100 YEARS AGO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20014, 12 August 1939, Page 16

100 YEARS AGO

N.Z.’S FIRST PAPER

PUBLICATION IN LONDON

MARLY COMMUNITY SPIRIT

NEEDS OF INHABITANTS

New Zealand's first newspaper was published in London 100 years ago. On August 21, 1839, there appeared the first number of what was to become the first newspaper printed in the infant colony and for many years a respected organ of opinion in the new country, so that it is' not altogether as Irish as it sounds to record the first appearance of the New Zealand Gazette in England. It cost 9d. and was popular enough to have a second edition on September C. As this contains more matter than the first, it shall be used as the basis of our scrutiny.

Propaganda or Enthusiasm?

It is easy to discount much of the fervent preparation of this newspaper for the first voyage oiit as simply so uch more company propaganda, but !he genuine sense of a common community interest that manifests itself throughout is the result rather than he instrument of company enthusiasm.

Notices in this number tell us that a lady has financed the opening of an infant school, to be kept by an experienced man, his wife and daughter assisting him. A proposal is afoot to institute in the settlement a “Public Library with a General Museum and Scientific Institution” and 'to establish “a dispensary, or hospital, for the benefit of the settlers and the aborigines of the country.” , Another article calls for subscriptions to endow an Anglican parish. Most important of all is the “First Colony of New Zealand,” an association of the larger landed proprietors, a body of overwhelming weight politically dnd socially. Emigrants Offered Free Passages All this denoted a high degree of co-operation among the intending colonists, but it was a co-operation of the leaders rather than of the led. The labourers, who were to bear the brunt of the struggle in the new land, were at least looked after with great solicitude.

An advertisement in the Gazette calls for emigrants, preferably between 15 and 30 years old. There were, however, some snags, as one may learn from the regulations. “The marriage certificate must be produced." Only children under one and over ‘ls at the date of embarkation would receive a free passage. For the others £3 each had to-be paid, a measure designed to limit the number of children too young to be full producers in the hard work of beginning the colony. Again, “all emigrants, adults as well as children,” must have been vaccinated, or have had the smallpox." The company took very good care of the emigrants on board the speciallychartered ships. The surgeon was there if they fell sick, and the victualling scale printed in the paper shows that there was little chance of there being too little good food.

Commercial Advertisements Among the commercial advertisements, several show how completely the needs of the inhabitants of Port Nicholson—though it was not certain that this would be the location of the colony—had been visualised in advance. The Union Bank of Australia was to open a branch. Mr. D. Ramsay offered to provide portable cottages for immediate erection—the company itself, as well as several individuals, did, we know, ship pre-built houses. Messrs. Daniell and Riddiford offered their services as land agents, shippers and general merchants. Messrs. Noakes, in advertising family medicine chests, reassuringly mentioned that “full directions for the use and application of the medicines accompanied each chest.” Steel wheat milks and bolting machines were also on the market.

History Twopence Coloured

The company in this number of the Gazette gives its own version of the history of New Zealand up to 1839 and plentifully manifests its distate for the Evangelical party opposing colonising projects. The company was evidently of the opinion that though actions speak louder than words, the right words sometimes blossomed into action. With “live large ships” ready for sea, it felt a certain self-confidence. The Gov-

.. nment had done nothing to prevent v.'.her the Tory or the Cuba sailing. . eoier, the publication of the Treasury minute permitting the extension of the br'ndaries of New South Wales to hN-lude New Zealand was an indication that Britain intended to do something about this troublesome problem. Far more striking than the company’s partisanship is the solidarity of the settlers. They already feel themselves a community, with a social duty to one another that indicates a new spirit to be given freer scope in the new world.