DUNEDIN PRESS CLUB.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 80, 7 November 1874, Page 7

DUNEDIN PRESS CLUB.

The adjourned meeting of the Press Club to receive the report of the Committe appointed to draft the Rales was held in the Club's Beadingroom, Provincial Hotel, on Saturday night. Tbe President (Mr G. Bell) occupied the chair, and about twenty members were present. His Honor Judge Chapman was amongst the visitors. lhe Rules were first read, after which the company sat down to supper. After that meal, very excellently provided as it was by Mr Sibbald, was done justice to, and the customary honors had been v»aid to "The Queen and Royal Family," the Chairman gave the following toast : — " The Governor, the Army and Navy of England, the English and Colonial Volunteers, and the Legislatures of Great Britain and this Colony, coupled with the name of Mr Vincent Pyke, M.H.8." Mr Pyke, in reply, wound up a very amusing speech with the following remarks : — He had the honor of belonging to the Colonial Legislature, and he had no hesitation in stating that it was the most respectable Legislature south of the line. — (Hear, hear.) Their sittings wefe so very remote that the people of this Province were unablo to know what amount of business was done by the Legislature. They would not know anything at all if it were not for the much-abased Hansard. He tendered his sincere thanks on behalf of all tlioto mentioned in the toast. — (Applause.) Song — " Little Footsteps." His Honor Judge Chapman proposed the next toast — " The Preis Club." He said that he supposed he had been asked to propose the toast from the fact that he once formed one of what Miss Fanny Keinble used to call the •' Press Gang." In fact, for many jears during the time that he was studying the law, he got his living by bis connection with the Press, and a very respectable mode of getting a living he thought they would admit it was. (Applause.) He had been connected with newspapers to a considerable extent ; but he was not there to tell the whole of his personal history. He would endeavor to confine himself to some portißHs"TJt'"tie history of the Press of this Colony, which probably no man in the room Jmew better than himself. First of all, he would congratulate those in the room upon, the organisation of a Piess Club in Dunedin. He would not go. into the common-place remarks with reference to the advantages of union — " Union is strength," and so forth. Ho would begin by congratulating

the Press of Dunedin upon the formation of the Club, and he hoped that those connected with the Press in other towns would by-and-bye determine to unite for social intercourse. This would tend to improve the tone of the Press — the tone of newspapers towards eath other — whatever effect it may have upon unfortunate persons to be attacked. (Laughter.) Perhaps the maxim of the Press would be like the maxim attributed to attorneys — to be like shears, not to cut themselves, but what came between. (Laughter.) He would now come to what would be of interest to his hearers,' the early history of the Press of this Colony. Though not an Irishman, he would make something like a bull,' and Bay he knew the Press of New Zealand before it existed. The first systematic attempt to colonise New Zealand was made by the New Zealand Company. This company, after some difficulties, opposition, and so forth, established what they called the first Colony at Wellington. Before this Colony was started, a newspaper was projected as necessary for the settlers. This newspaper, it was decided, ■was to be edited by a Mr Revans, who now lived in the Wairarapa "Valley. The first number of the first newspaper to be established in ITew Zealand was published in London upon the 6th of September, 1839— one month before the colonists left London. He was, therefore, they would see, justified in saying that he knew the Press of New Zealand when it was only in the womb of time. (Applause.) The little history he was about to give them ■was really very interesting. The first batch of colonists started from the Thames — from Gravesend — in the month of October, and the first ship, the Aurora, arrived in New Zealand on' the 24th of June. She was followed by the Oriental, the Duke of Eoxburgb, the Bengal Merchant, the Adelaide, which had on board the press, plant, and building for the establishment of the firßt newspaper in New Zealand. She brought.building, press, types, editor, and two or three compositors. (Laughter). Mr Bevans, who was on board this ship, met there an intelligent lad — almost a boy — known to some of you, Mr Thomas McKenzie, or Tom McKenzie, as they used to call bin?. He became Mr Eeyans's apprentice. The Adelaide, with all the materials for the establishment of a newspaper, dropped anchor on the 7th of March. Everything necessary for the paper was landed three weeks after the Adelaide dropped anchor, and the first number of the paper was issued on the ISfch of April, or six weeks after the vessel dropped anchor. The name of this publication was the * New Zealand Gazette,' and it was continued for four years, when Mr Hevans left it to follow other pursuits. He became a squatter, and took up land in the Wairarapa Valley, which he got from the natives. The ' Gazettee ' was then taken in hand by two of the printers, including Mr McKenzine, and its name was changed to the • Wellington Independent,' which newspaper was in existence until the present year, when it merged into the « New Zealand Times,' and became a daily paper. He believed that Mr McKenzie was connected with it still, and he also believed that Mr McKenzie was the oldest pressman that was connected with the practical part of the work in New Zealand. Although this was the first newspaper in the Colony, he did not mean to say thatthe press which printed the ' New Zealand Gazette,' was the first printing press. The Missionaries had a small printing press at Pahia many years before, with which they used to print little books for the instruction of the Maoris — printing prayers, and so forth— extracts from the Scriptures printed m Maori, and a little grammar and accidence for teaching the Maoris English. It was not very good press work, but it was useful in its lime. There was also another little press that existed in fche Colony before Mr Bevans's press made its appearance upon the shores of Port Nicholjson. Colonel Wakefield, an agent of the New Zealand Company, had arrived three months before in the ship Tory for the purpose of buying land from the Natives. He brought with him a little toy press — a block press — which measured about fourteen inches either way. It was intended to use it for printing notices, but he believed it was never used for the purpose for which it was brought out. One day he (Judge Chapman) went into Colonel Wakefield's office, and espied this same press, and, having a little affection for presses, he began to ask him about it. He looked at it, and said, "By Jove, I will send for one of those presses for my boye." Colonel Wakefield very kindly gave him the press, and sent it to him, whereupon ho introduced his eldest son to the rudiments of practical printing. A lot of boys at that time formed a Cricket Club, and their resolutions— which were discussed with quite as much gravity as characterised the discussion of the rules of the Press Club earlier in the evening — were not only reduced to writing, but were actually set up and printed by his boy, with a little assistance from himself. (Applause.) He was only sorry he had not kept copies of some of them. What became of this press he did not know. They all knew how boys neglected theii.' toys. He took it to Victoria with him when he went to that Colony, and he did not know where it was now. It was the second printin* press introduced into the Colony of New Zealand. The early history of the Colony was often alluded to in the Press of the present day. Shortly after the arrival of the first batch of immigrants, Captaiu Hobaon, E.N., landed at the Bay of Islands, and declared himself Governor of the Colony. He intended to establish a township at thac place, and male it the capital of New Zealand. He found the place inconvenient, however, and removed to what we now call Auckland. The first newspaper established at Auckland was called the ' Herald.' There was another newspaper started at the same place, which had rather a curious story. The proprietor had plenty of type, but unfortunately he had not a press. He bought a mangle— (laughter)— eo somebody's mother must have sold her mangle — (renewed laughter)-— as policemen said in the witness-box sometimes, " he did not know of his own knowledge" that he had ever seen a mangle. He had heard of them, however, and a good many jokes were made about this one. The paper used to say, " We have stopped the mangle" to insert some news oi interest. (Laughter.) These were the Auckland papers. Now in Wellington the ' New Zealand Gazette' soon had rivals. The first was established by Mr Hanson, now the Chief Justice of South Australia, who a t that time fell out with the Government, and established an independent paper. The paper was well written, for Mr Hanson was a man of Out somehow or other, it did not find favor with the colonists,

and died after a twelve months' existence. The then Wellington paper, called the ' Spectator,' ran a course of ten or eleven years. He ■would now cast his eyes back to England, which brought him to his first personal connection with that part of the Press relating to New Zealand. When the colonists started for this land in 1839 he had a number of old friends among them, Mr Revans, Mr Moles worth, Mr Peter, Dr. Fitzherbert, and a great many of the oldest colonists. Ho was acquainted with a large number of them, and he promised them that he would establish a small newspaper in London to watch over the colonists. He carried out his promise, and started a small paper which was called the ' New Zealand Journal.' It was published once a fortnight, and was something about the same size .as ihe ' Home News,' or the ' London Spectator.' After he had kept this paper going for three years, he began to get into practice, and lie sold it. Some six or eight months after this he was appointed Judge, and came out to this Colony. He had ten volumes of the • New Zealand' here, and a very interesting record it was. Every public document relating to New Zealand which made its appearance at the time ; found its way into this journal, from first to last, so that it now constituted a complete record of the history of the colonisation, of New Zealand for the firat ten years of its existence The journal was afterwards merged into the ' Australian Gazette,' which afterwards became the ' Australian and New Zealand Gazette,' and was edited by an old New Zealand colonist, -who held the office for many years. He had a complete tolume of it it, but he had lost sight of it for a time. Many would recollect that, at the time he was speaking of, the colonists only numbered about 1198. He came to New Zealand in 1842, three years after the Colony was established. He could sum up all that was then known about the Middle Island in a few words. They knew that there was such a place as Port Cooper, now Lyttelton, and they also knew of such a person as John Jones, of Waikouaiti, in Otakou, as the Natives called the place. They just knew that there was such a place, and this was all they knew except what they could learn from Captain Cook's maps and charts. Let them look how the Colony had grown since then. The only article of export at this time was whale oil, whioh was exported to the value of about £25,000 a year, which at that time was not bad for a Colony with only 1100 people. They had no other export trade. It was only some years after the time he was now speaking of that sheep were introduced. At Home the people believed that there was nothing but fern in the Colony, and tbat there was not a place where a beast or a sheep could be put to feed unless grass were artificially raised for bin:. Only in later times the vast grass plains were heard about. Then persons used to come and say that they had seen grass, and a few specimens were brought in. Let them look at the resources now. After alluding to the present prosperous state of New Zealand, His Honor went on to say that the Press had greatly contributed to the general welfare of the Colony. He was, of course, addressing favorable ears ; but if he were addressing a meeting of 60 or 70 persona, not one of whom was personally interested in the Press, all would agree that the Press had maintained a very respectable character in the whole of this Colony. Now and then a newspaper lost its temper, just as a lawyer did, but generally the newspapers here were alive to the interests of the Colony. The Press was open to contributors who would take the trouble to investigate any matter of interest to the Colony, and these matters were discussed in as fair and reasonable a manner as they could bo by any Press on the face of the earth. It was with very great pleasure that he proposed the toast, not of the Press of New Zealand — but of the Press Club, which institution he had no doubt would not only produce a great deal of good-fellowship, but would tend indirectly to improve the tone of the Press. — (Applause.) The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. The Chairman, in replying on behalf of the Club, said that he was sure that they were all interested iv the Judge's account of the New Zealand Press. When he (Judge Chapman) saw the first issues of the Press in the early days he probably never thought he would be present at the inauguration of a Press Club in Dunedin as he had. The Judge's presence had given them an idea of what could be successfully accomplished in New Zealand. After some remarks "anent the literary clubs of Goldsmith's day, the Speaker went on to say that the time might .come when people would be criticising the doings of their Club. Therefore it became them to watch, their actions, and endeavor to promote the Institution in every possible way. — (Hear, hear.) The end of the Club was not to supply only amusement, but to provide a second home where they might meet for confidence and friendly intercourse. When he looked upon those "whom he knew, he had no doubt that they "would all experience their greatest pleasure in promoting the interests of the Club. They were all obliged to His Honor for having given them an insight into the early history of the Press in New Zealand, and in his presence they had been honored that evening.— (Applause.) The other toasts proposed were—" Our Visitors," which was reBponded to by His Honor the Judge, who gave some more interesting reminiscences j " The Hon. Secretary, Mr Humphries ; " " The President, Mr George Bell ; " and "Mr B. L. Farjeon," whose successful career was the theme of much enviable admiration. At an early hour the company dispersed, after a pleasant evening spent in the inauguration of what cannot fail to be a very useful institution. 1

Not Bad foe Jack. — A West Coast paper relates Ihef ollowinggood story :-— " One of the best things we hare heard for a long time, conies in an English letter to an old and respected resident of Coromandel, and as it has not been in print we have much pleasure in making it public. When Sir Garnet Woolsey was embarking his forces for the Ashautce expedition, a detachment of Eoyal Artillery was tho first to embark. As Jack was handing the luggage up, he called out the address — Captain E.A. ; Lieut. E.A., &c, &c. With a comical look he squinted to his mate on deck and said ' Shiver my timbers, Bill, if Solomon in all his glory was E.A.'d. (arrayed) like these fellows are.' Bill exploded and so Ijaje all who heard the joke, which is too good to be lost,— 'Mail, 1