Gisborne newspaper 100 years old

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33426, 7 January 1974, Page 10

Gisborne newspaper 100 years old

■ Veir Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE. .January 6. Ihe centenary of the "Gisborne Herald" was observed yesterday. The newspaper was known as the "Poverty Bay Hearld" from 1871 until 1939. In its early years, it was a bi-weeklv.

In 1880. Mr A R Muir, who had been foreman of the “New Zealand Mail." joined the “Herald” as a printer.

He entered into a partner--1 ship in the ownership of the paper when the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank caused financial hardship to the owners. Later he became the sole owner. Mr Muir was a son of James Muir, who, as an apprentice printer in Scot-: land, was associated with Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley, novels, and who assisted in 1840 in the publication of the “New Zealand Advertiser,”! and later was one of the: founders of the “New Zealand Independent.” The! “Advertiser” was printed in! a raupo hut at Petone. Another of his sons. Mri W. McL Muir, became fore- i man of the “Dominion,” and was later one of the newspaper’s first directors. The Muir family association with the Gisborne news-: paper has endured since then, and a fifth-generation member of the family is now; .genera! manager. The newspaper is present-; ing $3OOO to the H. B. Wil-1 hams Memorial Library, Gis-! borne, to mark the centenary.;