"OBSERVER" JUBILEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 10

"OBSERVER" JUBILEE.

AN EXCITING LIFE.

CHRONICLES OF AUCKLAND.

THE PERENNIAL "BLO."

Even people who have been, caricatured in its pages will .join in wishing the "Observer" many .happy returns oiiv the occasion of its jubilee. Although it has been "in the flock" , on numerous occasions, the "Observer" always had a public-spirited reason for its attacks on people and things. And, above all, the jovial thoughts that are evoked by tho name "Bio" have always—at least, dur* ing our own generation-—earned for the journal a regard that had something of the personal about it, a regard that is soruewhat rare among newspapers. If anything amusing happened it was surprising how many people made a mental note "to tell 'Bio , about that," and when anyone wanted quizzing, either in a thumb-nail sketch or a cartoon, "Bio" might bo depended upon to administer the* rebuke with his inextinguishable good humotir. and absence of malice. It is due to tlie entire absence of malice that earned the man as many friends as the artist. People avlio know him can hardly realise that "Bio" actually had a sketch (a caricature, of course) in the "Observer" during its birth year, though he did not officially join its staff, until 1887. .

Possibly no journal in New Zealand has had such an up and down existence as the familiar little Auckland weekly illustrated paper, but, in spite of perils oft, libel cases, threatening of personal violence to the? daring editor, and other misohances, the clown in cap and bells still holds aloft the banner with "The Observer," which used to.cause quite a flutter every week in the comparatively small Auckland of the '80's. In those days the illustrating was all done on wood blocks, a long process that required much skill, and it is surprising how good the likenesses Avere. In those days every picture was not allowed to tell its story. In order that there should.be no mistake as to the jokq, each figure had.issuing from tho mouth, a "balloon" which contained thq epigram, or the cutting remark that was the essence of the scene. It is an old praotlce\that in 1030 seems as archaic as crinolines, and the-fact that "Bio" has lived and worked from then right up to the present day,, and Js "still going , strong," shows tho wide period he covers. The founder of the "Observer" was. the late Mr. A, S. Rathbone,. brothor of tho lato Mr. E. W. G.'Rathbone, woll-known in Auckland. Rathbone was a talented journalist, and though his caustic pen ran him into many piquant and even dangerous situations, lie lived, and so did the bright little paper he had mapped out. It is decidedly amusing to follow the fortunes of the journal, as told in the special jubilee number, issued this week, but behind the laughs and the comic element in its chequered career fellow.journalists will . easily resogni.se tho undoubted skill and .ability which enabled the journal to keep afloat. In its half century the "Observer" hns known many masters —journalises, a land agent, a parson* (Presbyterian,,too), a brewer, and twice it fell into tho hands of the lato Sir Henry Brett; Oddly enough, tqo, tliero is another' cdnnection in that the "gtar" sub-editorial chair provided four of the editors that have guided the stormy career, of the-critical weekly." The late Mr. J. L, Kelly was one of the ablest of the men who sat in tlie editorial chair over in Wyndham Street, and lie never .seemed happy unless.in, or pn tho verge of, a libel aetfon; Life was exciting at the "Observer" office in his day. In the making of the "Observer" as we know it in modern times, tho name of the-late Hon. W. J. Geddis stands out vividly. He was one of the most incisive journalists New Zealand has produced, antl he possessed the , happy knack of always having something unexpected to say in Ins weekly columns, 'The present proprietors of the "Observer" are Mr. W. Blomfield ("Bio") and Mr. Georgo H. Dixon, and to them and to. the sts! follow • journalists will extend.."iieavty-CQngfatiilatibns on the present, interesting! occasion.