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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 8, Issue 9 (January 1, 1934)

Life in the New Land

Life in the New Land.

Lyttelton was Fitzgerald's home for the first few years of his life in the new land. Lyttelton was the official headquarters and there Fitzgerald carried out the duties of Immigration Agent, to which he soon added those of editor of Canterbury's first newspaper. The first number of the “Lyttelton Times” (now the “Christchurch Times”) came out with the New Year of 1851; the plant and staff for the paper had been brought out in the “Charlotte Jane.” For two years he conducted the “Times;” he made it from the start a fount of inspiration as well as information; he gave it the impress of leadership and its formative influence on public opinion which it has maintained ever since.

Later, after some experience of politics and a visit to England, he settled himself in Christ-church and it fell to him to establish another newspaper. So came into being Canterbury's second journal, the “Christchurch Press,” of which Mr. Sale was the first editor. Fitzgerald was manager and the principal writer from the beginning, and he gathered a brilliant little band of writers about him. It was in his day that famous Samuel Butler, the author of “Erewhon,” first entered the pages of the “Press.”

Those were spirited days in Christchurch journalism. Crosbie Ward, on the “Lyttelton Times,” was a witty and vigorous antagonist of the “Press” and its hurlers of editorial thunderbolts.