Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

The “Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star”

The “Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star” is a daily evening newspaper, and was founded in the year 1865 by Mr. Joseph Klein, who afterwards conducted the “West Coast Times.” Mr. David Curle, who page 505 was one of the original proprietors of the Wellington “Pot,” came in 1880 under engagement to Mr. Klein to take charge of the paper, which was then called the “Evening Star.” Twelve months later, he started the “Hokitika Guardian,” which he conducted for two years, when Mr. Klein died. Mr. Curle then bought the “Star,” and the two papers were amalgamated under the combined name of the “Hokitika Guardian and Evening Star.” Mr. Curle sold out his interest in 1893 to Mr. Dawes, who afterwards enlarged the size of the paper. Later, Mr. Dawes took into partnership Messrs D. J. Eyans and Charles Nightingale, and in 1903 sold his interest to his partners. A year later. Messrs Evans and Night-ingale took Mr. A. E. Benjamin into partnership. For over four years the “Guardian” had a most successful career, when the building and plant (almost new) were destroyed in the fire of December, 1897. A new site was then chosen, and the present building erected. The editor's room and publishing offices are in the front; there is also a composing room, a store-room, and a jobbing department. The machinery includes a four horsepower steam engine by Mous, of Melbourne, a Wharfdale printing machine, a “Sun” platen machine, besides a power guillotine, wire binder, perforator, double-royal “Harrild” cylinder machine, etc. jobbing plant is very complete, and in this department alone a large amount of business is done. Twelve persons are employed on the “Guardian.” Its circulation extends from Greenstone and Kumara in the north to Jackson's Bay in the south. There are seven country agencies and regular country correspondents at Ross, Kumara, Goldsborough, and Stafford. The politics of the “Guardian” are of a liberal character. It was the first penny paper published in Westland, and the state of the advertising columns shows that the paper holds a leading position.