THE FIRST MANAGER OF THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 18

THE FIRST MANAGER OF THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

FARJEON, THE NOVELIST

Benjamin Leopold Farjeon, well known as a Buccwsful English novelist, had n fairly lon;,' and distinctly creditable connection with tho Otago Daily Times in its earlv days. It may even 1» conjectured that his study of the emotions and

passions of men, their, efforts and enamours to achieve succor, so well displayed in Otago in tlioeo days—as in all pioneer lands,—contributed in some measure to • the success which Mr Farjeon achieved in later life. Ilis earliest novel was "Shadows on tho Snow," published in lf>6s. and amplified and agmii given to tho world in London in 1904, ' ui 1866 Mr Farjeon published "Grif," both novels having been printed in tlw Otago Daily Times oflkc. During his, long rcsidenco in KngLml Mr Farjeon workod unremittingly, , and wro'e many excellent novels and striking serial stories. Amongst the works produced by him were " Develin tho Barber" (1901), "Great Porter Square" (1885), arid "For a Woman's Sako" (1897). " Miriam Rozclla " was produced in serial form in the Daily Mail in 1897-8# and wm describe! as " undoubtedly -tho most powerful serial written withirf. the'last 30 yehrs." Capable library tiritla, «av of Farjeon that he was, like .Wilkin Collins, strong both in pk)t .and Characterisation. It is von - interesting to read that Mr Farjeon was definitely launched upon his higher literary career by his receipt of a letter from ■ tho - immortal • Charles Dickens while ho was Hill in tho employ of tho Otago Daily Times. 'Tho story of this letter is that, Mr''jarjion-wrote a Christm.-w story entitled; " Shadows on tho Snow," and dedicated it to-Charles Dickens, for whose writings the young author hod a passionate fondness, ana whose Btylo ana love of detail he followed, both consciously and unconsciously, in very large degree. , In courteously acknowledging his rocoipt of this little book, Charles Dickens not only gave expression to his feeling of great gratification, but accompaniod his statements of appreciation by'the very prac-

tical offer and encomium that if Farjoon I would write a story for " All tho Year Round " lie vroold read it himself and accept it if lie deemed it auitablo. This letter represented tho turning point m Farjeon'a carcer. From that time onward his energies found their best outlet through his pen. As quickly who could, lie wound up his business aCanra in New Zealand, and to the general regret of hw many friends and hcquaintaiioca hero bade tho colony farewell. Though naturally that part of his life which pawossos most interest for the lv.id era of tho Daily Times on tho present occasion is that which Farjoon spent in Dunedin on tho staff of this paper, it may Iks desirable before turning to it to giv# in brief outlino his subsequent career in order that his whole life may bo in a manner fooussed in tho mind while his earlier years are under consideration. When, tiicrefore, ho left Now Zealand on tho strength of tho favourable notice of Charles Dickens ho left with the fixed determination of establishing both namo and lame. To'many of lita friointa ho said, " I am going to make a namo for mytolf," and it was just this confidence in himself and invincible and irrepressible ambition which brought a speedy success to him. Ho travelled Homo by way of America. At New York

It is still preserved in the General Printing Dfpartment of "the Office.

Mr Gordon Dennett, tho well-known proprietor of the New York Herald—he who sent forth Stanley to find Livingstone— approached him, and mado him a tempting proposal of a lengthy engagement on his paper. Farjeon waa offered a very lianusonio salary, and to a very largo extent, a freo hand in regard to the nature of Ills contributions. Gratifying as this offer was, howovor, it was not euincient to divert Farjeon from his fixed ambition. Greatly to the surprise of Mr Bennett, tho offer was declined, and Farjeon continued his journey to London. Here he took up his residence in Adam street, Strand, but subsequently removed to moro commodious quarters in Buckingham • street. His miccoss its a novelist wna immediate and continuous until his death in 1903. Ilis storied have been translated into many languages, and one of them about tho year 1895 reeoived the rare distinction of being published eorially in the Hebrew tongue. Born in London in 1833, Mr Farjeon early showed his literary tastes. At tho age of 12 he was scribbling poems, plays, and stories. A love of'odventure and drama led him a few years later to sever his conncction with the Old Land and turn his eye's upon Australia, where tho gold fever was then just breaking out.

So Farjeon, as a lad of 16 or 17, found himself embarked upon a passage of GO odd days on a sailing vessel to Melbourne. As time hung heavily on his hands, ho approiwhcd the captain—'who is deccribcd as having been red-faced and as round as lie was long—for leave to start a weekly newspaper under thotitlo of " The Ocean Record." Permission .having been granted, the lad entered courageously upon his ambitious scheme. He was his own editor, bis own reporter, his own.cpecial correspondent, his own poet, and his own business manager. Every week he prepared his publication, which contained. leading articles, serious or jocose, upon some local ship subject, police court cases, with magisterial remarks and witticisms, foreign ' intelligence from " Our own special correspondents'," sentimental poems, letters to the editor, and .the other harmless things suggested by the juvenile editorial mind, and, when hu had had a limited number of copies made, circulated them amongst the passengers. This idea effectually remedied the ill of burdened time. On arriving in tho colonies, young Farjeon immediately yielded to the glamour of the goldfields. He wandered from one gold field ' to another, hastening to every new riish hri heard of, and. meeting with many singular nnd_ stirring adventures. But one tnirig he did constantly. Whereever he went lie contributed to tho local press, his writings generally taking the fonn of goldfields; sketches, ana. short stories of tho fields, drawn from his own exporiencc add observation. Then in 1661 there came to Victoria, where be was, .news of tho great Gabriel's Gully riish in Otago., To this field lie, immediately turned, but falling in with Mr Julius Vogel, he was induced to join the staff of the Otago Daily Times in tho position

of manager. Ultimately, as is ehown in another part of this issue, hip hename a part proprietor, only to relinquish nil in order to pursue tlio career of a novelist. There are a few resident* of Dunedin at the present time who remember Mr Farjeon while lie was here. Ho was a man whose min<l and nervous system wore koyed to ihe highest'pitch of sensibility. Whatever ho did ho did quickly. He thought rapidly and acted rapidly. He taught himself the craft of type-setting, and bccamo so expert that, standing before a case, he would compose and "set" straight off page upon page of his novel "Gnf," working .out, the plot as ho proceeded. The speed he attained as a compositor delighted and amaaod all who sfw him. and he was very fitly described aa a " whip," arid acclaimed a« the fastest typc-eetter in tho whole of Iho colonies. In later yen fa Mr Farjeon's method of preparing liis books was, it is interesting to note, to dash his story quickly off on ft typowritor. He then "went over tho rough form and retyped his matter carefully beforo sending it to the printer. He was tlio first writer in England who personally typed his work. The first novel lie wrute, " Grif," was printed in the Daily Times olllce, andsub- | eequently ran into "seventeen editions, cm- [ bracing over a quarter of a million copies. Thia work was first issued as a drama,

according to the late Mr George Hart, of Christcliureh, who was contemporaneous with Vogel, and furnished soma interesting facta concerning him that aro published in another Another drama written at this tinio was " A Life's Ilevonge," while several burlesques woro also produced by him! In these the leading part taken by Miss Julia Mathews, who had a very romantic wedding in Dunedin. Thlp lad/ was a very popular Australian actress, and afterwards went to London, where she appeared in "The Grand Duchess" at Covcnt Garden Theatre. Mr Farjeon naturally took a very keen interest in all matters pertaining to lb# drama, and was one of tho loading spirit! in the formation in Dur.cdin of a G»t< rick Club, tho establishment of which afforded evidence of tho growing importance of Dunedin as a stand for theatrical companies! It was on the 22nd of Feb.ruary, 1862, that tho first regularly organised dramatic company played in Dunedin. It appeared at the Music Hall, Princes street, and tho company consisted of Messrs Vernon Webster and JohnWilmot, Mrs W. H. Foley, and Misa Melville.' This company achieved some measure of success, and was speedily fo> lowed by the Tom Fawcett Cowpant In tho Princess Theatre, which had been converted into a place of entertainment out of Mr Jones's commodious horse ring and stable. Mr Fawcett's company comprised Mini Ada Hart, Miss Emma Bt. Clair, Mr John Dunn.Mx J. Downi«, Mr J. I)unn. jun., and Mr J. Kopler, and it opsned its season 'on March 6, 1862, with "Cramond Brig" ond "That Rascal Jack." The meeting for tho formation of the Garrick Club was held in the Provincial Hotel on the evo of March 13 in that year, and was attended by Messrs Thomas Hope' Baird (who was voted to tho chair), A. Cumming, Jno. 0. Scott, J. \V. Standwell, B. L. Farjeon, Alfred A. Barnett, W. H. Mumford, Win. Lloyd, and Alfred Inraan. How many of there names aro now remembered? Mr Farjeon was clected treasurer, as he made the facetious remark that whatever else be might be able to do, he certainly waa "a good hand at taking money." Appropriately enough the piece selected to,in-, traduce the club to tlie public notice waa " Money," and it achieved a distinct wecess, some £170 being raised as a donation towards the establishment of tho first Benevolent Asylnnf of Dunedin. Mr Farjeon wrote a prologue of distinct' poeiic merit, and also acted most successfully in the play itself. Tho cast may bo of sufficient interest to be hero given— the female characters wero taken by professional actresses who chanced to bo in Dunedin at tho time, and yieldcd v to the blandishment! of Mr Fatjeon. It was as follows Evelyn, Mr J, W. Standwell; Graves, Mr B. L. Farjeon; Sir John V«ey, Mr T. H. Baird; Sir Frederick Blount, Mr Mumford j Lord Glossmore, Mr A. A, Barnett; Stout, M' A. M'Landressj Sharp, Mr G. B. Perkins; Captain Dudley. Smooth, Mr Pallor; Clara, Miss Ada Hart; Lady' Franklin, Mi*s Emma St. Clair; Gcorgina, Mica Kate Corcoran. The criticism of tho performance of the play was humorous ond telling, but sympathetic and appreciative. sir Farjeon took a very keen interest in the drama, and the Garrick Clnb flourished. for a time under the active ptidance of those responsible for ita existence. " ■

I ) s } i ) 3 j At ft land tale held in January, 1862, fomo soctiona in Dunedin offered privately realised at the ratoof £60,000 J per acre.- Thla wag 'when the gold Boom f was at -itd heigbt. In.Match of the t tamo year eim additional property w&» r sold at a price" equal to £00,000 per acre. Arrangcmenta wane completed oh Much ! 1> 1862, for a lino of telegraph between . Dunedin, Fort Chalmers, and th* Heads. , Letters were first delivered daily within j the town Doundarlea of Dunedin ,on PebR mwy 4, 1562. Two men then-sufficed t for this service. : f • The Arcade, wld in Match' <rf 1862, t realised £8000 for the fcbops alow, irre- . spective of Uitf pjund mt:S Bh«s epok waa then "the hub" of Dnnedin; , In the Winter of '62 there Tra« a very . great scarcity of meat, and prioes ruled ) nigh. Beef waa quoted at Is 2d per lb, • and mutton, at .10d-per lb, and even at i thcaa flgurw was' often unprocurable. For weeks at a time the only neat pro- . curable waa pork, brought dora from | the North Island. ) ■ Aephilt footpaths -vera Jcnown in lhmt edin M early He 1862j as ort November S i of'that year it is recorded that, tho i tiniwtial heat on the previoui day crowd , the pevr t footway' (0; emit a strong bitai minous smell.' me czprceeod ' that, the would stand tho temperai two oxpcctcd in fltanmel-—cihenristi tha venture was likely to ton out very ccetly : for the town.

The first pianos manufactured in Dtus edin were made in Xovembor' 1862 .by Messrs Chaa. Begg and Oo.\ ' The Acclimatisation Society commenced its work oa far back aa '62, as in July, of that year we rend that tho ConetAnce, from San Francisco, brought ovex two deer, 12 pairs cf qoail, and *n American 'coon. There is now a big 'coon family'tn the Catlins district. A Government official in '63 conWibuted to tho Otago Daily Times the following indication of the cost of living per week for himself, wife, and four chiwrea llcnt of cottage £110 0 Wood 0 7 0 Meat and (Wi 012 0 Urcad 0 10 0 Tea 0 3 0 Sugar 0 3 0 Potatoes o*3 6 • Clothing (estimated £40 per year for family) 016 O £4 3 6 This, he wrote in hi* letter, was some 7s per week more than iiia income, and ho facetiously predicted the time when ho would have bettor accommodation in gaol The house was a mero thrwronmcd cottage, with a spring of water oozing through tlio floor boards in tie back room.