THE BIRTHDAY OF THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 66, 15 September 1906, Page 14

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS.

Is the first of April the Birthday of the Press of New Zealand? It would appear so (says the Lyttelton Times) from the New Zealand Colonist, of Tuesday, 4th April, 1843. In the issue of that 'ong-defunct journal for the date in question appeared a report of the celebration of what was announced as the "Anniversary of the Establishment of the Press in New Zealand." The New Zealand Colonist, it may here be interpolated, was a bi-weekly journal "printed and published every Tuesday and Friday mornings, for the proprietors, by E. Catchpool, at the office of the New Zealand Colonist, Lambton Quay, Wellington, Port Nicholson, New Zealand." So runs its imprint, and the information therein conveyed may be accepted as correct. The Colonist was not the only newspaper in Wellington sixty-three years ago, for there was also a New Zealand Gazette, between which and the Colonist there existed the most cordial animosity, as various scathing articles in the columns of the latter prove. Nevertheless, the brotherhood of the craft was sufficiently powerful to cause the staffs of the two papers to I unite in celebrating the occasion referred to. To quote the "Colonist" — "Saturday being the anniversary of the establishment of the press in New Zealand, the whole of the gentlemen connected with the New Zealand Gazette and New Zealand Colonist dined together at Barrett's Ilotel" As Tuesday, the day of publication of the report of the function, was 4th April, the preceding Saturday must have been Ist April, which is, therefore, the birthday of the Press of Now Zealand. The chairman of this first gathering of New Zealand pressmen was tylr. Revans, of the Ga2<stte, the' vice-chair was occupied by his friend and enemy Mr. Hanson of the Colonist. The report in the latter journal proceeds ; — "After an excellent dinner, which reflected great credit on the landlord, and the cloth being removed, the chairman proposed the usual toasts, 'The Queen,' 'The Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family,' which were drunk with the customary honours." Wellington people could evidently dine well in those far-off days, and tho doubtless long dead and gone reporter recorded the fact in pretty much tho same language as his successor of to-day would use under similar circumstances. The principal representative of the

Gazette had the honour of presiding, but to counterbalance that) the proposing of the chief toast was allowed to his rival of the Colonist, and Mr. Hanson, in performing that duty, spoke briefly, but with great good taste. To quote again the report trom his paper, ho said: — "It might, perhaps, ba thought by some that in a small community like that of Port Nicholson there could be no necessity for a second newspaper, and that tho establishment of the New Zealand Colonist was superfluous. He, for one, could not agree that it was. In all colonies,' whether larg^o or small, there was certain to bo a diversity of opinion, and it was impossible to represent them fully in one organ. It was felt that such was the case in regard to Wellington, and the establishment of tho Colonist was tho consequence. The editor of tho Gazeue deserved great praise for his spirited enterprise in commencing the first newspaper in Wellington. Ho would, therefore, with the leavo of the company, give 'The Press of New Zealand, and tho editor of the "Gazette." Mr. Revans was equally happy in hii reply. "He could assure the company present," says the Colonist, that howover indifferently lie might have succeeded in representing tho opinion of his brother colonists in the New Zealand Gazette, he had been actuated solely by\ a desire to benefit them. He sincerely believed that the course he had pursued was the right one ; he might be mistaken, but he was sure they would give him credit for honesty of purpose." As was only right, the toast of "Mr. Hanson and the New Zealand Colonist," was honoured, and in his reply Mr. Hanson expressed a sentiment which posterity has endorsed. He proposed the health of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and said that it had been his fortune to have been associated with that gentleman for a period of nine years, in endeavouring to expose the fallacy of the previous modes advanced for the foundation of tho new colonies. Although he could not say that the' Wakefield system would accomplish all that was desired and anticipated, yet it was so superior in theory and practice to anything of the kind ever before offered to the world that they should not, in his opinion, discharge their duty if they were to separate without proposing the health of that gentleman. The toast, the Colonist states, was "dru:rk with %reat applause." The mechanical staffs of the two papers were not overlooked, for tho chairman proposed "The Compositors and Pressmen of tho Town of Wellington." He paid these workers a pretty compliment by remarking that "5, had fallen to his lot to be r«ixed up for many years with gentlen*n connected with the printing profession, but he must say that it had never been his good fortune, till he ariyed in this colony, to most with parties who ap- 1 peared to have his interests so fully at« heart.'"

According to the South Taranaki correspondent of the Farmers' Advocate, there is now a demand for all classes of cattle as against a dead time two months ago, and all can now be quitted, without difficulty at from 10s to 15s per ' head advance on these prieet,. Good quality cattle sell easily , at fair prices, but do not appear to leave too much margin for the buyer. Fat cattle are to be in good demand till the end of November at least, especially bullocks. Well-finished bullocks will probably during the intervening time reach about 25s per 100 in the paddock. After j them, one can only surmise that prices will be similar to last year, unless the London market warrants an increase. Pigs are at present at higher rates than for many years, and will continue so till dairymen get their stocks in to consume skim-milk. ' ,i_