OLD PRINTING PRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1935, Page 5

OLD PRINTING PRESS

DISCOVERY ON RIVER BANK.

GIFT MADE BY HAWERA MAN.

The discovery has been made on the banks of the Waipa River at Pokuru, six miles from Te Awamutu, of an oldfashioned printing press, regarded as an important link with the early days of the district. Close by was found a quantity of newspaper type. Mr. C. H. Washer, Hawera, who owns the land where the press was found, has given the machine to the Te Awamutu District Historical Society. _ The history of the machine is obscure. It has been stated that it is identical with the press given to the Maoris by the famous geologist Hochstetter. Another belief is that it was used at Ngaruawahia to print the .Maori newspaper, which opposed the policy of Te Pihoihoi Mokemoke i Runga i te Tuanui—the Lonely Lark on the Housetop—which was the Government Maori journal published at Te AWamutu on a press and with type brought from Sydney early in 1863, under the direction of Mr. (later Sir) John Gorst, with the sanction of Sir George Grey. The Maori paper was called Te Hokioi e Rere Atu Na—the Soaring War Bird—and was edited and printed by Patara te Tuhi, but where it was printed is in some doubt locally. Some say it was printed at Ngaruawahia. However, the story goes that to save the press from capture by General Cameron’s forces it was taken in a canoe up the Waipa River, but the canoe swamped at Te Kopua and the press was abandoned. Settlers of the district say it has lain on the bank of the stream for many years, uncared for.