THE LATE GEORGE HART.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1911, Page 6

THE LATE GEORGE HART.

NEW ZEALAND’S OLDEST JOURNALIST.

PARTICULARS OF HIS CAREER

[BY TKLEOBAPH —PEB PBB'SS ASSOCIATION.^ CHRISTCHURCH, March, 22. The, late Mr. George Hart, who died suddenly at his residence at midday today, arrived in New Zealand as a small boy, with, his parents by the “Cressey one of the first historic four ships, and spent practically the whole of his lire in Christchurch, watching the city grow up from a tiny settlement until what it appears to-day. He was apprenticed to the printing trade, and then jom'ed the profession of journalism, continuing at that work right up to the day of his death. In fact he actually died in harness. Mr. Hart joined the staff of The Press’ ’on October Ist, 1870 and was easily the oldest working journalist in the dominion. He was known in newspaper circles from Auckland to the Bluff, and was exceedingly popular. He was apprenticed as a compositor to the “Canterbury Standard,’ ’Christchurch, in 1854. In‘'lßs9, when out of his time he went across to Melbourne and was engaged as a compositor on “Bell’s Life.” In ’6O he joined “The Ovens and Murray Advertiser” as a reporter, hut the next year he returned to New Zealand, and seemed a position on the “Otago Daily Times’* reporting stall. In 1862 he returned to Christchurch, and rejoined the “Canterbury Standard.” In 1863 he was married, and the same year joined the firm of Tombs and Bent as a compositor. On October Ist, 1870, Mr Hart joined the ‘Press’ as a reporter, ultimately rising to the position of Chief of Staff and Dramatic Critic ,which he held at the time of his death. .There was hardly any public movement in this city that Mr, IJart had not seen initiated, and jn ypry many he took a close and personal iterest, In 1871 Mr. Hart represented the “Press’ and the Wellington “Indepenllent, (now the “New Zealand Times”) in the Press Gallery of the House of Representatives. From the time he joined the staff of the “Press” -till the abolition of the provinces in 1876, Mr. Hart continuously reported the proceedings of the CanWhfUT Provincial Council. To mention Ml flip important events with which Mr, Hart had been connected would Involve the narration of the history of the city of Christchurch for the past forty-five years. Mr. Hart took a. keen interest in matters affectum his fellow journalists, and was n member of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists. Mr. Hart lost his sole surviving son, Mf- Frank Hart, or. June 25th, last. Tne late Mr, Frank Hart, who was also a member of the reporting staff of “The Press” died equally suddenly. Mr. Hart’s elder son died & feW about three years ago. Mr. Hart leaves a WM&dV several daughters.