THE EARLY PRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE EARLY PRESS

JOURNAL! STIC I REMINISCENCES “COPY” IN THE SEVENTIES. (By H.J.8.) In the early days of 1878 the task of issuing a daily newspaper in Gisborne was one beset by many difficulties—as communication My steamer v. as very uncertain and frequent long delays occurred in piccuring supr>!ies of paper necessary for its production. The part was then served by the s.s. “Pretty Jane” from Auckland, and from the South by the s.s. “Rnngitira.” At times it so haprned that supplies would he out in the Bay for days bo'ere being available. On one occasion the st of news print of both papers had run out. and this necessitated on? journal having to search tho town for a sufficient supply for its next issue. By good chance a few reams of white wrapping paper were un-

earthed in a merchant’s store, which then stood iur the site where the Band Rotunda is now situated on the riverside. The anxiety for the next isSue was relieved by the “Jane” negotiating the bar and berthing at 'the wharf next day. j Doing isolated, both by steamer j and road communication, lendered it 1 a difficult matter at times to supply ! sufficient “copy” to fill the columns ! of tlie then four-page daily issue. | The local journals were prohibited, ; under severe penalties, from publishing either “cables" or “wires” until the expiry of a stated period had elapsed from them appearing in the “first grade’ papers in the principal centres. Hence the arrival of “exchanges” were eagerly awaited By sub-editors and it was no uncommon occurrence to insert “pars” and “wires” snipped from contemporaries and serve them up under “This Day’s" headings. On one occasion a popular advance agent of a touring concert company, scanning the current day’s issue ot one journal, exclaimed “Sure, this is some ‘News Buster!'” Picking out certain items under ‘this day’s iuterprovincia) news, he declared he

had read them in the South Island some days previously. The prestige of the paper was at stake! The prompt reply was: this was easily accounted lor by Gisborne being geo*, graphically situated so many degrees “further north." The response 'was “Son. come and sell tickets for me in the box office to-night,” and half-a-dozen “c-emplimenta: ies” for the staff handed out .

The composing room of the newspapers was the resold of many “old timers,” who would diop in with an item of news. A fro juent visitor was a dear old partly crippled French priest Father Chastagnon—always humorous and full of quaint sayings. Nothing would suit but that lie must assist in some jyqy. and finally he was provided with a pair of “cases” and a composing “stick.’ Gn at wars h : s delight when, lie was shown tlic “proof”'of th&wrst few lines, the result of of “setting.”

On one occasion a disastrous fire threatened the destruction of the printing office, and it was dc-emed advisable to remove portion of the phi lit to a place of safety." The good bather, with the best of intention to help was found endeavoring to move one of the heavy news “formes,” which providential l }* was rescued in time from being converted into a heap-of “Printers’ Pie.” A kindly, gocd-heartc-d ■•;uul was the little French “Feme.” in the early days, the delivery of the paper to the country subscribers was a matter of extreme difficulty, and it was a common o-currcn:c i'c~ one day's issue to be delivered the afternoon of the day Vllcwing publication. During several months of the winter season, the principal roads were veritable quagmires, with, mud vo to the horse's -idis. It became quite a common practice to walk inside the boundary •meres. lending the 1 orse outside. The <puntry “runner” had a most strenuous time, having to keep two

and three horses at various places to complete his- round. How different from the. present’, conditions! Settlers* are now se.ved with a daily issue in all parts of the district within an hour or so of publication..