Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 5

The Auckland Press

page 4

The Auckland Press.

In connexion with the article by Mr Main in our November issue, Mr W. H. Seffern, of New Plymouth, an old Auckland journalist, kindly sends us the following additional particulars relating to early Auckland newspapers. Mr Seffern's dates and other data may be relied on, as they are mostly from notes made at the time:—

New-Zealander.—This paper was started by Mr John Williamson, on 7th June, 1845, as a weekly, at 6d. It was afterwards brought out twice a week, and Mr W. C. Wilson was taken into partnership by Mr Williamson, which partnership continued till about August or September, 1863. The paper came out as a daily on 1st January, 1863. On 1st July, 1864, Heron, Kidd, and Seffern took over the concern, which they carried on till the end of February, when the office was passed over to Mitchell and Seffern, who brought the New-Zealander out daily at a penny on 3rd April 1865. This was the first penny morning paper ever published in New Zealand. Mitchell and Seffern carried it on till December of the same year, when (finding that Mr Williamson was unable to complete an arrangement made with the firm when they took over the business) it was decided to stop publication, the last issue of the daily being 4th December, 1865. Mr Williamson afterwards started the paper again, twice a week, appointing Mr J. Croker as manager, and Mr Gilbert Carson as overseer. The office was burnt down on Monday, 7th May, 1866, and the paper was never resuscitated.

Auckland Weekly Argus was started on 7th January, 1865, by Heron, Kidd, and Seffern, and was afterwards carried on by Mitchell and Seffern, who continued it till 3rd December, 1865, when the latter firm closed the office. It was a « make-up » from the New Zealander daily.

Onehunga Warden (not Guardian) was started by Mr John Williamson at Onehunga in 1864, when Mr James Hosking was made the printer of it. The outside of the paper was printed in the New-Zealander office, and the inside by Mr Hosking at Onehunga. On Mr Williamson handing over the New-Zealander to the firms I have above mentioned, this paper went with it. The Warden was carried on till the end of July, 1865, and a portion of the time the Auckland Argus was substituted for it, the head being simply altered to the Warden, and local news put in the first page with the Onehunga advertisements.

Penny Journal (weekly) was started on 5th May, 1866, and was continued till 29th June, 1867. The office—Mitchell and Seffern purchased it after leaving the New-Zealander—was one once owned by Mr Kunst, and sold by him to Mr Michael Wood, who, in conjunction with Mr Donchaise, started a small paper in 1864 called, I think, the Evening Post. I am not certain, however, about the name.

The Auckland Examiner was started in December, 1856, as a weekly, and late in 1858 it appeared twice a week. It was edited by Charles Southwell till the middle of 1860, and a fortnight before his death (7th August, 1860) the paper ceased publication, the last number appearing on 25th July. The office was then closed. In October following, the Examiner was resuscitated, being edited by Mr Bernard Reynolds, and printed by Mr James Hosking. It was carried on till the end of April, when the plant was used to bring out the Aucklander.

The Aucklander was started on 2nd May, 1861. It was edited by Mr James Busby, and printed by Mr James Hosking. In May, 1863, the paper was taken over by Mr Joseph Rogers and Mr William Payne, who issued it as

The Auckland Weekly News and Farmers' Gazette, which lasted a little over three months, ceasing to exist about the end of 1863 or beginning of 1864.

The Weekly News, which started in connexion with the Southern Cross, did not appear till 1864, when Mr Hutchison, M.H.R., Dunedin, was its first editor.

Auckland Weekly Register started on 7th February, 1857. It was run in opposition to the Examiner, in the political interest of John Williamson, who was then Superintendent of the province. Mr David Burns was the editor, and Mr A. H. Burton, of Burton Brothers, photographers, of Dunedin, the printer till March, 1859, when he left for Sydney, and Mr Dawson took his place for a few months. About September the plant was removed to the New-Zealander office, and the work done there. The paper ceased publication in December, 1860.

The Telegraph was started in September, 1859 by James Hosking, and was published on Tuesday and Friday till February, 1860. Thirty-five numbers were issued.

Auckland Independent started 3rd October, 1859, and was printed and edited by J. J. Moore, Queen-street, near the wharf. It was published on Monday and Thursday mornings. It stopped about the beginning of February, 1860, and was resuscitated again in November, but only six numbers were issued.

The Trade Circular, a gratuitous advertising sheet, was started in February, 1860. It lasted a few weeks only, and was issued by J. J. Moore.

The Morning Post and People's Advocate started in February, 1860. The editor and proprietor was Mr O'Regan, « late president of the Mechanics' Institute in Limerick, and for many years connected with the Press of that historic city. » It was printed by J. J. Moore, Queen-street.

Evening News (the second evening paper started in Auckland, Mr Michael Wood's being the first) was started by Mr James Allen about the middle of May, 1867.

A paper was started by Mr Donchaise at Onehunga about June, 1866. I do not remember the name, but it was printed from some of the old type recovered from the New Zealander, and one of the old presses. The plant was afterwards removed to Tauranga.