THE FIRST SUB-EDITOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12398, 11 January 1901, Page 4

THE FIRST SUB-EDITOR.

There still lives in.our midst, one who was intimacy ■"associated' with* the literary fortunes of “the “ Lyttelton Times ” from Its .veriest infancy, ; One' raverees ■ (the. 'human order of things; a^jotnai^iistio^fym'tlixig- is tbieiinfan- ; tdle process,of “shortening,” comes; fulness inf time, of “ lengthening-.” But’ it ■ was’ before" the “ Lyttelton - ' Times ” ■put its hair'up "and its skirts-down—those feminine - of maturity—that Canon Knowles,, then?Mr, FritniSs 'KnowleS, "assisted.in,. casting iW'honbscope' and! shaping its destinies. Threetanonths orffy ihladl passed! over its. baby:brow; before .he was installed, .undter Mr Fitzgerald, as. the. first sub-editoniiof the-paperi.olidrhad th'e privilege thrust upon, 'him! ifeteariy 'steps .soma little way along the path "which led to its ultimate occupancy of a foremost iposition in-the ranks of colonial journalism. •“ Line upon . lme z ; precept t upon here a little and! there^Vlittfe/ 1 ’"was, even 'in those i days, the method' of its advancement, and Canon Knowles looks back -with a Hvdly "recollection,'to the,time when the little weekly, practically, under his supervision,, first .beamed to.yvulk. '... His early'assomatton .writli 1 the'*' Times” formed! the isubjert interesting con- : versation with. a present member of the literary staff a few days ago. The Canon arrived in the-colony on the first of " April, 1851, bythe'"Travancore. “It was an.auspicious date, wasn’t "it?” he" suggested maliciously, and l then,: with a proper appreciation of Delavigne’s dictum that "“ever since Adam’s time fools have been in the majority,” accepted the imphcatom •with due' philosophy., ‘ Incidently-V Canon Knowles mentioned that the present -mana-ger-of the “ Lyttelton, Times,”- Mr J. C. iWilldn, was a passenger by the same, boat, «, little nipper of tender, years jinder paftemal Buperviskui. It .waa as editor of the • Travancore Times,” the regulation ship s paper, that Mr Knowles made his entiy through’the portals of journalism, and it 'was the proud , presentation of his Me to Mr- Fitzgerald, bn arrival of the Travan--•core wMcb ultimately brought 'about his connection with the profesnop proper . Three weeks after. While still h feature in the even then unemployed ■caJtylvihe joined the “Lyttelton Tames, atMr Fitzgerald’s soHatation as - editor Hitherto the paper had existed sub-editorless, the wlmfe of.tto bav- - ’mg been done by the editor himself, Mr Ti Kls : .the day of small things. The ■ Archimedean lever was but a dtenmg needle, i stitt the'world it had to move wouldi have Ito !Atl f . yMrtotfe. found himself ensconced m> ,themroum«orihed Jlimits of the .bid “ LyrtMtxm-Tmacs office, Jin, "Oxford Street, lytteltom The hteraiy -staff' oon&isted-of" the editor'and himself, land-'hA quickly realised that hra part was ito" .he,’like ; thtat>of St Paul, things a-P’<wn ’ ’—and! particularly to the -paper, j Mr. Fitzgmald continued! to write the prm- ; canal leadtngi'mattear, but "beyond. 1 , that the i literary work-deli entirely to Tt wad then* that Mr "Knowles got an insight iinto'.therversatility thait goes to the making ,‘ofHhe journiaMst. Ho recounts jyeh with a keen appredataontof the anomaly Ibetween has “-professional “then’’ and his 'professional “ now,” the multifarious duties 'he performed!, even to confessing, with a 'daring Gath-and-Aschelon publicity, to hav|insiTeiported 1 -thefirst h<H?» . races ever held 'litifthe (province,‘at Hagley Park, on Dec. he addled', .with a twinkle iin Ihiis- ©yej ■ and 1 a qualification-which sug■gested at least a more than lay knowledge of Admiral Rous’s advice “always to ihedve,” “ I didn’t know much about horsetacing then,” and; in a im for' further Imbdification, “ of course, I don’t-even yet.” Mr Knowles's first contributions to the ■ theft'"attenuated columns of the “Times” iiTOludedh series of “ Hints to Immigrants,” ifo'anded.upon his own personal experiences, [and -which" were admittedly of much use to .'many-'who found themselves “ strangers in Estrange land'.”* Like most other budding IJoumalists, he also found! time to coquette ;4, Ettlo with The Muse.", There was the jlesa,(necessity for him to “baud his band ‘ Irae'ink-horns,' ’ inasmuch as ho ran but dlttle risk of finding at that -time Kingsley’s !threatened^danger of critics lying “like isauaioß.vfry, to mak’ their meals o’ him.” ! There were but 4 few Dogberry s jamdf/.: ;fewer .(Marie- 'Corellis in the iSettlement. in those days". One poem ■from Mi- Knowles’s pen has been reproduced anonymously- in the recentlyipublshed volume of. “Canterbury ißhyniEs,” and has risen up after fifty iybars to haunt him—a warning ■ to all minting poetasters of the awM eternity !cf “the; written word. There were no teleigraphio " nttr steam facilities to rush the jnewa of the world, smoking hot, into the jlittle. sanctum over which) 'Mr Knowles ipresided,," and the event of the week, or jtho "mouthy as it might be, was the boardjinglof, some ; inward-bound, ship, to secure thepatest ,Eng]ish" files. And then—as is .jeven ‘yet.notvunknown in back-blocks jour-j^alasm,—-with;,paste, and scissors, and! pen, Our ..English Letter,” not “made in Gerjmany,” 'bu{i; ’ compiled and written on the jpremises, ' / waa served up for the delectation "of jJtlje comprehensive, if limited, J' - Times ” clientele. It was really wonidttrful how “Our Correspondent'in Lonjdca discriminated at such a distance the -news. of most present interest to th'e Settlement. ,

- Tie staff of the paper, at .numbered,'■all told—one. This jwah' Mr Jehu Ingram Shrimpton,' a son lof/Mrilngram Shrimpton, of Oxford Unl- | versify - fame, ho filling, with a Pooh-Bah j egotism jof multiplicity, the various-func-jticns attaching to the-front office of newsjpaperdoia. It,was a remarkable triumph | of singleness cf purpose , and indivaduaMty' (Over a v j)rofusioax of -duties. The mecharii,cal. sftafi. / conrprised-,. a ■“ devil,” two coanps, • and a pressman. - Taking them' 5 in- the recognised order of newspaper precedence, the .‘‘-devil ” —-on whom still rests* in all well-regulated offices the. onus of .all errors, mechanical or literary was Mr Garwood, subsequently -proprietor of' that well-known hostelry the Sill Top _House (a. forestalling, sitrely, of Alt Grant Allan), and later in life a storekeeper at Akaroa. Air Varyer was chief compositor, but to his responsibilities in this capacity he added a- sort of general- paternal charge of the whole business, • and - in conference vritrr Air Knowles - and Mr Shrimpton, Whose, one disability was a-foolish, and inconsiderate lack of years, , the fortunes of the paper were regulated. - ; Air- George xayler, . of Lyttelton, was .the pressman. ,'?Ut ,eveh this.-mnajli companionship, with .of-...the handii- . waft, -had its chapel meeting every Saturiy .hight, .Mr. Varyer being, ..of- course,-, the ithor, and helped to lay the foundation j the Typographical Union, the Jour-

evolutions of the age. Nor were' the social usages neglected, for. the year. of its birth saw also the year of,the. first ‘‘Times” picnic. But it was only a. small band of enthusiasts who made the arduous and stormy passage to Govern ot’s Bay, where they picnicked on the beach, and spent the day in the most approved fashion. Some of the picnics since have been Gargantuan carnivals compared with this modest festival, but although the annual gatherings have fallen into a regrettable desuetude now, the practice then inaugurated was responsible, in after’ years . for many/an enjoyable outing. The “ Times ” was published weekly during Mr . Knowles’s ■ regime—an eight-page paper of “The Sportsman ’I aizewand was printed! upon an old-fashioned hand-press, which is still preserved! as. a curio in the local museum. It was the- sole advert ising medium, and this delightful monopoly was retailed at the modest price of .sixpence. It had practically ,a. imivertel carci!- , latdon in the Settlement, and was distributed into its eyjery comer. The papers were carried across the hills once a week by ■ the mailman on his saddle horse, and delivered through the agent. ■ To draw a picture of the ■. present, to display beside the past, of which Canon Knowles has given us an impressionistic sketch, would savour too much "of , the methods of the capillary wash advertisers. The bird’s-eye view of a period! of especial interest just now will suggest its own comparisons, odious or otherwise, to the thousands with whom.' the modern' “ Lyttelton Times ” renews a daily association l . It serves, perhaps, nc. better purpose now than then', when due allowance is made for perspective and proportion, for, as Canon Knowles, with admirable loyalty to his odd love,‘musingly remarked: “It was, indeed, the day of small things, but there was a good deal of promise in the little weeikly then, and it had' all the' elements of a paper in small compass.”

REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD COMPOSITOR, j NEWSPAPER METHODS MANY YEARS AGO. AN INTERVIEW WITH AIR J. . '. BURRELL. A few days ago, a representative, of this journal ■ had an interview With Mr JBuxrell, who arrived in Lyttelton on Feb. 18, 1851, went to school for two years, served in a store in the township for three more, and finally, on June 2, 1856, found himself installed! in the .Composing room of the “ Lyttelton Times,’.’. and has been connected with the journal ever since. In those early days, when the “‘.Times ” was printed in Lyttelton,' andl when! the methods of printing were primitive os compared with those of the present' day,. the companionship consisted, of only, half-a-dozen men—J. Varyer (the overseer), G. Tayler, J. Garwood, W. and J.'. Shrimpton (sons of the proprietor) and J. Burrell. Mr Tayler was at that time the ..printer, and Mr Burrell rolled’ the type on the press for him. There is a;sad remembrance in connection with Air Burrell’s first year, at the office, on account of an accident, by which Mr John' Shrimpton methis death. while out shooting with. his brother, the;. gun being discharged accidentally and killing the unfortunate man instantly. “ So. was one of the nicest young ■ fellows anyone need wish to work with,” said Air Burrell, “and his death cast a- gloom over the whole office.” “The year 1 1856 was a memorable one,” continued Mr Burrell, “as at the; end of it Air Crosbie Ward joined the office. Things then began to boom. As aritempioyer, Mr. Ward was all that could, be desired T by any workman. As to journalism, I do ’not think that he 'could have been, beaten. He started the' “ Canterbury Punch,” and he then seemed to have reaohted the height of his ambition.' When he was compelled to leave the colony for England', “Punch” ceased publication, as he would not trust anyone else ‘to carry it on. Everybody in the district was heartily sorry, and greatly missed the witty production.” “I remember well the beginning' of 1857, when Mr Ward was -married. The whole township turned out to see the ceremony. We published- the “ Times” twifce" a* week at that time, and the marriage took place on publication day, so that we .had almost the whole day to-ourselves. ' We-gathered together all the iron chases (or frames) in the office, 'bung them up, l and beat themT with, iron side-sticks. I can tell you, the effect was really, good, us by clanging iron against iron we made quite a melodious tune, and it sounded splendidly. Some idea of the thorough manner ■ in-which we celebrated the event may, be obtained when I state that, early dn the.morning, when we were at the zenith of the fun’ in walked Air Ward. “ Gentlemen,” he, said, “I don’t object to your enjoying yourselves, but do-make a, little less noise'.” He was a grand man, and! there was not one iln the office who did not regret his departure. • ,

" Another" memorable year for!,the. office, els well aa 'for the community generally’ was 1858, when Lyttelton was visited by! one of the heaviest floods it has ever known. The office was built over a gully, and underneath it‘there ran-a culvert. The! water came down in torrents; the culvert and in a short - time there were six feet of water in the office, the! machine 'being covered, and . the oases of type being filled with nurd.

‘lt was in this year that the (present manager, Mr J. C. Wilkin, came to the office. 'Mr W. Reeves joined in 1860, and he promoted! me to the position of reader to himself. I was also supposed tor go down to the office on publication morning, fold papers, get the horse from the stables, ride over the 'hill and be in Christchurch by 9 o’clock. “ The ‘ Times ’ was tihe centre of many seenes of public interest-and excitement. In ,1862 there arrived in port a steamer with a number of diggers. A iot of thenn came s ashore, got too much';drink, (became' rowdy, and, when refused more drink, took possession- of the public-houses, broke into the bars, and helped themselves.- The affair became so serious that a force of police under Commissioner Shearman had to be Bentffrom Christohurch. In the 'meantime' the Riot Act was read ! by ‘ Mr E. C. Latter,' and * special constobtos were: sworn im-\ Abaut?fifty of the inhabitants : made, a* rusH;ior the * Times ’'office, to avoid being swbmln, but the .police were too ■ smart ;for them, ‘collared’ ttyem in one bunch-. twelve of the 'ringleaderatof, the disturbance were sentenced ! to various terms of imprisonment. ■ “ Yet another memorable year in the history'of the newspaper was when its ‘headquarters were removed from. Lyttelton to Christchurch. It was in April, 1863. The day was a glorious one, and early in the morning we started out with our . plant packed on express waggons. The whole township assembled to see us , off, and the procession presented! a curious’sight. - We had an old Albion printing press (it was afterward's sent to lie Sunnyside Afiylum, and, I believe, is still-there), and a cylinder machine, and, of Course, there were type, paper and stock, so that we had no'easy task. We went over the zig-zag to Sum: ner, and on to Christchurch, reaching the town at about four in the afternoon; The plant was then erected) on the_ very spot on which the office now stands ini Gloucester Street, but, of course, there is a vast difference between the little, wooden building of those days and 1 the present structure. “ There are many associations connected with the old -office in Oxford Street, Lyttelton. I can remember wheni the late Mr E. Reece, father of Mr W. Reece, the present Mayor of Christchurch, first opened his ironmongery shop just next door, in 1856. Our office'was the only place in the town where a good* sfupply of water could, be obtained, and a anan usod-oftea, to .coma?'

with a beer barrel, lashed on a trolly, and drawn by a bullock, to get the water, and taka it round to cell to the inhabitants. He used to charge 2s 6d a barrel! and, as (boys will be boys, we would sometimes go after him, surreptitiously draw the plug, and let the water run out. • “The companionship in those days held ‘ wayz-gooses,’ or printers’ picnics, frequently. They seldom missed'one on the anniversary of the province. About three hundred of ns, comprising members of the staff, and their relatives and friends, would go to Rhodes’s Bay or Sumner or some other place, and stay out the whole night, returning next morning. When it rained, ’wo would go to the drillshed and there have a banquet, and play cricket, tennis and other games.” "I suppose,” said the interviewer, “you have' seen some wonderful changes in the methods of producing newspapers during the last fifty years.” ' “ Yes; the progress has been simply marvellous'. The old Albion and cylinder presses, which were worked by hand, and which w© thought so much of, have given way to the wonderful web printing machine, and the linotypist has taken the place of the ‘ news ’ compositor. It seems to me that- the progress of the newspaper press is one of the most remarkable .things of the past century, and that progress may be well illustrated by comparing the ‘ Lyttelton Times ’ of today with the ‘ Lyttelton Times’ of forty-five years ago when I did my first work for the paper.”