Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette

The Gisborne Standard began life in 1887 as one of a number of short-lived newspapers started up in Gisborne during the late 1800s. It was established by Charles Wilson (1857-1932) as a morning paper published three times a week. Wilson described the policy of his newspaper as ‘Liberalism and Radicalism in the broadest and best sense of those often mis-used terms.’ (9 June 1887: 2). Previously Wilson had been a teacher at Wanganui Collegiate and then a sub-editor on the Wanganui Chronicle, before moving to Gisborne.

The reports on the new Standard were positive, with its opening issue being complimented for its incisive writing and varied reading matter. One editor pointed to a sense of humour, citing the following advertisement for a reporter as an example.

‘We want an M. A. (Oxon). one who can report the Police Court, Harbour Board, and Borough Council meetings, a glove fight, and a Salvation Army discourse at one and the same time, also interview insurance canvassers without committing homicide, and pick up type at odd moments. When that man offers, we are ready to give him a show. Till then, ‘we pass.’ (quoted in the Patea Mail, 15 June 1887: 2)

 Wilson sold the newspaper in July to John Bryce Berry and went on to edit the Napier Evening News. Berry was the son of the New Zealand Herald editor, William Berry and only 19 at the time. He later went on to play a prominent role in Northland newspapers.

Local man John A Laing purchased the Standard sometime during 1888 and owned it until February 1889, when it was sold to the Gisborne Standard Newspaper Company. This company was established by six local men and it owned the newspaper until July 1890, when the paper was sold to William Ackroyd.

The last issue of the Gisborne Standard was published on Saturday 31 October 1891. The final issue blamed the paper’s closure on the accession of the Liberal Party to power, which it argued meant the paper’s role as the voice of the opposition was no longer needed.

Edward Smyrk bought the Standard’s plant in March 1892 and tried to re-start the paper as the New Zealand Standard. He started publishing issues in May, with Edwin H Petherick as editor but by October the paper had folded and Smyrk was declared bankrupt. There was a final attempt to revive the Gisborne Standard in 1893 by Peter Crawford, previously of the Opotiki Mail, but it appears nothing came of this.