SOME SYDNEY SKETCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1423, 8 June 1899, Page 23

SOME SYDNEY SKETCHES.

(BY " SCRUTATOR.”;

SYDNEY NE VVSPAPEES—THE “HERALD.”

(V.) Just as an actor, when he gets an ok' night or two, spends it in visiting the theatres, so me holiday-making journalist is apt, when away trom home, to pop in at •■the offices” and see how brother penmen are getting on. Sydney journalists I found a very genial, friendly lot of fellows, busy, of course, a,s working journalists always are—for there is no profession in which the “demnitioned grind, 1 ' as Mr Mantalini expresses it, is so constant —but not too busy to spare time for a friendly chat, to show the visitor round and to proffer very kindly meant hospitality. Sydney is well off for newspapers. The two big morning dailies would be a credit to London itself. They ire bigsheets, crammed with news from all ovci the world, and with a wealth of special articles on subjects outside the ordinary ruck of daily journalism, which must be

very pleasant reading for the many who get bored with polities and me mere- ic cord or chronicle work of a paper. T;r: “Sydney Morning Herald ’ is i i.o old fashioned, oldest-established journal, the organ of wealth, the squatters' organ, the bankers’ organ and so on: it is eminent- : ly respectable, just a trifle heavy, and, as some captious critics allege, more man a . trifle dull. But it is thoroughly icJiabie and its political reports esptcia'-j .-.ruck me as being the essence of fairness. ihe Saturday edition is an immense sheet or collection of sheets, and what -'he advertising columns return the lucky proprietors must be something enormous, lor it is said that the Fairfaxes refused on one occasion an offer of a million sterling for their splendid property. The editor, Mr Curnow, is a journalist of great experience and one of the most respected of Sydney's citizens. The “Herald” offices are rather disappointing, the building is old-fashioned and full of little passages and small rooms, but changes arc never popular with the proprietors. This js noticeable with the staff, which includes a number of grey heads, whereas in Maoriland journalism is mostly in the hands of very young men. The “Herald” proprietors do not consider it a crime to ■* grow old, and they wisely recognise that the best work is done by experienced men, and that permanency of employment and good salaries are strong inducements to'journalists to do their best. THE “DAILY TELEGRAPH." is a much smarter, more up-to-date, livelier journal that the "Herald.'’ Here wo find more than the mere tinge of the “new journalism”; head-lines are more frequent, outline portraits of celebrities are introduced', the reports often include smartly-written comment in addition to being reliable records, there is an air o c youthful buoyancy and sp right iiness about the “Telegraph” which is highly attractive. Mr Lachlan Brient, the editor, conducts his journal on esscnt.ial'j popular lilies, and the vigour and cogency of his leaders make the ‘D.T.” a big power in the land. Just now dm "Telegraph” is fighting hard against its quondam i.ero, Reed, and die Federal Enabling Li 1 !. I need not, cannot, indeed, sp ,- e llmJune and space to go into details, but suffice it to say that the line of the “Telegraph” is to oppose the Bill on the ground that the present Federation scheme would, if adopted, prove a very had bargain for Sydney and for New South Wales. The Saturday edition of the “Telegraph” is not only a gigantic newspaper, but a well edited and most readable magazine. Botli the “Herald and “Telegraph” nave a huge circulation throughout the colony, which is not a little due to the fact that in New South Wales newspapers go free through the post. The train service to the various provincial centres is very rapid and country residents of any standing make it a point to subscribe to the metropolitan dailies. The “Telegraph” offices arc a splendid building in King street, in the very heart of the city, and and there II found Mr Harry Tapered, the New Zealander, and made acquaintance with Mr John Farrell, the sub-editor, who is so well known as an Australian poet and ardent champion of the Single Tax movement. THE EVENING PAPERS, are the “Evening News” and the “Australian .Star.” The “Evening News” has a big circulation, and is a well-prin-ted, very readable journal, much given to sensational head-lines and smart special articles. How many editions are published daily I can’t say, but there must be at least five or six, and “Ev’n Noos” “Ev’n Noos” is a cry one hears far into the night on Sydney streets. The “Star” is a com-pany-owned paper, which has chopped and changed about in politics not a little. It is well printed and got up and makes a speciality of short notes after the leader, which are often exceedingly smart. WEEKLY PAPERS.

The “Sydney Mail,” of which the exWellingtonian, Mr E. D. Hoben, is assistant editor, is a fine weekly, remarkably well illustrated and enjoying a very large ;■ circulation. Agricultural and pastoral items are, of course, a strong feature. From the “Evening News” office is issued that old-established and deservedly favourite iveeklv, the “Town and Country 40

Journal." Here I found in charge, Mr Jeffreys, who has collaborated with Mr Louis Becke in the authorship of a couple of novels, introducing scenes from the early history of the colony. Mr Jeffreys was particularly kind and showed me round the whole establishment, which is on a scale quite unknown to New Zealand pressmen. The illustrations in the “Town and Country Journal” often occupy Id to 20 pages in one issue, a great variety of subjects being dealt with. The “Journal” has an enormous circulation all over New South Wales and Queensland, and must be a magnificent property. It was with special pleasure that I made the acquaintance of Mr Archibald, the famous editor of THE “BULLETIN.” He was hospitality personified, and although notoriously the busiest man in Sydney, very courteously made time to show some very kind attention to his New Zealand visitor. The “Bulletin” offices are situated in a handsome pile, known'as “The Bulletin” building, on Lower'George street. It would be needless for me to descant upon the wonderful popularity and influence which are enjoyed by the “Bulletin." How the weekly supply of smart paragraphs and logical, trenchant articles on politics and social topics is kcqd up is a. i-.i;, story to many, but it is explained by the fact that the "Bulletin” has probably a larger staff of outside contributors than is possessed by any other paper in the Empire. The slaff is small but encouragement is given to anyone who has somem.ng new to say and can say it with brevity and smartness. Mr Archibald is said to put the “Bulletin" salt into every paragraph that appears in the paper. Whether this is true I cannot say. but there is certainly about the whole paper the trace of one man's strong personality and guiding influence. Mr Livingstone Hopkins, the cartoonist, is a tower of strength, and personally “Hop." is one of the most charming of men. “Everywhere I went in Australia.” said an English traveller and famous journalist. “I found the red cover of the “Bulletin" and there can be no doubt but that its claim to he the representative national paper of Australia 'rests upon a very sound basis of fact." The “Sunday Times” ' as also a large city circulation, and “Truth,” which is edited by the notorious John Norton, has also a certain following. NEW ZEALANDERS IN SYDNEY. Quite a number of New Zealanders have found their way to Sydney, tempted in some instances by better chances of promotin'i in their respective professions and trai as. and the Wcllingtonian who pays a vi 't to the New South Wales capital is co (inually running across ex-resi-dents of the Windy City and of the Wellington province. Mr Alfred Hill, the clever yo mg violinist and composer, does not in the least regret, I hear, his change of scene, and another old Wellingtonian, Mr Rivers Allpress, the violinist, is also doing wo! 1 Mr Sydney Hoben has a splendid teaching connection and his compositions ire frequently heard at firstclass concerts. His brother, Mr Ernest Hoben, lias an excellent position on the “Sydney Mail.” The genial “Bob" Lougiman. formerly so well known in journalistic circles in New Zealand, is also in Sydney. Mr Lougiman lias not experienced the best of luck, but lie is as genial and light-hearted as ever. He is a contributor to the “Herald,” “Telegraph" and “Star," and does other journalistic work. Mr Tapereli, who, for a time, edited the “New Zealand Times," is back in bis old position on the “Daily Telegraph” : and another ex-Wairarapa man, Mr Roydliouse. is editor-in-chief of the “Referee" and “Sunday Times,” the latter of which journals lias now developed into a fine paying property. Mr Whiteley King i.s secretary of the Pastoralists' Union, which has comfortable, not to sav luxurious, offices hi King street, and Mr W. Epps, another ex-member of the New Zealand Pro's Gallery, is secretary to the Sydney Safe Deposit Company. In insurance circles, Mr D’Arcy Irvine, formerely of the New Zealand Government Life, is well known as holding a splendid position in the New York Equitable, and Mr Then. H. Ritchey, formerly well known in Wellington insurance and musical circles, is collected with the same office. Amongst other ex-Maorilanders now settled in Sydney may be mentioned Mr Dodson, of Dodson’s Hotel. Mr James Smith, once mine host of the Post Office Hotel, Wellington, and now of the Hotel Arcadia, Sydney: Mr Fred Jones, formerly with Mr Reichardt; Mr Sydney Philips, of Philips and Pike; Mr J. Deibridge, of Berry and Co, the great salt brokers; Mr Tyree, of Acetylene Gas fame; Mr Norman, late of Gavin, uibson and Co.; Mr E. Eigg, produce broker, late of Wellington ; Mr A. G. Wilson, of the Bank of New Zealand; Mr Fred Woodhouse, and many more. Many New Zealanders whom met in Sydney •mu to have done well, though success did not come, in some cases, very quickly, and all speak in high terms of praise of the old home. FINAL WORDS. Twelve days of a holiday are all too speedily gone, especially when the holiday is spent amidst novel surroundings. As a rule the time “between boats” is nine to ten days, but the Mokoia having to be clocked, meant ah additional two days, for which perhaps I was not so thankful as I ought to have been. But pleasure-mak-ing, even with a prospect of pleasant work in the shape of “Sydney Sketches” in store, is always apt to pall, and truth to

tell, despite the many attractions of Sydney and the almost embarrassing hospitality of friends, new and out. "Scrutator" was only too happy to drive down to Circular Quay and get on board a red funnel boat bound for the -Windy City. Sydney is a very fine city, but New Zealand has a host of, to me at least, much superior attractions, and it would take a great deal to tempt me to exchange the comparatively dull Wellington for the glamour-full metropolis of New South Wales. But as a cicy wherein to take ones pleasure after a couple of years or so of hard work, a city with a myriad attractions for the tourist, Sydney is unsurpassable in the Southern Hemisphere. A very enjoyable trip was my experience on the Mokoia. Messrs Best and Trenwith, of the Victorian “mission,” were pa board and proved as jolly as schoolboys just released from the thrall of the pedagogue. Perfect weather favoured ma

again, and it was not until we reached Farewell that there was anything even approaching a jobbie. Wellington looked quite handsome in the bright sunshine, and a slight fringe of snow on the Rimutaka was just sufficient reminder that winter was upon us. Altogether, a very pleasant holiday had, what all holidays should have, a very pleasant ending.