ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4172, 14 August 1939, Page 5

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST NEWSPAPER. PUBLICATION IN LONDON. COMMUNITY SPIRIT EARLY IN BEING. New Zealand’s first newspaper was published in London one hundred years ago. On 21st August, 1839, there appeared the first number of what Was to become the first newspaper printed in the infant colony and for many years a respected organ of opinion in the new country, so that it is not altogether as Irish as it sounds to record the first appearance of the New Zealand Gazette in England. It cost 9d, and was popular enough to have a second edition on 6th September. As this contains more matter than the first it will be used as the basis of our scrutiny.

PROPAGANDA OR ENTHUSIASM. It is easy to discount much of the fervent preparation of this newspaper for the first voyage out as simply so much more company propaganda, but the genuine sense of a common community interest that manifests itself throughout is the result rather than the instrument of company enthusiasm. Notices in this number tell us that a lady has financed the opening of an infant school, to be kept by an experienced man, his wife and daughter assisting him. A proposal is ,afoot to institute in the settlement a " Public Library with a General Museum and Scientific Institution,” and to establish “ a Dispensary, or Hospital, for the benefit of the settlers and the Aborigines of the country.” Another article calls for subscriptions to endow an Anglican parish. Most important of all is the “ First Colony of New Zealand.” an Association of the larger landed proprietors, a body of overwhelming weight politically and soci- . ally.

EMIGRANTS OFFERED FREE PASSAGES.

All this denoted a high degree of co-operation among the intending colonists, but it was a co-operation of the leaders rather than of the led. The labourers, who were to bear the brunt of the struggle in the new land, were at least looked after with great solicitude. An advertisement in the Gazette trails for emigrants, preferably between fifteen and thirty years old. There were, however, some snags, as one may learn from the regulations. “ The marriage certificate must be produced.” Only children under one and over fifteen at the date of embarkation would receive a free oassage. For the others three pounds each had to be paid, a measure designed to limit the number of child re too young to be full producers in the raid work of beginning the colony- Again. “ all emigrants, adults as well as children, must have J>een vaccinated, or have had the smallpox.” The company took very good care of the emigrants on board the specially-chartered ships. ’ The surgeon was there if they fell sick, and the victualling scale printed in the naner shows that there was little chance of there being too little good food.

ADVERTISEMENTS. Among the commercial advertisements several show how completely the needs of the inhabitants of Port Nicholson—though it was not certain that this would be the location of the colony—had been visualised in advance. The Union Bank of Australia was to open a branch. Mr D. Ramsay offered to provide portable cottages for immediate erection. The company itself, as well as several individuals, did, we know, ship prebuilt houses. Messrs Daniell and R’ddiford offered their services as land agents, shippers, and general merchants. Messrs Noakes, in advertising family medicine chests, reassuringly mentioned that “ full directions for the use and application of the medicines accompanied each chest.” Steel wheat mills and bolting machines were also on the market.

HISTORY TWO PENCE COLOURED.

The company in this number of the Gazette gives its own version of the history of New Zealand up till 1839, and plentifully manifests its distaste for the Evangelical party opposing colonising projects. The company was evidently of the opinion that though actions speak louder than words the right words sometimes blossomed into action. With “five large ships ’’ ready for sea, it felt a certain selfconfidence. The Government had done nothing to prevent either the Tory or the Cuba sailing. Moreover, the -publication of the Treasury minute permitting the extension of the boundaries of New South Wales to include New Zealand was an indication that Britain intended to do something about this troublesome problem.

Far more striking than the company’s partisanship is the solidarity of the settlers. They already feel themselves a community, with a social duty to one another that indicates the new spirit to be given freer scope in the new world.