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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 3

Our Early Newspapers

page 25

Our Early Newspapers.

The gathering and storing of records of days long gone by, of events almost buried in oblivion, of men departed to the bourne from whence no traveller returns, and of things lost to sight but to memory dear—is the favorite pursuit of the historian and the antiquary. A note from Typo informs me that any copy relating to our early days among the printers will always be marked « good, » and recommends regarding any such incidents or reminiscences, « When found, make a note of, » as genial Captain Cuttle hath it. Knowing that this journal always has a column to spare for antiques, and having lately been in conversation with some old identities in our craft, I have jotted down the following items regarding one of our pioneer papers:

The Southern Cross.

For the particulars which follow, I am chiefly indebted to Mr William Smith, of Wellington. The Southern Cross was first started in 1845, as a small weekly sheet, by Mr William Brown, of the firm of Brown & Campbell. In its early days, its lines did not fall in very pleasant places. Its vigorous exposure of abuses in official quarters made it obnoxious in high places; and as its charges could not be refuted, the authorities adopted the short and easy method of suppressing the paper. Redress in those days was slow and difficult to obtain, and the issue was suspended for some months. When it reappeared, in addition to its original motto Luceo non uro (I enlighten without burning), it bore the defiant lines:*

If I have been extinguished, yet there rise
A thousand beacons from the spark I bore.

And the double motto was retained as long as the paper maintained a separate existence. It continued to progress, passing from a weekly to a semi-weekly, and eventually to a daily in 1862, continuing without interruption till 1878, when it was merged in its younger rival, the New Zealand Herald. Dr Martin was first editor of the Cross, succeeded by Messrs David Burn, William Brown (proprietor), Hugh Carleton, Bacot, McCabe, R. J. Creighton, D. M. Luckie, Chas. Williamson, and last but not least, Julius Vogel. In 1856-57 Mr James Wood, who came from the Melbourne Age, and afterwards started the Hawke's Bay Herald, was sub-editor of the Cross. Communication with the outer world in those days was very different from what it is now, no telegraphs, and very few ships arriving—perhaps one a month. My informant says: « I recollect upon one occasion going up to Mr Wood's house for copy for the next publication, and what do you think he gave me? Why, several extracts from Hogg's Weekly Instructor, saying that he had no more exchanges to cut copy from. Mr Wood was particularly fond of boating. I recollect starting on an excursion with him to the Thames in an open boat about 15 feet long, and when about half-way across the Hauraki Gulf the mast broke, owing to the high wind which prevailed, and we had to return to Auckland without accomplishing the object we had in view. I made a trip also to the Island of Waiheke on another occasion, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Wood, in an open boat, for the purpose of getting persons to register their names on the electoral roll. We were absent from the office about a week, having, with the exception of one night, to sleep in or under the boat. I never saw Mr Wood after he left Auckland for Napier, but have since heard that he is dead. Peace to his ashes! »

On page 27 is a reduced copy of a card presented to each member of the staff on the first anniversary of the Daily Southern Cross. Mr W. S. Bryce was the compositor. The typography is very good, and the gold bronze has kept its color well on the copy from which I have taken this. The size of the card is about 12x8in. It was not possible to maintain the proportion in the reduced copy, which is too deep as compared with the width; but otherwise gives a correct idea of the display. The original is set the wide way of the card.

I have often thought, on looking round at a busily-engaged companionship: It would be interesting to know all about these men—where born, where they learned their trade, what places they have worked in, and other events of their lives bearing on our craft. This curiosity is always to a greater or less degree apparent in human nature. After all, curiosity is the great incentive to education. Do we not always hear the questions: Who is he? and What is he? and is not biography the most attractive form of literature? So, when we read the names of the companionship just quoted, we ponder and say What has become of these men? Who live, and who are dead? Have any risen to affluence, or are they still at case? Of the twenty whose names appear here, ten or eleven are reported to have turned their flags and handed in their last revise. Of some of these, and of the nine known to be in the land of the living, I have gathered a few particulars:—

Ball, H., dead.

Brett, Henry, is the proprietor of that valuable and well-known property—the Star office, Auckland. Soon after the Star was started by Mr G. M. Reed, Mr Brett joined him in the concern, and under their management, the Star rose from the fourth or fifth, to nearly the first magnitude.

Bryce, W. S., is now holding cases on the Auckland Herald.

Cameron, J., dead.

Cowan, B., dead.

Creighton, Robert J., who was part-proprietor of the Cross with Mr Alfred Scales, became a conspicuous man in our early politics, being a Provincial Councillor, and when the provinces were abolished, he sat in the N. Z. Parliament for an Auckland seat. He left these shores some years ago, turning up in the Sandwich Islands as private Secretary to the Governor at Honolulu. During the last few years Mr Creighton has been our Government agent at San Francisco, and he was so lately as last month in our colony on business connected with his office.

Ellis, J., served his apprenticeship on the Southern Cross. He has seen many ups and downs (chiefly the latter) since those days of '63, being in turn printer, sailor, miner, travelled all over the two islands, and the last I heard of him he was on the wallaby in this island, after spending some time knocking about Wellington.

Freer, J. G., dead.

Gimbel, G. F., is the printer of the Auckland Herald.

Haszard, C. A. Left the trade, and was engaged for about eight years in teaching a native school in the village of Wairoa. He was killed in the eruption of Tarawera in June 1886, with his son, two daughters, and a nephew; his wife and two daughters escaping.

Hunter, G. E., dead. His son and namesake has been following the occupation of comp in Napier for the past sixteen years.

Lowe, J. H. A., dead.

Moss, B., I believe, is the proprietor of a newspaper on the Australian Continent.

Scales, A., dead.

Schrader, F., dead.

Seffern, W. H. J., has been for twenty-one years editor of the Taranaki Herald. He has written a series of interesting articles entitled « The Early Settlement of New Zealand, » from notes collected during a period of 34 years. These articles appeared in the European Mail and Colonies and India, and are to be published in book form at an early date.

Smith, W., is now, and has been for the last ten years, at case in the Government Printing Office, Wellington. At the outbreak of the Thames gold rush Mr Smith took the printership of the Thames Advertiser, which was owned by Messrs Corlett & Wilkinson, the former of whom is now manager of the Christchurch Press Company, and the latter proprietor of a job-office in Queen-street, Auckland.

Stewart, C., was a rolling stone. He was a comp of artistic ambition. We first hear of him in New Zealand thirty-two years ago, when he assisted at the birth of the Nelson Colonist. Typo has heard him narrate how, disliking the « open » old english title of the paper, (engraved on brass), he filled the white lines with melted lead, scraped down smooth, which made the title very black and solid. Some of the lead soon worked out, and idle devils poked and scratched the soft metal with bodkins, giving the heading the characteristic piebald appearance which it bore for thirty years. Some time in the 60's, he left the Southern Cross, and came to Napier, working first in the Herald and afterwards in the Times job department. His great piece of work was a brass-rule plan of the township of Clyde, on the Wairoa river, printed for the Provincial Government by Mr James Wood, then proprietor of the Herald. The job was well done, but used up a tremendous quantity of brass-rule, and ruined a fount of nonpareil music. Stewart went to Australia from Napier, and we last heard of him in Sydney. An unauthenticated rumor of his death reached this part of the world a few years ago.

Thomson, H, dead.

Warren, A. F., is senior reader at the Government Printing Office. He left the Southern Cross on the outbreak of the rush to the Thames Goldfield and went into business for himself in the sharebroking line in partnership with Mr Smale. After a time, he found it was not a paying speculation, and gave it up. He then proceeded to the Old Country in the good ship Yorkshire on a pleasure trip; and after returning from England to New Zealand, he joined the staff of the Government Printing Office.

* From Shelly's fragment, The Triumph of Life.