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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

[introduction]

The leading New Zealand newspapers are well edited, and compare favourably with their Australian contemporaries. This is natural, seeing that most of the literary talent of the colony finds expression through the channels of journalism, though in a few individual cases colonial writers of repute have settled in London, where they have obtained good literary positions, and in some instances have written works of unquestioned merit. The first number of the “Otago Journal” was published at Edinburgh, in January, 1848, but the first newspaper established in the young settlement was the “Otago News,” which had four pages, and was sold at sixpence a copy. It started on its short career on the 13th of December, 1848, and bore the following imprint: “Printed and published every alternate Wednesday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, by Mr. H. B. Graham, Rattray street, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.” With its fourteenth number the “Otago News” commenced a weekly issue, and it was enlarged on the 9th of June, 1849. Despite this enterprise the struggle for existence was brief; it gave up the ghost on the 21st of December, 1850, and its last issue contained a farewell leader written by the editor. A short interregnum was broken by the birth of the “Otago Witness,” on the 8th of February, 1851. This enterprising journal, which is more fully referred to in another article, has maintained an unbroken course to the present day, and is now (1904) the only illustrated weekly published in Otago. On the 26th of December, 1856, the first number of the “Colonist” appeared, but in 1862 it became incorporated with the “Daily Telegraph,” which ceased publication two years later. On the 16th of February, 1861, the “Southland News” (now the “Southland Daily News”) was first published in Invercargill; and on the 9th of March, in that year, the “Southern News and Foveaux Straits Herald” came into existence at the same place. The “Otago Daily Times,” which published its first issue on the 15th of November, 1861, bears the distinction of being the oldest daily newspaper in New Zealand. Its history is interestingly described in another article. In November, 1862, the “Invercargill (Southland) Times” was established; and the Dunedin “Evening Star,” to which full reference is made in another column, dates its existence from June, 1863. About this period the development of the country districts—accelerated by the opening up of the goldfields—became very active. On the 2nd of February, 1864, the “Riverton Times” came into existence, and three days later the “Mount Ida Chronicle and Hamilton Advertiser” was first issued. The “Bruce Herald” started its career on the 15th of April of the same year, and on the 29th of the following October the “Waikouaiti Herald” made its first appearance.

Another well-known country newspaper, the “North Otago Times,” was first brought out in the year 1864, and has ever since been published at Oamaru. The “Evening Independent” was started by Mr. George Bell, about 1865, but on purchasing the “Evening Star” in 1869, he wound up the “Independent.” The first number of the “Tuapeka Press” was published on the 21st of May, 1866, and amalgamated three years later with the “Tuapeka Times.” The “Otago Punch” commenced its short and merry life on the 3rd of September, 1866; and the “Echo,” a freethought paper, was started and edited by Mr. Robert Stout (now Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout) in the later sixties, and ran for several years. “The Sun,” a daily morning newspaper, was founded about 1868 by Mr. Julius Vogel, who was its editor, and afterwards became specially well known as the author of the colony's public works and immigration policy, as Premier, and Sir Julius Vogel. But though the “Sun” was bright enough
The Triangle, Showing The “Otago Daily Times” Office.

The Triangle, Showing TheOtago Daily TimesOffice.

page 228 while it lasted, it did not last long, as it ceased to shine for ever in about three months after its first appearance. On the 15th of January, 1870, the “Otago and Southland Mining Journal” made its first appearance. The “Southern Mercury,” owned and edited by the Hon. Vincent Pyke, issued its first number on the 3rd of January, 1874, and on the 9th of July following the “Clutha Leader” was established. The “Oamaru Mail” came into existence—under its original name of the “Evening Mail”—on the 22nd of April, 1876, and the “Tapanui Courier” on the 29th of November of the same year. In 1876 Mr. G. M. Reed settled in Dunedin, and started a paper named the “Evening News,” but subsequently purchased the “Otago Guardian,” and was shortly afterwards joined in partnership by Mr. George Fenwick. This firm purchased the “Otago Daily Times,” through an agent, in 1877, and on the completion of the purchase Messrs Reed and Fenwick sold the “Evening News” to Messrs J. H. Clayton and William Fenwick, who changed the name of the paper to “The Age,” and engaged Mr. A. W. Hogg, now member of Parliament for Masterton, as editor. The paper again changed hands about eighteen months later, and its name was changed to “The Independent.” After a year or two it altogether ceased publication. The “Saturday Advertiser,” founded by Messrs Thomas Bracken and Alexander Bathgate in July, 1875, had a long but chequered career. While Mr. Bracken devoted his whole attention to the paper it presented a bright and original appearance, but on its subsequent amalgamation with the “Morning Herald,” it became a reprint of the daily, and lost all the influence it possessed, and fell out of the race on the rise of the “Evening Herald.” The “Morning Herald,” started by the “Otago Daily Times” staff, which resigned when Messrs Reed and Fenwick bought out that paper, was first issued on the 3rd of December, 1877, and on the 17th of May, 1884, it was merged into the “Evening Herald.” On the 3rd of September, 1890, it again changed its title to “The Globe,” which gave up the struggle and died on the 9th of September, 1893. The “Weekly Budget” emerged from its ashes. Many of the provincial journals enumerated in this list are not only still in existence, but in flourishing circumstances; but of the Dunedin newspapers there remain only the “Otago Daily Times,” the “Evening Star,” the “Otago Witness,” and the “Weekly Budget.” It may be mentioned that everything in the nature of a newspaper ever published in Otago has not been named here; for, off and on through its history, the province has had meteoric journals, which, though sometimes bright enough in their way, were shortlived, and their names and connections now rest in oblivion.