr. Martin, after his connection with the “Herald” had been severed, became indignant and took steps to secure another press and a supply of type. On 22nd April, 1843, there appeared the “Southern Cross, New Zealand Guardian, and Auckland, Thames and Bay of Islands Advertiser.” Its proprietor was Mr. William Brown, the partner of Dr. (afterwards Sir) John Logan Campbell. The name, or at least the first portion, by which the paper became known, was suggested by Dr. Campbell while sitting with his partner in his home, “Acacia Cottage,” from the name of an hotel in Adelaide at which he had stayed a year or two previously.

In 1844, Mr. Brown, accompanied by Dr. Martin, left on a visit to England and Dr. Campbell was left in charge of the paper. The loss on it was so great that he ceased publication in April of the following year. Upon Mr. Brown's return to the colony in July, 1847, the paper was revived and was destined to become the first daily newspaper in the Auckland province. The initial issue of the “Daily Southern Cross” appeared on 20th May, 1862. The paper was shortly afterwards sold to Sir Julius Vogel and his company. The amount which Mr. Brown is said to have lost in connection with the paper is £10,000. The “Daily Southern Cross” continued to be published regularly until the end of 1876, when it was purchased by Mr. A. G. Horton and amalgamated with the “New Zealand Herald,” the city's present morning journal. Dr. Martin did not return to the colony.

The other paper which showed that a higher standard of journalism had been atttained in the colony was the “New Zealander,” which commenced as a weekly, priced sixpence, on 7th June, 1845, just after the temporary cessation of the “Southern Cross.” It was owned by Mr. John Williamson, who was later to enter into partnership with Mr. W. C. Wilson. By 1859 the “New Zealander” had become the leading newspaper in the colony. The list of its many noted editors and contributors include the names of Dr. Bennett, the father of the present Bishop Bennett, Dr. D. Pollen, who in 1875 became Premier, the Rev. T. S. Forsaith, of “clean shirt ministry” fame, Dr. R. B. Kidd, the first headmaster of the Auckland Grammar School, Sir John Gorst, and Dr. J. Giles, who until his death a few years ago was a frequent contributor to the correspondence columns of the “New Zealand Herald.” The “New Zealander” was issued as a daily on 1st January, 1863, and the same year Messrs. Williamson and Wilson dissolved partnership, and Mr. Williamson carried on the paper, with Mr. G. M. Main as printer and publisher. Later Messrs. Mitchell and Seffern took it over, and on 3rd April, 1865, brought it out as the first penny newspaper in New Zealand. At the end of the same year the paper was transferred back to Mr. Williamson, who reduced its issues to two a week, and the following year it ceased publication.

“New Zealander's” Policy.

In announcing the change of management which occurred in 1865 the “New Zealander” said: “It is with Auckland that our interests and our sympathies are linked, and our ambition will be satisfied if we can do somewhat to assist the progress of the finest province in the finest island in the Southern Hemisphere.” At the time feeling between the North and the South was running very high, and the southern colonists doubtlessly thought that the “Aucklander” would have been a more fitting name than the “New Zealander,” especially as the paper was vigorously espousing the agitation for the political separation of the North from the South.

An incident which occurred in the course of the life of the “New Zealander” illustrates some of the difficulties under which our pioneer journalists had to work. A contributed article relating to the fighting at Gate Pa, gave considerable offence to the naval men stationed at Auckland, who page 44 page 45 thought their honour greatly tarnished by it. The result was the unexpected appearance before the office of the “New Zealander” of fifty sailors from H.M.S. Esk. They were armed with a strong hawser and this they passed in a front upstairs window, through the building, out a window at the back and over the roof to the front again. The sailors then demanded a complete retraction of the offending statement, failing which they threatened to overturn the building. It has often been stated that the sailors were successful in securing an apology. This, however, was not the case. A compromise was effected by the editor agreeing to publish the sailors' version of the disputed incident. A signed statement was accordingly supplied and the publication of this was the only approach to an apology that the paper made.

The “New Zealander” can claim the distinction of having introduced the steam-driven printing press to the colony. In its issue of 9th February, 1861—the first to be printed by steam—it said: “We are happy to say that the alteration from manual to steam power will enable us to throw off any quantity of impressions with the utmost facility and expediency.” The engine was of only two horse power, but it was a big improvement upon Falwasser's mangle. A comparison with the present day efficient cable service is afforded by the fact that the latest overseas intelligence in the issue of the “New Zealander” for 28th August, 1847, was dated 1st March.

A Myriad of Journals.

The number of short-lived journals between 1850 and 1870 is surprisingly large. A list of these has been placed on record by Mr. G. M. Main. The “Anglo-Maori Warder” commenced a brief existence in April, 1848. In January, 1849, “Ko te Karere Maori” was published by the Government in English and Maori for circulation among the leading natives. It lasted until 1860. The “Pensioner Settlements' Gazette” was started about 1851, and was published from the office of the “New Zealander.” As the result of a temperance revival the “Auckland Temperance Telegraph” was established in November, 1854, but did not survive a year. The “Auckland Examiner,” founded in December, 1856, by Charles Southwell, tragedian and lecturer, lasted until August, 1860. The “Auckland Weekly Register,” an off-shoot of the “New Zealander,” was established in February, 1857, and had a life of nearly four years. The careers of the “Independent,” started by Mr. John Moore in October, 1859, and of the “Telegraph,” started in September of the same year, were both short. The first two numbers of the “Albertland Gazette and Ocean Chronicle” were printed on board the Matilda Wattenbach on the voyage from London in 1862. The third number was published on 1st August, 1863, in connection with the New Albertland settlement. The paper died within twelve months.

The city's present morning paper, the “New Zealand Herald,” was founded in November, 1863, by Mr. Wilson. In 1876, Mr. Horton, on purchasing the “Daily Southern Cross,” entered into partnership with the sons of Mr. Wilson and the two papers were amalgamated. Both the “Southern Cross Monthly” and the “Auckland Weekly News and Farmers' Gazette” were started in 1863. The former had a life of only three years, but the latter is still with us, the sole surviving weekly of its type, subject to certain recent alterations, in the Dominion. Other short-lived ventures were the “Argus,” 1865, the “Evening Post,” 1866, the “Penny Journal,” 1866, and the “Auckland Budget,” 1867. An attempt was made in March, 1866, to establish a German paper, the “Neu-Seelaendische Zeitun,” and about the same time appeared a further Maori paper, “Te Waka o te Iwi.” The “Auckland Free Press” was launched in March, 1868, but proved a failure. In 1868 the “Evening News” was started and the “Evening Newsletter” was published from the same office as a sort of monthly supplement. In December of the following year the “Auckland and Thames Leader” was started, and in January, 1870, the “Auckland Star” made its appearance in opposition to the “Evening News.” It soon extinguished and absorbed its rival and to-day is more strongly entrenched than ever.

Clergymen (most of them anyway) are notoriously heavy smokers, and have always been, says an 18th century writer: “The generality of parsons can no more write a sermon without a pipe in their mouths than without a Concordance in their hands.” Tobacco is undoubtedly a great aid to literary effort. But it's not all gold that glitters and it's not all tobacco that is reliable. The great fault of so many brands is that they are overloaded with nicotine, and nicotine constantly absorbed through a pipe into the system is not a good thing. Ask any doctor. The perfect tobacco should not only be fragrant and soothing, but as free from nicotine as may be. And the outstanding example of the kind is found in the genuine toasted. This tobacco—Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold—combines a fine flavour with a beautiful bouquet, and being practically without nicotine (toasting is responsible for that) is as harmless as tobacco can possibly be. There is nothing finer manufactured.*

One of Canada's newest trains.—Luxurious travel in air-conditioned coaches drawn by semi-streamlined engines typifles the service recently inaugurated by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the runs between the principal cities of Canada. One of the new trains was previously exhibited at Windsor Station, Montreal, where it was inspected by more than 60,000 visitors in four days.

One of Canada's newest trains.—Luxurious travel in air-conditioned coaches drawn by semi-streamlined engines typifles the service recently inaugurated by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the runs between the principal cities of Canada. One of the new trains was previously exhibited at Windsor Station, Montreal, where it was inspected by more than 60,000 visitors in four days.

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