OLD NEWSPAPERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 11

OLD NEWSPAPERS.

MAORI WAR ECHOES.

CANDID CRITICISM OF ABJKY.

'* RED TAPE " CONDEMNED.

The modern newspaper has been truly described as a mirror of thought and an epitome of the world. The advance of science has brought about tremendous progress in the realms of journalism, but essentials remain unaltered, and there is not a vast difference between the paper of to-day and that of half a century ago. There has come to our hands a copy of the " Melbourne Advertiser," dated January 8, 1838, and one of the "Evening Post," of Wellington, which left the printing press on February 9, 1865. It need hardly be said that both make interesting reading.

The New Zealand publication deserves first consideration, if only for the fact that it coincided with the darkest days of the Maori War. There was not much in the way of Press censorship in those days, and the editor did not hesitate to criticise what lie believed to be the faults in British military organisation. His leader opens as follows:—

"We lately read, with mixed feelings of disgust and astonishment, that a strong body of British troops had been attacked by a horde of badly-armed barbarians and cut down while standing to their arms. Why we were all so surprised is a mystery. The Maori warrior has never shown himself a contemptible foe. From the commencement of the Anglo-Maori war (when Heki surprised and overcame the settlement of Kororareka), on how many occasions have they shown that they are a warlike nation; their warriors bold and active, and their chiefs full of cunning, with the heart to dare, the head to plan, and the hand to do the boldest achievements. " Not a Military Ration. "Again, we had another lesson, and should have learned to respect their prowess, when a force of 510 men of the 58th, 90th, and 99th Regiments, an artillery officer, volunteers from the Auckland militia, armed with 121b howitzers, two G-pounders, and a 32-pounder from H.M.s. Hazard, attempted to carry the Ohaiowai Pah, and failed miserably. As one of the officers present said, 'in ten minutes it w*s all over!' One-third of the English force had bitten the dust; the remainder recoiled baffled from what they called the absolutely impregnable stockade. We might multiply instances— i the well-known Gate Pah business and many others—in which we have failed, with all our military knowledge and advantages, either to conquer or defend ourselves from the desultory forays of undisciplined barbarians. It seems incredible, but it is, alas, too true! How is it ? Simply this: We are not a military nation. Our generals are too tied down and trammelled to run in a certain groove that they cannot move out of it; red-tapeism forbids. Our system acts uncommonly well in civilised warfare, but no one will attempt to say that the New Zealand campaign all through reflects any great credit on the British Army." t -A 6 the present-day soldier would say: "That's the stuff to give 'em!" Fancy such outspoken criticism during the last war! "The Hatless Sheiks." Turning to the lighter side, we find a gentle gibe against the young man of fashion, who strutted his" brief hour on the stag® of life way back in '65. Here it is, amongst the brief paragraphs which ornament page 3:—"lf men wear fplae calves, it may at least be said in their behalf that they themselves are real one*." There's a dig for you; "hatless sheiks" were evidently not unknown in Wellington over 60 years ago. There was evidently money to be made in the import trade in those fardistant days. The firm of William Hickson and Son advertise for sale sneh a mixed collection of merchandise as brandy, rum, whisky, sherry, champagne, tobacco, Mauritius sugar, Tasmanian jam, English cheese—(New Zealand makes her own nowadays!)—lo bales of wool, 92,300 ft of timber, assorted sizes, "and various other goods." The New Zealand Mail steam service advertised, (in column one of page one), their "Time-table of the Panama, New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company's first-class steamships," from which we learn, inter alia, that the steamship Otago, 800 tons, will leave Auckland for Sydney at 1 p.m. or immediately after the arrival of the English mail. A tonnage of 800 and a horse-power of 150 makes curious reading when compared with the Niagara's 18,0Q0 and 20,000. , Shipping New* is 183«.

Now for "The Melbourne Advertiser," of Port Phillip, Australia, "written fpr, and, published by Jno. P. Fawkner, Monday, January 8, 1838, Melbourne, No. 2, Vjl. 1., Price sixpence." It is probably one of the first news publicatidftt ever seen la the Southern Hatniephere, a reproduction, evidently by \ the' "use of engraved blocks, of the "fair round hand" taught in the days of our grandfathers. The first column of page one wai even then, the place in which to find the shipping news. We r«ad:—"For Londpn direct. The fine fiat sailing ship, Hartley's Burthen, 400 tons, will be'ready to receive wool eariy JMBct month; the greatec part of her cargo being engaged. She will meet quick diapatch. This vessel possesses very superior accommodations. For freight or passage apply to W. F. A. Rucker, Queen Street, 29fch December."

The "fast sailing cutter Jemima" will leave for Launceston on January 20, and the "well-known schooner Lapwing" will sail regularly as usual.

The inner side of the single-sheet "Advertiser" is a quaint mixture of news and advertisements, and there is a "Poet's Corner," holding two four-line verses. The really exciting news comes on the back page, where we read "Particulars of the murder of Constable Tomkins," a somewhat complicated story which ends with the naive admission that the editor has omitted much for want of space.

The final Item in the paper is, however, a model of crisp brevity. The reporter has evidently learned to "put all the newt in the first paragraph," for there is no second. It reads "A wretch named Mooney has been committed for attempting to murder his wife She lies in a dangerous state." There is no pnnctqation in the paragraph. It was evidently written in a hurry, as the sheet was going to press. Reporters bad to hustle even in those days.