Early Newspapers

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 19

Early Newspapers

The early coionisty of New Zealand bad their newspapers, even ns far back as 1840. for we note that the first New Zealand newspaper was published in London, August 21, 1839. It was named the- ‘‘New Zealand Gazette, and the second number was published at Wellington on April 18, IS4O. Leading settlers subscribed to the cost ot the plant and building when the second issue came out, and Mr. Samuel Revans was appointed printer and editor, and therefore he was the father of printing In this country. The building which housed the plant was only twenty feet square, but nevertheless the paper remained alive for a considerable time. After about twenty issues the name was changed to the “New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator.” Tho next newspaper' published in New Zealand appeared at Kororareka on June 15, 1840, under the name of the “New Zealand Advertiser and Bay of Islands Gazette.” We are informed that it had a short life. In its early days it supported the policy of the Lieut.-Governor, Hobson, but subsequently abused him and thus fell from grace. Lack of good writers and well-informed politicians seem to have added to its troubles until it faded out. Nelson was the next town to have a newspaper, for on March 12. 1842. the first issue of the “Nelson Examiner” appeared. History informs us that no province in New Zealand was ever so rich in able public men as little Nelson was at that time. Even after the Wairau massacre she still possessed four of the future premiers of New Zealand, all of the future superintendents of the province, besides such able writers as Barnicoat, Jolly, Young. Elliott, Munro and Greenwood, all. of whom were often tempted to enrich the columns of the little "Nelson Examiner.”—H. Maynard (Hataitai).