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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
The History
The History of the rise and progress of “The Outlook” comprehends a reference to the several papers published in the early days of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Although at the close of its sitting in 1862, the First General Assembly of the Northern Church recommended the establishment of a periodical, nothing was done until 1866, when the Rev. C. Fraser, the pioneer Presbyterian minister in Canterbury, started, on his own responsibility, a small magazine, named “The New Zealand Presbyterian,” published in Christchurch, issued quarterly, and containing about fifty pages. Its name was afterwards changed to “The Canterbury Presbyterian and Record of Church News,” but it had a somewhat chequered existence. On the 1st of January, 1872. “The New Zealand Presbyterian Magazine” was published in Auckland. It was edited by the Rev. R. Sommerville, and, in size and plan, it was the same as its Canterbury contemporary. Its name was changed subsequently to “The Presbyterian Church News,” but it languished for want of funds.
The first publication in connection with the Otago Church was “The Evangelist,” started by Dr. James Copland, M.A., Ph.D., M.D., at Lawrence, in conjunction with Messrs Matthews and Fenwick, the then proprietors of the “Tuapeka Press.” It was a small monthly, printed on a hand press, and stitched on an ordinary sewing machine, and first appeared in January, 1869, In March, 1874. Dr. Copland removed to Dunedin, and “The Evangelist” was then enlarged and published in that city for a further period of five years, chiefly under the pilotage of the Rev. Dr. Stuart. In 1880 the Otago Synod resolved to start a new monthly periodical, which, named “The New Zealand Presbyterian” was edited by Dr. Salmond. until his retirement, when appointed to a chair in the University of Otago in 1886. Dr. Watt afterwards acted as editor for a time. and then the duty devolved upon a committee with Dr. Stuart at the head.
In 1893 the Otago Synod accepted the offer of Messrs Wilkie and Co., of Dunedin, to publish a weekly paper to be known as “The Christian Outlook,” under the editor ship of Dr. Waddell. It was a paper of sixteen pages, price one penny, and it speedily attained a circulation of 5,000 copies. The first number was issued in February, 1894, and the General Assembly of the Northern Church adopted it as its organ. However, in spite of the fact that there was now but the one paper for the whole Presbyterian Church throughout the colony, the circulation slowly receded to about 3,500 copies weekly, and after running for five years, it became so unprofitable that Messrs Wilkie and Co. decided to abandon the venture.
Arrangements were then made with the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company for the publication of a thirty-two page weekly, to be issued at a penny, under its present title “The Outlook: a Christian weekly for the Home.” The company accepted the financial risk attached to the venture; Dr. Waddell still continuing the editorship. In addition to being the official organ of the Presbyterians, the Congregational Union passed a resolution making it their official organ, and the circulation steadily increased. Another advance was made in 1901, when the Methodist Conference decided to cease the publication of their paper “The Advocate.” and take a share in the “Outlook,” which, enlarged to forty pages, henceforth occupied the unique position of being the official organ of the three evangelical bodies—the Presbyterian, the Methodist, and the Congregational Churches of New Zealand, with a circulation of between 8,000 and 9,000 copies weekly in the following July, owing to a breakdown in health, Dr. Waddell vacated the editorial chair, his place being successively filled for brief periods by the Rev. J. Chisholm and Mr. W. Hutchison. Dr. Waddell's health has recently so far improved as to enable him to act as supervising editor of the “Outlook,” with Mr. A. H. Grinling as acting editor in chief, the Rev. T. G. Brooke, as Methodist editor, and the Rev. E. Taylor as Congregational editor.