THE HISTORY OF A NEWSPAPER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1208, 30 December 1880, Page 2

THE HISTORY OF A NEWSPAPER.

The following story, for the truth of which we (Manaw;itu Times) can vouch, is certainly a most flattering tribute to the care exercised by the postal authorities of New Zealand to the matters committed to their charge. A few weeks ago the postmaster at Palmerston South received a communication from the postmaster at Dunedin, forwarding the cover of a newspaper, upon which was written " Palmerston Public Library," and he waa requested to interview the Secretary of the Mechanic's Institute in that town, and ask him to describe what he supposed had been the contents of the journal, and say if he expected such a paper. The instructions were carried out ; the Secretary was interviewed, but as he could throw no light upon the subject, the cover was returned to Dunedin. It was next forwarded to the postmaster in Wellington with a request that he would follow up the matter, and in pursuance of the instruction the unfortunate wrapper was despatched to Mr. Innes, our local postmaster, urging him to see Mr. Keeling, and ascertain if the Palmerston North Public Library expected such a paper as it might have contained. Mr. Keeling consulted Mr. Jenssen, and as there was some Scandinavian printing on it, the latter recognised it as connected with some Swedish papers which he had been instructed t<> order for the itistitution. Tj^e, mystery having been thus solved, Mr. Keeling saw Mr. Innes ; Mr. ImVoV communicated with his superior in Wellington ; the man at Wellington passed on the j..yful news to Mr. Barr, the Dutiedin official, and the consequence was that a day or two ago Mr. Kenling received the copy of the Tabledegat, t\\e journal which has been the cause of ao much correspondence. There are only tw» ways of accounting for this. newly awakened interest — Either that the. post-office officials are far more considerate and honest than has hitherto been the case ; or else — and by far more likely — the paper being in Scandinavian was worthless for the purpose of perusal.