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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Weekly Papers

Weekly Papers.

The People (Edward Alexander Haggen, proprietor and editor), Lambton Quay, Wellington. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Lambton Quay. This journal was established on the 1st of October, 1895; in size it is demy, and extends to twelve pages. The People has a large circulation in Wellington City and suburbs, and throughout the Colony, subscribers being already secured in Ashburton, Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru, Timaru, and Wanganui. Politically, it claims to be independent progressive; disbelieving in party government, it supports no party, its general tendency being towards socialism. It is a journal devoted to the interests of commerce, industry, agriculture, and sociology, and advocates money reform in the direction of a State issue of paper currency at two per cent. (the cost of working) by way of advances to farmers on security of their land. The proprietor has acquired the New Zealand Fancier, a publication representing the interests of the various fanciers' association, and also Daybreak, a weekly paper hitherto published in the interests of women, both of which papers are now incorporated with The People, special columns being devoted to information on such topics, the journal being now the recognised organ of the different societies. The People contains a variety of interesting matter, and its columns are relieved by frequent illustrations. Daybreak (which is now incorporated with The People), is a women's journal, but not in the ordinary acceptation of the term. Its creation is due to the altered political situation now occupied by women in New Zealand. Such things as appear in the ordinary ladies' journal are eschewed almost entirely by this paper. The first issue is dated the 9th of February, 1895, and bears the New Zealand Times imprint. It aims at educating women in political economy, and to assist them to occupy any position that their capabilities may fit them for. “Louisa Adams” is proprietress and editress, and conducts the literary department in a bright and capable manner. The politics of the journal are Liberal, although not binding itself to any political party.

Mr. E. A. Haggen, the enterprising proprietor, was born in 1860 at North Taieri, Otago, and received his education at the North Taieri State School, the Dunedin High School, and the Otago University. In 1880 he joined the staff of the Otago Daily Times. He made such progress as a member of the Fourth Estate that in 1882 he was appointed sub-editor of the Wanganui Herald, under the late Hon. John Ballance. After two years Mr. Haggen purchased the Woodville Examiner, which he conducted till the end of 1886, when he disposed of his interest. He then bought the Bay of Plenty Times at Tauranga, but sold out a year after, and resumed the Woodville Examiner, which paper he published till October, 1895, and in which he still retains an interest. Mr. Haggea is a member of the Institute of Journalists, and was one of its promoters. For years past he has been a contributor to Australasian and British journals. While resident in Hawkes Bay he was prominent in public affairs. From 1881 to 1887 he was a member of the Hawkes Bay Land Board. He also sat as a member of the Hawkes Bay Board of Education, and as a nominee of the Government on the Board of School Commissioners. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1884, but resigned this and all other offices on his removal to Tauranga in 1887. For some years Mr. Haggen was page 466 Mr. E. A. Haggen president of the Woodville Public Library, vice-president of the Woodville Horticultural Society, and occupied a seat as a member of the local School Committee, besides taking general interest in local institutions. In 1894 he was elected Mayor of Woodville, which office he filled till his removal to the Capital.

The Weekly Herald (Thomas Dwan, editor and proprietor), a penny paper, containing thirty-two columns of closely printed matter, on double royal paper, has a good circulation in the colony. The Herald also goes to England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Africa, and America. In politics it is liberal, a staunch supporter of the Seddon Government, and of the labour party. It contains a resumé of general, political, commercial, and social information, and is well supported as an advertising medium. The Herald machinery which is driven by a 6 h.p. water engine, consists of several machines, including a City of London patent double royal machine, capable of printing a sheet 33 1/2 ½ 43 1/2 inches. There is also a large variety of news and jobbing type of the most modern style and design, and other convenience for a jobbing trade.

Mr. Thomas Dwan, the proprietor, is a native of Ireland, but his parents having emigrated to Canada in the early days he was but a youth when he landed in that country. Here as a boy he grew up to a knowledge of the difficulties and privations which presented themselves to the settlers, in the back woods. His primary education was obtained in Canadian common schools, after which he was sent across the line into the United States, where he attended a notable grammar school at Whitehall. From thence he entered West Point Military Academy, where he graduated and obtained a command in the United States Army. He served all through the Rocky Mountains, Salt Lake, and California in the stormy days, where undoubtedly he saw some very active service, and had many a hair-breadth escape, and many a brush with the Indians. He was in San Francisco at the time of the invasion of Nicaragua by General Walker, and as Walker offered tempting inducements to regular officers to join his expedition, Mr. Dwan in common with many others, left Uncle Sam's service and joined the invading army who within a short time effected a landing on Nicaraguan soil at Realeio. He was at the seige of Rivas, the taking of Granada, and the battles of Leon, Viejo, Managua, etc. Finally after some severe fighting, skirmishing, and privation the country was occupied, but not to be retained very long. The greater part of this army corps, which entered the country on the Pacific side had to cut its way through the dense forest to the Caribbean Sea. During this expedition Mr. Dwan suffered considerably, and was more than once carried off the field for dead, but a strong constitution was in his favour. Strange enough there are men to day in New Zealand who served under him in these engagements. He passed through many vicissitudes and thrilling adventures. Great numbers of the invading army, among whom was the subject of this sketch, were taken on Board a British gunboat and landed at Key West in Florida. Returning to Canada he soon after sailed for Europe, at the time of the Crimean war, and after touring the continent, he passed over to his native country. Instead of returning to America, he set sail for Australia and landed in Melbourne in March 1857, where he soon embarked in business. The gold fever then being at its height, he followed up the rushes as storekeeper, mining speculator, or journalist, and in several goldfields towns was contemporary with Sir Julius (then Mr.) Vogel. In those days, the volunteer movement having commenced, Mr. Dwan organised and drilled a detachment of the “Prince of Wales Light Horse,” at Inglewood (a town of which he became mayor). When the great encampment was held at Sunbury in 1865, Mr. Dwan had command of his corps and was complimented by General Schute for the smart appearance and soldier like bearing of his men. Immediately on the termination of this encampment Mr. Dwan sailed for New Zealand and the same year landed at Hokitika, and soon after engaged in Mr. Thomas Dwan page 467 business and journalism combined. His career since then is well-known in New Zealand. Since settling permanently in Wellington some seventeen years ago he has twice contested a seat in the House of Representatives, and once for the Mayoralty, but was defeated each time. He has visited America several times since he came to Australasia, the last time being in 1876. As a public speaker he is fluent and sarcastic, and as a press writer he is forcible and sometimes facetious. He is now a Justice of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand.