Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1908, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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“The Hawke's Bay Herald” is one of the oldest journals in New Zealand, and was founded while the district was still part of the province of Wellington. The rich lands surrounding Hawke's Bay, and for many miles inland, were being sold, and the revenue was being expended in Wellington, while Hawke's Bay was left practically roadless. This was most unsatisfactory to the settlers, and a movement for separation was inaugurated, the promoters of which keenly felt the need of a newspaper to assist them. Mr. James Wood, an Auckland journalist, was induced to start' the “Herald,” the first number of which appeared on the 24th of September, 1857. It was a very small sheet, issued weekly at first, but soon afterwards was published twice a week. Early in the year 1871, Mr. Wood ventured to issue a daily half-sheet, Mr. W. W. Carlile being appointed editor. On the 1st of April of that year the business was purchased from Mr. Wood by Mr. P. Dinwiddie (who had been for some time accountant to Mr. Wood), Mr. Carlile, and Mr. Morrison (head of the printing department). In 1878 Mr. Carlile sold out his interest to his partners, in the following year Mr. Morrison sold his share to Mr. Walker, and the style of the firm was then changed to Dinwiddie, Walker, and Company. The business was in 1886 turned into a limited liability company, Messrs Dinwiddie and Walker retaining large interests, together with their respective positions of business manager and editor. In December of the same year a disastrous fire occurred in Napier, and the “Herald's” premises and plant were, with many other properties in the neighbourhood, completely destroyed. The present handsome brick and stone premises were then erected at a cost of about £5000. There is a large plant suitable to all the requirements of the town and district. The quality of lithographic, job-printing, and book-binding work issued from the “Herald” office will compare favourably with that executed in much larger towns.