Newspaper Promotion in 1880

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

Newspaper Promotion in 1880

£4Tf X X HAT are you going' to do, old man?” That Avas the question v v put to me at the end of JB7B hy my esteemed friend, John E. Russell, who, with his brother George W. (afterwards an efficient Minister of the Crown in the 1 Great War Coalition Ministry and proprietor of the Christchurch “Spectator”), published the Manawatu Herald (which they had started) at Foxton. That town was then the capital of Manawatu County, which stretched from the Rangitikei River down Iho coast as far as Otaki. where it met the Rutt County. So, as the capital of an extensive county, Foxton had no small conceit, of itself, and rather scorned the pretensions of its younger neighbour, Palmerston North. “But Avhat has all that go to do with Hawera”: I hear some of my readers say. Well, a good deal, so far as the origin of the “Star” was concerned. I replied to my friend’s query, saying that if nothing suitable offered in Wellington I would probably go to Sydney, Avhere an exhibition on a large scale Aims to be held. My friend then said: “HaA’c you ever been to Hawera ?” I replied in the negative. “Well, I believe there is a good opening there for a paper,” said he. “If I were you I’d go up and have a look at it. We were urged to start there before corning to Foxton by Max D. King and a few other people. I preferred Hawera to Foxton, but my brother thought it A\ r as too early, and that Foxton offered better opportunities. So, before you decide anything, go and have a look at it.” I accordingly took my friend’s advice, went up to Hawera, and stayed for about a week. I was highly impressed with the country, like everyone else Avho had had a glimpse of it. Befor’e leaving Palmerston I went to say goodbye to Henry McNeill, Avho had some years before. built the toAvn bridge at Wanganui, and

there he became acquainted with James Livingston, to whom he gave me a letter of introduction, and so started a life-long friendship. I went, out from Hawera to Waingongoro with Mr MacKenzie, stock inspector,, who showed Livingston and me a telegram from the Undersecretary for Lands (avlio thirty years later became my own chief, when I was appointed secretary of the Mining Bureau and Editor of the “New Zealand Mines Record.” The telegram ran as follows: “Clear the Waimate Plains of scab, but do not incur any expenditure.” ■“Hoav-the-devil am I to clear the Plains of scab if I can’t spend any money in doing it?” asked the irate stock inspector.- “A nice official puzzle,” tve both agreed, and laughed heartily, while the inspector’s wrath had reached a Avhitc heat.

WORKING WITH JAMES LIVINGSTON. After Mr MacKenzie’s departure we mustered 300 sheep for a firm of butchers at Norninnby, for Avhieh, by the Avav, payment was not forthcoming, as the firm soon afterwards had to go into liquidation, but J.L. took it quite philosophically, saying that they could not. probably help it owing to so many bad debts. Hi* then saddled up a horse and said to me: “(to and have a look across the river: there is a good road for some distance.’

Jn the middle of the Waingongoro bridge a young Maori, riding a very fine horse, warned me off, saying: “This my land. No pakeha come here.” I thought it a game of bluff, and so I said: “I’m a Government man, and I come to see about the scab in your sheep. You got to cure it, or I get them all killed.” Tie warned me off a second time, but seeing that his bluff availed nothing he rode off, saying: “Good-bye; you go back.” I rode on till I got near the Inaha River, and the further I went the more impressed I was with the country. “SUGGEST I START A NEWSPAPER.” The following day 1 wont to Mr King (not Max D.). whose two brothers l had known, as storekeepers at Palmerston, and discussed with him the possibilities of starting a newspaper. He, like Livingston, thought the country was a bit too unsettled for, such a venture, but promised that he would consult with,-'others and let me know later-on. He advdsgd that I should consult Felix McGuire, who.-1 think, was then chairman of the Paten County. •>; which Hawcra was the North Riding. He. m turn, advised me to see Tom Midulcmass, who was chairman of the Hawcra School Committee. From none of them did 1 receive any real, encouragement ; they all thought it tca.s too risky in the unsettled stale of affairs then prevailing. J am under the impression I also consul red Max D. King, but ha ve no clear recollect ions on that point. Before leaving I arranged with Mr King (George McLean’s brother-in-law/) that he would convene a meeting of the business men, and T would he guided by their decision.

On reaching Wellington I received an appointment (temporarily) as sub-editor of the “New Zealand Times,” and after a few weeks Alt* McGuire came to Wellington on county business, and camelo see me. He said they had talked the matter over Avith Mr King, and they both thought the risk Avas too great. So 1 Avcnt on Avith my job of sub-editing the. “Times” and “Mail” (the Aveekly edition) till the company that OAvned the paper—very unAvisely, to my thinking—decided to Avind up, and I Avas perforce on the look-out for another job. AGAIN OUT OF A BERTH. James Charles Yorke, Avho had succeeded the Hon. Dr. Pollen as editor of the “Ncav Zea-

land Times,” and had shoAvn very marked ability for’one avlio had had so little previous training at newspaper work, said to me:- —- “What are you going to do. Pat ?” “Well,” I replied, “it is difficult, to say, but if 1 had the requisite capital 1 think 1 know of a good opening for a bi-weekly newspaper.” “Where is 1 hat ?” 'said lie. “Up in Hawera,” I replied. “I spent about a week there last year, and Ihe country

about there is some of the linest 1 have ever seen.” , “Oh! 1 have been there, too,” said Yorkr; “I paid' a visit to an old Last Coast neighbour, Partridge, and was most favourably impressed with the country. What would it take to start a paper?”

Founder of The u Star” Looks Back

Mr P* Galvin Writes of His Contemporaries

I said: “About £SOO or £600.” Yorke then said: “I Avould A’enture a couple of hundred pounds, and I think Will Muir (overseer of the printing department of the “Times”) Avill do the same.” Muir at first agreed, to do so, but later on withdrew, saying he thought he could put the money to better advantage. (He Avas, even then, a very successful land speculator in toAvn properties, and Avas reputed to be Avortli anything from £50,000 to £IOO,OOO Avlien he died a couple of years ago.)

I then had to look round for someone to take Mr Muir’s place, and my choice fell on Joseph Braden limes, Avho Avas knoAvn as one of the best printers in Wellington. I suav his AA’ife first, as he Avas not. at home, and I told her I had come to make him an offer of a

partnership in the paper. She was, to my great surprise, quite in favour of it, as her brother had been in the .Titokowaru Avar, and had told her what magnificent land there was ill all that part of the country.

We soon bad an offer of a printing plant, tlion lying idle in Waimate, South Canterbury. It consisted of three band-presses (no machines), and a fair supply of news and jobbing typo, though not <|uite enough for the size of the paper we wanted to produce: but in a lew weeks we got Hie necessary type additions. The late George Svme and his son George car-

ried out the necessary alterations from a cabinet-maker’s shop and work-room in Regent Street to a printing office, and we started the paper a 1 a cost, roughly, of about £3OO. I wonder what some of t he modern newspaper men would Ihink of an expenditure like that !

WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT. T went up early in February or late in January, ISBO, to begin my canvass of the district, and in nearly every instance met with a very cordial reception. Before leaving Wellington l saw John Lawson. Railway Commissioner for the North Island (there was then another Commissioner for the South Island) to get a railway pass for what was then open oi the Wanganui-New Plymouth line. In the course of conversation he told me I was making a great mistake in starting at Hawera: that Normanby was bound to be the principal town, as a line of railway had been surveyed along the edge of the bush to Opunake, in order to settle the land and put an end to the Maori difficulty. Sir Dillon 801 l (father of Sir h ranch-; Bell), who was a Royal Commissioner with Sir William Fox to allocate Maori tribal and hapu lands, told me the same thing, and that, to some extent, influenced me after leaving the “Star,” and taking the baths at Rotorua, to scllle in Opunake.

I got a promise from most of the hoitseholders around HaAvera to subscribe to the new paper, but a good many said they could only do so' Avhen their subscription to the “Patea Mail” ran out. That paper was then leased by Alex. Black, Avhose acquaintance I had made in the golden city of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Avhere he and I Avorked as compositors on the “Ballarat Star and Courier.” After gaining some experience across the Tasman, he returned to Taranaki and leased the “Patea Mail” from Joseph Ivess, generally referred to as the “rag-planter,” though all the “Mails” that he started in different parts of the North and South Islands Avere very good papers for those days.

The Rev.. P. W. Fairelough was then Wesleyan minister at Patea, and lie held services at ■Hawera. in the afternoon or evenings. He wrote most of the leading articles for the “Mail,” and they were both scholarly and practical. His successor as editor was also scholarly, hut anything but practical. Black’s lease of the “Mail” was nearing its close when the “Star” appeared on the horizon, and Ivess determined to take 1 lie “Mail” over and run it himself, at least for a time. He had leased, or sold out of the “Ashburton Mail.” and he brought Ids editor, an English journalist named Houghton. with him.

that I could not see my way to offer him anyAf thing. But I had some misgivings all the same, and on a Sunday morning walk to Normanby Avitli Florence McCarthy, Avho Avas acting as shorthand reporter for the Royal Commission (Fox and Bell) I determined, as he Rad adA’ised, to spend the money, if need be, in fighting it out. Hess A\ r as persistent; he approached me a second, if not a third time, but all to no purpose. He then approached Mr Innes in Wellington, and gaA'c him a very-doleful account of the climate and country, and tried to get him to back out. Fortunately, he had Mrs Innes (Avho, I am glad to say, is still Avith us) to convince, as Avell as her husband. She had packed up her furniture, piano, etc., and was determined to come to HaAvera and take her chance of whatever should.happen to the venture. Ivess took an office in High Street, and had an ornate door and counter put, into a shop that belonged to a Mr Lynch, hot far off the business centre, while we were in a. back street. The “Patea Mail” Avas chockfuli of boastings as to Avhat the “Hawera Mail” was going to do, and lioav they Avould have it delivered by “mounted couriers” at cockcrow. all oyer the district, The paper came out for about, three Aveeks, and the “mounted couriers” (a boy) rode from Patea to Hawera in the early hours of the morning and delivered the paper to all the old subscribers of the “Patea Mail.” It avus a case of “love’s labour lost,” and after many indignant letters and papers were.posted back to him, Ivess gracefully retired from the scene. I used to go -down once a month to report the County Council, and was asked by Sherwood (chairman of the Harbour Board), Felix O’Sullivan, McCarthy (fellmonger), and William Cowern (auctioneer), -among many others, lioav much we had given Ivess to retire. When I replied, “Not a brass farthing,” they Avere surprised. N

It Avas our intention to have the “Star” delivered in time for breakfast, but. Hess’s “mounted couriers” compelled us, in order to cope’with him, lo deliver much earlier, and it made the output of the paper more laborious. So lie had some, satisfaction in that respect,

The plant from Waimat.e was consigned to us hv one of the land and mortgage companies that had, possibly, advanced some money on it, though we bought it from Scott, Avho Avas a compositor on the “Ncav Zealand Times.” This led to some discussion in Patea, and one business man, representative of a large firm of merchants in Wellington, prophesied our early demise, stating that we could do no good for the district, as avc were mortgaged up to the eyes. I felt constrained to enlighten him, Avith a threat of legal proceedings if the slander Avere repeated, and I did not hear any more of it.

' THE “STAR’S” STAUNCH FRIENDS. Nearly all the residents Aveleomed the rising luminary, but there were some outstanding staunch friends that I can recall with pleasure at this distance. First of all came James Livingston; then followed George McLean, Moore Hunter, James Davidson. R. Coekburii, and W. Prosser, in Hawera : Charles Beresford, Captain Brett. Dan McGregor and • Charles Quin, in Normanby. Some ot them left their OAvn avocations, and drove round Avitli me to possible subscribers on several occasions.

Nothing more heartened us than the way in which the business, people supported the paper with advertisements. Storekeepers, hotelkeepers, blacksmiths,'carters,' bootmakers, tailors, 'tinsmiths, plumbers, carpenters' —ra fact, every calling that had anything to advertise had it duly set forth in the columns of the “Star.” No light was hidden under a bushel. Junes and myself never expected many of the ads. to continue beyond the first year, but they were to be found for many years afterwards. POETICAL SNOBS. • There were two bootmakers —Noble in High Street, and Coffey in Regent Street, Both had a gift of verse, and their ads. wore poetical, frequently with sly digs at one another. I could never find out how it was, but whenever either of them decided on a change of.advertisement the other was sure to come in smiling with an alteration for the same issue. They were both good tradesmen, and their work stood the test of the hard wear and tear of those days. 1 met William Noble many years afterwards in Stratford, where he had a nice shop in Broadway. He took up a bush section, and 1 think he held on till values had improved. He was still grateful for financial assistance lie had received from my brother.

Coffey, who had a nephew a priest in .Wellington, died, T think, in Hawera. He showed me his tongue on one occasion. It was “a sight for gods and men.” and T was horrified. He merely, laughed. “A doctor once asked me to put out my tongue,” he said.••“and. he was more horrified than you are. But 1 reassured him,” In' continued, “by telling him that l was in the habit of chewing a piece of chalk for heartburn.'” Coffey was a humorous soul, much more so than his contemporary, but the latter, (or some one for him), turned out the better verso. •'

Hawera’s first Local Government

County Councily Road JBoavd and Town Boavd

Some Humorous Incidents of Early Days

(Mr P. Galvin’s Story Continued.)

AN OUTSTANDING SUPPORTER. John \Y. Barlcyman, solicitor, came to Hawcra a short time previous to the advent of the “Star/ 7 and he received me with open arms, saying that a paper was the very thing they wanted. He subscribed and he advertised, and in nearly every issue there was a letter from him on some subject or another, often signed by various “noms-de-plume, 77 and sometimes under his own signature. He kept a bachelor’s establishment, and there we often foregathered. In pre-colonial days Barleyman’s work was the rehabilitation of English cathedrals. His first job in New Zealand was at the extreme end of carpentry—the building of a wool-shed in Marlborough for W. H. Eyes, then superintendent of that province and member of the General Assembly, whose flocks at that period numbered 50,000. Later in life Eyes lived for a number of years about four miles south of Opunake. Eyes helped the young colonist, got him to enter the Civil Service, and he eventually became Collector of Customs at Blenheim, and was later promoted to New Plymouth. While in the Customs department. Barleyman studied law, and passed his examination as solicitor. Later on he purchased Mr Halse’s practice at Hawera, and threw himself whole-heartedly into every movement for the town’s advancement. He was appointed a member of the Taranaki Land Board; there he pushed the claim of the “Star” for land sales advertising, and succeeded in making it the official medium for all land sales south of Stratford. That was not alone a great financial help, but it gave the new paper an official status. The secretary of the Public Library sent an advertisement to the “Patea Mail,” for which he had been for some years a paid correspondent. At the following meeting Barlcyman came down on him “like a thousand of bricks, 7 ' and the offence was not repeated. Full of energy, and liking the limelight Barlcyman led every movement, though wise enough to make way for the chairman of the Bond Board (Moore Hunter) or Town Board (John Winks) whenever a. meeting was called to discuss any public matter. He led the way in getting a clerk of court and receiver of land revenue stationed in Hawcra, and for the headf|iiarters of the Royal Commission, their survey staff being located in the town.

County, which extended ns far fl-s the rnungatar.l River, three miles south of Dpunake, and to the Patea River at Stratfordj while the southern boundary extended as far as the Waitotara River. The whole- of the Wellington mid Taranaki provincial districts were embraced in the Ilutt, Manawalu, Rangitikci, Wanganui, Patea. and Taranaki Counties.

THE HARBOUR CONTROVERSY RaiTevman's mil sin u<lin<*- agilat ion uas for the eaneoliation of the first. Sow Plymouth Harbour Loan >t £-00.000, uii(i the. division of the money between New Plymouth, Waitara., Paten and Opunake. There was a pretty general feeling in the Hawcra district that the money would be wasted, and a petition was got up for presentation to Parliament, which 95 per cent, of the residents signed. Some settlers who came from Taranaki did not, very naturally, like to go against their own folk, and did not sign. Barlcvman was commissioned to present the petition, and he was heard at the Bar of the House in support of it. But all to no avail, as there were possible .harbours all over New Zealand, all anxious to be in the swim of borrowing. Barleyman maintained, on his return, that had we actually asked for the allocation of the money (which the public meeting decided to leave to Parliament, again si. his advice) to the three small shipping ports, the petition would have had a much better chance of succeeding. After the success of operations at New Plymouth most of us are very sc rry to day that we ever countenanced any opposition to the harbour. All the surveyors that I spoke to were dead against it, but what weighed most with mo was the opinion of Charles ‘Wilson Hurstliouse, one of the best and most practical engineers that New Zealand has ever had. He was not opposed to the harbour, but. considered that the Sugar Loaves should have formed the base of the breakwater. Hawcra was excluded from the harbour rate, thanks to Felix McGuire's efforts in the Taranaki Provided i 1 Council, but many of the residents looked forward to taking up land in tho bush districts and on the Waimate Plains, and did not like the idea of a harbour rate hanging over their heads.

THE UPPER HOUSE. Barleyman and I had a scheme for getting a member of the Legislative Council from the district, and we picked on ,r. R. Lvsaght, of Mokoia, as the most suitable man for the position. Major Atkinson, who was Premier, was consulted, but he could not see his way to making the appointment at that particular time, for which he then gave good reasons. I think this is the first rime that this move has been mad-' public, and I doubt if the "Laird of Mokoia” ever hoard of it—at ail events, not from me, for I nov or spol.e to that, gentleman, though I knew ojw or two of his sons, who were very fine young fellows. The Provincial Governments had been abolished in 1 s7 l !. and lit coiiniv conn, oils substituted therefor—M2 for each island. The advocates for abolition asserted Hint it would be better to have (it centres of Inca! government, instead of seven or eight provincial centres, c-f-n tending that a greater interest would be manifested in local a ft airs, ami a greater economy observed in the expenditure of rates and other funds. It was. therefore, decided to make the boundaries of the counties so large that the overhead expenditure on clerical and engineering staffs would be .spread over in such a way as to give tho best results. When the "Star” was started in April, 1880, Hawcra was in the northern and western riding of the Patea

SEPARATE COUNTY As settlement proceeded ‘Howera folk Eolt the pressing need for a count} council, and an "agitation was sot on Eont for severance from Pa tea, which proved successful. The piece of metalled road from the top of High 'Street to Normanby, on which the Public Works Department had expended £SOOO on formation and metalling, but which the Patea County Council had allowed to go to pieces while it made a vain effort to compel the Department to put. it into a proper state of repair, greatly aided the agitation, for it united Normanby with Hawera. That was perhaps their first united effort, for Normanby was intensely jealous of Hawera. fining over the toad with William Dale, chairman of the Patea 'County Council, I said, “That road will disrupt your county if not immediately taken in hand,” but he did not seem to look at it quite so seriously. The members who represented the Hawera Riding in 18S0-81 were: Moore Hunter, J. W." Partridge and .Tob Cane. Partridge sold out and took up land in the New England district, Now South Wales; Cane and his son invented the Cane Milking Machine; and .Moore Hunter, in addition, was chairman of the Hawera Road Board, and a very efficient chairman he was. HAWERA ROAD BOARD The Hawera Road Board did really good work in the formation and metalling of the side roads, but owing to the soft- and slippery nature of the country and the scarcity of metal in some places, road-making was a very expensive process. George Cane (a younger brother of Job’s) was 'always to the fore in claims for Whakainara. He used to relate the hardships of the pioneers on that now highly productive block in such a way as to secure, if not the lion’s share, as near as lie could get to it. But, like 'Father O' ’.Flynn. Cteoqge ‘(‘hart a (way avid him” that proved very fetching, and lie secured a goodly share of the rates as well as the thirds from deferred payment sections. George Victor Bate, ex-manager of the Bank of New South Wales Hawera branch, was clerk, and he used in those days to have everything ia apple-pie order. He often said to me, “Cane will not be satisfied with anything less than the whole of the rates and subsidies being spent in the Whakamara block.” Two quiet men came in from the block —Messrs Allen and West —but their votes could always be relied on by their smiling coadjutor. Mr Morrison, who came from the Wairnrapa, and eventually returned there, represented the Normanby settlers. The names of the other members I cannot recall. I think there were nine altogether; but 1 have nothing that I can refer to, beyond a defective memory, for verification.

HAWERA TOWN BOA-RD The 'Hawcra Town Board, like the Rond Board, met monthly, but it was much more difficult to provide a quorum. Some members, tired of waiting, used to sally forth in search of tlie absent ones, but convivial friends often led them astray from their purpose. and when ar length the absent ones appeared they, too, had to start out and pursue their pursuers. All the same, they did very useful work in many ways, considering they were limited to a shilling in the £ on the annual rateable value. They tried to do without a surveyor, engineer, or foreman, and to just jog along as best they could, the Works Committee doing the superintending. Going along with my friend, Charles Finnerfy, Government surveyor, up High Street, lie said, "Sen what those damn fools are trying (o do!” My iinpractised eye could see nothing wrong, and T said so. "Don't yon .see,” said lie, "that they are trying to make water run up hill.” They were certainly trying to lead the surface water towards Moore Hunter’s farm instead of letting it flow naturally in the .ether direction. T then learned for the first time that Norm.in by was 50ft. higher than Ilawera, and that it was an optical illusion to think lluwera was on higher ground. Normanby had plenty of bush lit that time behind it. ond the trees hod the effect of heightening the illusion. Tho members of the board whose names 7 can remember were: John Winks (chairman), James Davidson, Max T). King. John Stevenson, and M. Whittington. At every meeting, before flic proceedings had jjono far. .Toek Stevenson (ns ho w n s familj.rrlv oallod by nil his friends, and they were many) used to exclaim, "What is the state of the chest, Mr 'Chairman?” Being assured that the "chest” \va< so-|vent, lie was content, and spake little, but did very useful work as a member of tin* Works ‘Committee. Ho introduced the first plough into (fawera. and was fi line stamp of pioneer settlor. John Winks was laumi far and wide as a very keen stock dealer. lie was constantly sending fat cattle to Auckland and returning with stores from what TTawerait.es used to call the "Taranaki hungry country." The plough and. the harrow, and a libera! application of basic slag and phosphates, lias altered the whole aspect of that .so-called "hungry country,” and many of its detractors, if alive, would be glad to have a goodly slice of it now.

JAMES DAVIDSON AND MAX KING James Davidson and Max D. Ning were storekeepers on the opposite sides of High Street, and were esteemed as men of probity and honourable in all their dealings with pakeha and Mao-ri. A good journalist was lost in Max. D., who had a flair for writing, and contributed lots of good, sometimes exciting. eopv to the “Wanganui Herald.” Bad debts and >a, slump caught him unprepared. like man}' others, in those da vs.

James Davidson was a most lovable man to those who. like the -writer, know him intimately. In his young days he was engaged in the Geodetieal Survey of Scotland, but the “call of the wild” sent, him as a young man to New Zealand. Although he had some thousands of book debts, he rarely summoned anybody.

was James Davidson, who quiet’.y secured for the borough most of the reserves with which the future “City of the Plains" is so richly endowed. He never failed Major Atkinson, and the Major seldom failed to do what Davidson wanted, for lie never asked anything for himself. FIRST TOWN BOARD CLERK The clerk to the Town Board, William Henry Wanklyn, spent a few veai-s after leaving school in a bank 'in Wales, but decided to come’to New Zealand and found his way to the border country. His books -and accounts were always ready for the auditor or chairman of the board. He became secretary of the Hawera Racing. Club soon after that body was formed, and so well was his work performed that he afterwards received the appointment of secretary to the Canterbury Racing Club, and he became a recognised authority on all that pertained to the “sport, of kings.” I believe he acted a. s editor of the “Racing An-* mini” for many years.' He passed away in Christchurch a few years ago. THE ARMED CONSTABULARY Men were enlisted for the Armed Constabulary in Wellington, and after two or three weeks’ drill under a wonderful iSergeant-Major (whose name I cannot recall), they were drafted to the front. The Hon. John Bryce knew where to find a commanding officer, and prevailed on Major Roberts, as he then was, to throw up the position of Stipendiary Magistrate at Tauranga,

I met him smiling one day, mi l 1 said. " Ypu look iu good humour this morning. “So 1 ought to be,” lie replied. "1 just met a man that T hadn’t seen for la or .1(5 years, and lie said, ‘l owe you .some money. Davidso'.n. Haw much is it?’ "! can't tell you,’’ replied J.D., "as the books are down on the farm at Taiporolienui, but I will bring the account in to-morrow morning.”. "But I have to be away iu two hours,” replied The long-winded debtor. "Haw much do you think it is?’ "I believe it is over £60,” said the ex-storekeeper. "Will a cheque for £SO square it?” asked the debtor. "Oh. I suppose so,” said .1.D., and ihi* cheque was written out there and tin'll. "That is tin' reason why 1 feel jolly." said lie To me. "So come and let us celebrate it, for I never expected to see the man or his money.”

M v friend Davidson was no mean poet, a ml used t o send me occasional poems up te. a short time prior to his death. I have very pleasant memories of James Davidson, and the valuable help he gave when help was badly needed in putting tlu' "Star" on a stable footing. ! once tried to recompense him, but lie good-naturedly waved me off, and asked me to came and have ;i drink and say no more about it. as it was a real pleasure to him to do anything towards helping the local paper to get over the teething stage. If any man deserved to be remembered by the people of Hawcra, surely it

Te Puke an a too to run and come back to The West Coast. Bryce guaranteed him his old position as soon as matters settled down. When they eventually did settle down Bryce was no longer in office, and Roberts was for some years shabbily treated. After wearily waiting, at length tardy jus lice was done to that tine officer, and iie was appointed Stipendiary Magis rente for the Wairarnpa district. That meant a big loss financially, far'spacious grounds and a fine residence which he had built at Tauranga had to be sacrificed. Altogether about 1200 men were enrolled. and they were located in strong camps on the seaward side of Mount Kgmoat. They made the main road through the plains under an armed escort. and arms were always piled within handy reach in case of any disturbance. As soon as a few miles ■&£ formation was ready the metalling proceeded bv contract, William and Richard

Dingle doing a good deal of it. \nillocks being used, and no "langwidge” was permitted. The writer accompanied Max. D. King on one occasion with a load of groceries, and could not believe, after eight years ef Australian experience, 'when the bullocks camped in some of the streets af Melbourne with huge loads of wool from way-lmck stations, that the poor patient brutes, which did so much for early pioneering, could be driven without cursing and swearing. Dingle Brothers laid it down as a rule to their drivers .that there must

be no swearing, on pain of instant dismissal, and their orders were strictly carried oar. But it was an unforgetnble experience on the writer’s part, for , s ome of the bullockys in New Zealand could keep pace with their Australian contemporaries in the forcible use of “langwidge.”

The Armed’ Constabulary were a splendid body of men, easy io discipline as long as there was plenty of work to do, but apt to get into scrapes if things were made a bit too easy fo r them. The officers know that the best way to keep the peace amongst them, was to encourage them in cricket, football and gymnastics of all kinds. The pay was only 6s a day for privates, 7s for corporals, anl 8s for sergeants, but the rations, for which they paid, gradually came down from 15d a head per day to 9*d per head. The ration was a good one, and any of the messes that felt the need of luxuries, such as eggs, and jam, could have them by paying a small individual contribution. Nor were the amenities of life disregarded. They staged some good plays, and small vaudeville companies paid occasional visits to the camps, which numbered from small detachments up to 500 officers and men.

The great bulk of the A.C’s. wore men of education, and many of them came from junior branches of the aristocracy. Few of them saved any money and if there were any lenders a short time after pay-day there were plenty of borrowers. ' The A.C’s. were a very honourable body of 'men, who looked upon the life as*a great adventure, and

wove' ready for r.nv emergency. They had unbounded confidence in most of their officers, and particularly their commander. They were prepared to follow him anywhere “to licll, if need be, " as one' sergeant put it to me when 100 of them were embarking at Opunake for Kawhia, owing to a disturbance in that isolated part of the colony, but soon matters settled down there as elsewhere. The Maoris had a wholesome respect for the A.C’s., though some of the “young bloods” were anxious for a scrap and, Te Whiti and Tohu, knowing this, encouraged them in the ploughing, and in some cases destroying the fences, where the settlers encroached on their burying and fishing grounds. They also -opposed the making of the roads by putting armed guards close to the A.C ’s. advance post. They laughed and .joked with the A.'C’s. and every time “smokeoil " was called for the latter the Maori in command gave a similar order,-which

was •only too willingly obeyed on both sides. THE HAWERA REPUBLIC A few weeks after my interview in Wellington with Mr Me.Guife. while 1 was still sub-editor of the “New Zealand 'Times,” a cablegram came in one night (all telegrams and cables passed through my hands for filling in and elucidation), announcing the proclamation of the Unworn Republic and the election of .lames Livingston as. first. 'I president, (jonfirming what Mr McGuire had told me as to the unsettled state of the district. Te Whiti and

Tohu. in the endeavour to keep the r tide of settlement back, had ordered t the ploughing up of some of the se tiers’ land, and they turned their attention on to Livingston, who was on the border of the confiscated land on a the Waimate Plains. 'Sir George Grey, 1 who. was Premier, was appealed to tor t protection from the inroads of the x Maoris, and he advised the settlers to keep cool and patient and be diplomatic. That was the last straw. An indignation meeting was called: tni _ settlers determined to protect tJiem- « selves, and as the Government appeared unable or unwilling to do so, they '• decided there and then to throw off „ their allegiance to the Colonial Gov- . eminent and proclaim a Republic. They - naturally looked for a leader, and unanimously elected James Livingston as , President. He never sought the h'.ne- - light, but the border men, some ot them having served xyitn him at ie No-utu o-tc-Manu, would not hear ot 'any other candidate, had one been ■ -forthcoming. Sergeant Livingston, as lie then was, became sc&ti&nd --in command after the gallant -Major . Yon Tempskv had been shot, led a masterly retreat." with Lieutenant- Roberts m command. Amongst the wounded was John Flynn, who was so badly injured that some of his comrades, seeing no apparent hope of his recovery, were for leaving him ho the tender mercies of the Maoris. Livingston would not. hear of such a thing; ho soon improvised an ambulance and, conveyed the badly wounded ranger to a place of safety. Many years afterwards, in speaking of that" terrible experience, Colonel Roberts (as he then was) told the writer that if it had not been for Livingston ’s coolness, pluck, determination and knowledge of bush craft, he doubted if any of them would have come out alive. Livingston, on the other hand, never took any credit to himself, and gave all the glory of it to the young officer who had proved his fitness for command after the gallant Major had been laid low. Every man on the border .capable of bearing arms was enrolled as a volunteer, and was expected to do a couple of-hours’ drill every day. An armed guard was placed night and day in front, of the President’s residence. The old blockhouse was put in order, in case it. should bo necessary to call in the women and children" for protection. Borne of the settlers did not wait for the call; they came with their wives 'And children, into Hawera, and remained there. Major Atkinson succeeded Sir George Grey a few months afterwards, when a forward policy was determined upon, John Bryce, who had proved his capacity as" a leader of cavalry in the Tit ok'ownrau war, being appointed Native Minister.

NGAIRE ROAD BOARD. Towards tho end of 1 8S0, or begin, ning of 1881, the bush settlors felt the need of local government, and the Ngairo Road Board was formed. Charles Quin, a. wideawake business man from Southland, took up a lot of bush land, ami became -the first chairman, being also chairman of the Normanby School Committee. William McCutcheon, a young business man in Hawera, who had also taken up some bush land, became clerk; and Robert Twigg, a very practical, hard-working man, was foreman. 11. Southey (said to be a nephew <.!' the English poet, Southey) was a member and the meetings were held a: his sawmill. Richard O’Bonovhn, -a brother of the future Police 'Commissioner, was a member, and a sore thorn in the side of Twigg. The other members I cannot recall, but I think Tom Maboy and James Thomson were members. The board had a lot of work to do, and >a. very small income to do it. with. iStill, with the money available, a way was ’opened to many a settler’s home. With the constant cartage from the sawmill, the Mountain Read, made by General Cameron’s forces, became an awful ordeal to get through in wet weather, and often I had to leave my horse in Normanby and scramble through to Mangawhero a.s best I could ' along the fences and on top of the large stumps which dotted the road, and which Jock iMoLcan, a Wellington contractor, had cut down fairly close (o the roots and covered ovef with plenty of earth. .1 nearly lost my horse on one occasion in an awfully deep hole, and did not venture his life again except in fine weather. But on the , whole tho board did good work. The Mountain Road, being a, main road, did not come within its jurisdiction, and the Patca County Council did not bother wdth it. In fact, it was *‘nobody’s child.” A lot of Maori land bordered on it, and they paid no rates. NEW RAILWAY STATION A few days before the first, issue of the “Star” the Minister for Public Works, lion. Air Oliver (known as “Tin Tacks” in the Department) visited Hawera for the purpose, principally, of fixing upon the site for the new railway station. One party advocated a site an Tom Middlemass’s land, on the southern side of the town; the other party advocated the claims of the present site. Both parties contended that their particular site was the more central, taking tho Egmonr Hotel or the Post Office a® the base. “Yon act as timekeeper,” said Air Oliver to me, and with that he handed me his gold watch. It was agreed by both sides that whichever site was nearest should be most central. We just walked to the southern site and back again. Then repeated the walk to aaicl fro to tho present station sire. There was a difference of seven or eight minutes in favour of the present “That decides it, gentlemen,” saidVthc Minister. and there and then fixed upon the present position for tlie future station. Boon after Tom Middleman made up his mind to sell out and lpo-we the. district. 'Some folk said that'.he had , so fixed his mind upon having the station on his property, or n'car it, that he became disgusted with the turn things had taken, and after selling off lie left, accompanied by his brother Andrew, for the United States. Andrew was a very quiet, gentlemanly maav, and I tried hard to dissuade him from ing the district. “Well,” he sa|d to me. “1 am not keen on leaving) but Tom and 1 have always been together, and T do not like the idea of being separated from him.” I afterwards heard that they were 1000 miles apart. One went to Florida orange-growing, and the other to Oregon, sheep-farming. A sister, Mrs Douglas, whose husband’s property was near the Middlemftss’s

emained. Alany of us looked upon heir departure as a distinct loss to he district, though Iredalo Bros, proved rcry good settlers., Out of the interviews for the station iml other matters waiting -adjustment managed to got five and a-half ©odiums for the first issue of the ‘‘Star, • which I regiaxded as a great scoop. HAWERA CRICKET CLUB Iu those early days there was neither i football nor a racing -club, and the Hawera iCricket Club was the central attraction for the young men of the district. H. Southey, of Southey and Willy, sawmillers, on the Mountain Road, gave ,a gift of the timber for the grandstand, and I think he also contributed a fair share of the cost for its erection. W. G. White, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, was president, and I think Jack Cunningham, new an insurance broker in Alclbournc, was secretary. An enthusiastic player was Charles Bercsford, storekeeper, Normanby, .and he contributed-, to the' .“.Star ” most of the notes on the various games. Tie rarely missed the , pitch an the one day set apart each week for matches. There Avas no difficulty in getting games with other players, for the A.C’s. provided several elevens, and there ivcre matches also with Patea, Wanganui and Now Plymouth. To the Cricket Club largely belonged the credit of fixing 'llaAvera as the place to bo looked upon as “our tOAA-n” by all the young men of the surrounding dis trict. Later on came a Hunt Club, then a Racing Club, and then a Football 'Club, und in all these sports Hawera men Avore able to hold their OAvn.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS Churches and schools Avere well established in Hawera in 18'SO, and had no small part in building up the future city. There Avas an attendance of 200 to 300 at tho State 'School, which Avas fortunate in securing the _ services of Mair, a very capable, quiet teaeher, whose son has made a name for himself as one of the leading civil engineers in Ncav Zealand. There were many 'Roman Catholic families in the district, who built a nice church, a presbytery, and a convnnt, and here most" of their children received their education. A private. school for girls was conducted by Miss AleCuteheon, whose brothers, James and William, were well-knoAvn figures. The Catholics had a resident parish priest, Father Grogaii, and the Rev. W. J. Terry ministered to the Presbyterian congregation. Avho had also built a nice church and' presbytery. 'The Church of England clergyman at Patea, Rca*. Dascnt, held morning and evening services alternately at Patea and Haivera. Tho Rev. P. W. Fairclough conducted similar services for tho Wesleyan congregations.

DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS At this time there was a boy grew ing up in II a were, who was to distin. guish himself at St. Patrick's College in Wellington. He nor. only excelled in all his studies, but. also in athletics, and more particularly in football. “Tommy’’ O’Shea, as he was called by his intimates, is now. and 'yts been for some years, Coadjutor Aiviibishop of Wellington, and will, in the ordinary course of events, succeed Arckbisliop Redwood. 'Unworn folk of all dononmiati'ans were proud of having given to the world such a leading personality. I have been lately informed on good authority that he possesses one of the best, business brains in New Zealand, and that had commerce claimed him instead of the church, he would most probably have found a very high place "in the commercial community. Archbishop O’Shea has proved a great asset to the 'Church of which he is so distinguished .a member. His broad vision and iwide outlook has led to the building of the Lewisham Hospital in Wellington. Another institution that will be linked with Archbishop O’Shea’s name and that <o£ the .Venerable Archbishop Redwood is the building of the new Sr. Patrick’s College at. iSilverstrcam, about 20 miles from Wellington City. The other distinguished citizen. John Murray, was only a visitor from Victoria, and as his people were graziers in the rich western district of that State, he naturally gravitated towards Now Zealand’s premier grazing country. He was a big man with a- very keen brain, very fond* of argument, but still fonder of a game of cards for stakes. George McLean, who was a very clover man, often remarked to me that Murray was a very clever fellow, and we both deplored the fact that he was frittering away his .time ■in idleness. It was stated that he had fallen out with his people, but that a sister who believed in him sent him money from time to time. Aftc-r a few years Murray returned to Victoria. The Salvation Army got hold of him, and he testified at their meetings for some time. His better nature asserted itself; he stood for Parliament for his native place, Warmambool, and got elected. He was not long in ‘Parliament before ho became 'Chief ...lecrotary, and later on became Premie.. In both , positions he displayed marked ■ability, and what George McLean discovered in him in Ilawcra the Melbourne Club—a very powerful body — did in Victoria. The sister who never lost faith in him became his chief helper until he at length got married. Miss Murray was described to me in Melbourne by an old lady friend as “a dear,” and it was said that everybody in Warmambool loved her. A FUTURE LEADING CITIZEN. Charles E. Major was in Hawera when 1 went, there in 1880. I knew iiim in Wellington a.<? cleric to Grant .Vilen, an old Engllsli lawyer, "Who- always wore spats in summer as well as winter, and Major was then no; mean •athlete. Had he continued his studies for the law ho might have gone far, but perhaps the necessary “ swotting” did not appeal to him. He started in Hawera as a land transfer broker and. as all the land at that time said eaine under the provisions of that Act, a good deal of business passed through his hands and he gradually acquired different agencies. At that time he did not bother about local or general politics. But in the course of time lie entered local and general politics, became Mayor several times, and finally Member of Parliament her the district. Later an lie removed to Auckland.

EARLY HOTELKEEPERS In IS'SO the three hotels in Unworn -were all "well conducted, and should have been money-makers for their owners. but sad to sn.y none of the licensees had much to spare ten years after. The times were easy, most people were easygoing, and book debts ran away w itli the landlord’s profits. Arthur Owen, a great sport, occupied the Egmont Hotel, in front of which the coaches drew up. Tom Lleyd veas I h c owner of the Empire Hotel, which he let -a.t £6 a week, and the stables at £5 a week; he then built a hotel at Alanaia, and did a bigger trade for a couple of years, while the fencers and busnleliors were busily mknking money and, as busily spending it. John Prosser was the landlord of the Railway Hotel, and made *a lot of money, but lost it in hotel “specs ’ at. Waitara amt Opunake: In the latter place his hotel and stables Were burnt down, and a. brother was lost in the fire. The insurance had expired a fortnight previously, and the policy was not renewed. Sam Prosser, the occupier, thought that his brother John had insured as he had done the previous year, while John was of the opinion that his brother Sam had done so. That fire entailed a Less of about £3OOO. Edward Pulford. who had been in the wholesale trade in Napier, bought King’s store, near the Egmont Hotel, from George McLean in ISSO, and curried a heavy stock of merchandise, including drapery. He sold out at the end of 18S1 to Gardiner and Sutton and built the Commercial Hotel near toe Post Office. He was a very capable man of business. Gardener and Sutton, who came from Charleston, in the South Island, where they carried on storekeeping for some years, proved a great acquisition to the district. They wore upright, straight-dealing men, and the citizens several times placed Henry W. Sutton in the iMayoral chair. Tlis partner settled in Cambridge later on. Thev carried on business for many years as partners without any agreement or deed cf partnership, the word of one being accepted without a murmur bv the other. Austin J. Whitaker, who had been a salesman at. To Aro House, Wellington, and had taken a leading part in amateur theatricals and concerts, particularly in connection with the Cathclic Club came to Hawera in the late ’seventies. He had a" small drapery shop opposite the Post Office, and a grocery store on the icther side higher up. There was a plethora of money in LSSO, and he iwas induced to build a two-storey place, so ns to combine both branches under one roof. It proved a mistake. He lost a lot of trade during building operations, and a slump coming on the year after, he was caught like many others in the backwash, and had for a time to strike out for fresh fields. He is now a betel broker in Auckland.

About this period Thomas Ecclesfiold arrived from the golden West Coast, and opened a stare near his brother-in-law, 11. -G. Pitcher, watchmaker and jeweller. His daughter, then a schoolgirl, in after years became principal of the Girls’ 'College, Wellington.

NOEMANBY HOTELS AND STORES Xorma 11 by hail all the appearance of a thriving settlement in those days. There was a large sawmill on the Ketemarae Block, owned by James and Tom Robson, and run on up-to-date lines, white another sawmill was in full swing at Mangawhero, owned by Southey and Willy. Most of their supplies were obtained at Normanby, iwhich had two well-conducted stores, owned by Edward Gibson and Charles Beresford. There were two well-con-ducted hotels, owned by Dan McGregor and Alex. Brett, while an agency of the Bank of'New Zealand was 'open daily. A butcher, baker, and blacksmith catered for the general wants in their various lines. The natives of Okinawa and Titokowaru's -settlement did most of their business in Norntanby and one ye'ar they spent about TdOOO. on stores, the proceeds being obtained from cocksfoot seed, which grew very luxuriantly on the edge of the bush clearings. Another hotel, at the junction of Ketcmarae with the Mountain Road, was kept by Joseph Wilson, who in later years was a well-known land agent in Ilawora. He died a couple of years ago in Auckland.

AUCTIONEERS Freeman R. Jackson, of Wanganui, held cattle sales right along the coast, from Rangitikei to Hawera, and ho was a most upright and generous man. 1 never heard of him taking an advantage of anv of his numerous clients, bin the same could not be said of some of the cattle dealers. Cattle was the current coinage on the coast in those days, and it used to be said that some of’the beasts travelled along from one saleyard nr another til! they had “eaten their tails off” and were used up in advertising, yarding and commission charges. Robert IT. Nolan came to Unworn about the same time as the “Star”

proprietary. The general opinion seemed to ho that he had little chance of competing with Freeman Jackson, who was very popular with all the settlers. Nolan knew better. He felt that, with the advancing tide of settlement that was about to set in, no one man could hope to do all the business of such a wide district. He worked early and ] a to, and attended to the smallest details as well as the bigger things. He .had represented a large business firm in Sydney and Auckland in the Islands trade until he began to find out that he had such a thing a s a liver. His father belonged to the old firm of Hunder and \ Nolan; cattle salesmen, Auckland, and they had a reputation similar to that of Freeman Jackson for honourable business dealing. That was a good asset for “Bob’’ (as he was called by his friends), and it did not, take him very long lo divide the business hitherto done by Freeman Jackson. He initiated the Hunt Flub, ,\r.d took a leading part establishing the (Racing Club. In fact, there was no public matter for the good of the district in which he did not take a hand. He had a nice personality, and could be at home in any society. As his business dyviiloped he took Tonks, whose father was also an auctioneer in Auckland, into partnership, and Nolan and Tonks built up a very flourishing business. After retiring, Robert Nolan went to England, and during tin* War he became secretary of all the New Zealand 'Clubs in England. The hard work which he 'did in that connection hastened Tfis end. and he came back to Now Zealand a broken man. Tie was .knighted a year or two before his death, but that honour should have come to him much sooner, considering the arduous work which lie did. On one occasion I .wrote to him in reference to two of my sons killed in the war, one of whom we were never able to trace, and he took a lot of trouble tic trace him, as T felt sure he would. He did .me another great kindness about that period, but of that I must say nothing, beyond the fact that he acted the part of a good friend who remembered the days when we lived together at, Prosser’s Hotel. W. Murray Thomson had had an auctioneer’s license for some years, but he did not take the full advantage of the incoming tide of settlement. He was a gifted man in many respects, and

an agree aide companion. 7Tis fund of good humour carried liint along and enabled him to laugh at the follies of other folk.

THE BORDER GRAZIERS There is much, if space and time permitted, that I would like to write about the graziers who- carried out the pioneer work of settlement. Of the men I came in contact with at that time J. S. Caverhill stands out prominently. lie had been a big runholder in the South Island, and in the days when money was none too plentiful he brought £40,000.. so lie told me, to Taranaki. With deep regret I have to state tha't he lost it all. On a leased property in Lake Road ho went in extensively for grain growing, but the seasons were of.teij, unfavourable, and the class of farming labour common in Canterbury was not to be had in the North Island. He held a Maori lease at the other side of the Waiiigougoro from Normanby, somewhere, I fancy, in the vicinity of the electric power-house, and much rime was lost in moving teams to and fro from one farm to the other. “A splendid man for the district, but a poor one for himself,” was the summing up of George McLean, who had managed a large run in Marlborough for G. and F. Ballon before coming T/c- TTawera. I once felt constrained to oppose Caverhill when he tried to acquire a large block of native land near the Taungntara River. I felt it would not give Opunake a. fair chance, as another large block of freehold land, .rn the edge of the township, was owned by Samuel Augustus Breach. 1 very deeply regretted htTving to oppose hint, ns I always looked upon him as the outstanding figure in the Ilawera farming comair.nitv. Tlis well-beloved son lost his

(Mr. Galvin 9 s Reminiscences Continued)

life ill the big conflagration m IS9o, and the old veteran never got over the shock. Willie CaVerhill held the respect of all who knew him. j j;. Lvsaght started big moat works at Mokoin, but that was some years after the period of which I write. He contented liimself with cattle and sheep-farming in those days. Ihe meat works, as in many other instances all over New Zealand, did not turn out the success anticipated, and I regretted to hear that “the Colonel,” as he was often called in my day, lost heavily over the speculation. One other settler comes vividly to memory. That is Gideon Inkster, of Xornrunby, a rough diamond with a heart of gold. My first introduction to him ended rather abruptly. “Here’s a man that will take your paper,” said George McLean. “Will you become agent for the “■Rural New Yorker,’’ asked Gideon. “Certainly not,” said I, “I will have quite enough to do to look after my own paper

“Then 'l' won't take your damned rag,” said lie. I was equally short in my reply. ‘‘ t don’t care a damn whether you do or not.” And we strode off in different directions.

A couple of months after he came to the office to advertise firewood, and ashed if I would receive orders and forward them. I at ,cnce assented, and said I would also receive verbal 'orders and send them on. That began a friendship which lasted to the end of that fine old settler’s life. He sent me a horse who.n ! returned to. Hawcra 30 years ago, so that I could come out co see him. During a‘visit to Wellington it got into a. deep ditch and was smothered. I wrote expressing deep regret, and ashed him to put a price on the animal —a fine upstanding hack. He absolutely refused to do so., and sent me another horse in a week or two.

FIRST “STAR” PROPRIETARY The capital of the “Star” proprietary consisted of three shares of £2OO each. It was increased a little later on to £750, and on that a steadily increasing business was built up. \\ hen the partnership was first mooted the idea was that Yorhe should be editor and reporter; Innes was to have charge of the printing department; and Galvin was to be book-keeper, canvassing collector, and publisher. That would have given a fair division of work. Before the paper was started J. R. Blair (predecessor of Whiteombe and Tombs) had issued circulars all ever New Zealand, intimating that he intended, if .sufficient support were forthcoming, to start, a monthly review on the lines of the “Nineteenth Century.” He made the first, offer of the editorship to Yorkc, who accepted, being desirous of staying in Wellington, where he and his' wife were welcome guests at many social festivities, and he decided to be a sleeping partner, so it fell to mv lot to add the reporting ami editing to my other duties. I was fairly young and was far more anxious for the success of the “Star” than solicitous about my own health. The response to the circular about the review proving rather disappointing, Yorhe came up to the first land sale of the Waimate 'Plains and purchased a faihn near Inaha, also i.thing up a deter*: .“1 payment section .adjoining. lie then asked if Innes ana myself could find an opening for im, an:! it was agreed that he should spend two days a week in the office and four days on the farm. “No man can serve two masters” wo are told on good authority, and it did not prove a, success. So it was arranged that the plan originally sketched out should be adopted, and Yorko took over the editing and reporting altogether, while I confined myself to the commercial branch. Insomnia had a< close grip >on me by this time, and I did not get any better as the work lightened. Eventually, after 18 months, I sold my interest in the paper to Joseph Armit, who had been for .some years oohecibor -jaml book-keeper on the “New Zealand Times.” After a couple of years his interest was acquired by Innes and Yorke, and Armit took over, or started, a. paper at Waitara. I did not sever my connection with the “Star” any too s oo_n, for I had lost .nearly three stone in weight. I lwas 11 stone when I went to Hawcra; I left weighing fist. 31bs. I won't to Rotorua (rather Ohineimi'tu, for there was no Rotorua town then), and on one occasion slept soundly for 22 hours out of the 24 round of the clock. lam reciting this for the benefit of any sufferers from that, awful malady. It. took me three or four years to get. back to normal weight and "conditions. Two of the last tilings I did before leaving was to acquire a borough leasehold 'at the roar of the Commercial Hotel for a new office, and to arrange for a Whnrfedalr- machine to print the double royal tri-weeklv I we had arranged to produce. ft also, became necessary to make new editorial arrangements, and the offer of the editorship was made to W. A. Parkinson, a trained journalist and member of the “Hansard” staff. Ho .accepted the position during the recess, and continued to do so far some years, when he finally threw up “Hansard” and de-

voted himself entirely to the “Star.”

It had always been our intention, as soon a.s we procured a machine, to offer the post of machinist to Carl Ekdahl, who was for some years the capable jobbing machinist at the “Now Zealand Times.” He came up and installed the new machine, and has continued to live in Hawcra since that time.

“HAWERA’S MORNING POST” While I was in Australia for a second period of eight years the “Hawcra Morning Post” was started, but there was trouble from a. very early stage in its career between Joseph Ivess and Harry AT. Sto well, a well-known Native interpreter. 1 know nothing as to the merits of the quarrel, but it. did not do any good to. the new paper. iSomc friends of mine thought I could make a success of if, and so I returned to Hawcra, some 25 years or so after leaving it. I did not find it an easy matter- —quite the contrary; and I soon realised that the old paper “kept the fort and the flag flying,” leaving little room for the newcomer. Tn 18S7 I got out the “Handbook of New Zealand Mines” for the Mines Department. Tom Hamer, the Acting-Under-Scere-tnrv, became princip.nl private secretary to Richard John Soddou. The Prime Minister came up to Hawcra one night, and addressed a, public meeting, after which lie chatted with all ami sundry acquaintances. To get away from the hotel atmosphere Hamer and

Crow, the two private secretaries, came to my hotisc for a yarn. Hamer suggested that I might, if not doing too well, apply for the position of. Secretary to the Mining Bureau, which the “old man.’’ led by Count Jouffray, the French Consul, was thinking of establishing. T did s a. and about three or four months afterwards secured the appointment. T sold out mv interest in the “Hawcra Morning Post” to three members rtf'the staff and it continued a fitful existence for a. couple of years longer. The fact was that. Ilawera was not a place in which two newspapers could carry on successfully. My old friend. Charles Einnerty, said to me one day. “The hardest work you will have to do is to undo- the work which you did for the “ Star.”T.vhen it was first started, and T doubt if you can undo the foundation which you then laid.” I replied that it could not be done. Parkinson wa.s too goad a journalist to leave any loopholes for an opponent to enter.

CONCLUDING REMARKS There is much more that I would like to write about if I had*anything by me to jog my memory. ' I had hopes of finding the first issue of the “Star,” which I have stowed away somewhere but I have nothing to refresh my memory, and at 83 years of age it is not quite so good 'as it was at 33. There will, doubtless, be many errors of omission and commission, but I set out to give a. glimpse of the 'llawera as I first knew it, and if the personal pronoun has iindqlv obtruded, I can only apologise for the garrulousness of old age. In conclusion, I would fain hope that Hawera pastures wall be always green and free from ragwort and other noxious weeds; that her citizens may be upright, honourable, and prosperous; and, though not now an independent Republic, as she once declared for, that she may be all the better for throwing in her lot with the rest of “God’s Own Country. So mote it be!