The “North Otago Times” (Archibald Frew and George Glen, proprietors), Thames Street, Oamaru. Telephone 25; P.O. Box 64; Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, Mr. Frew, Avon Street; Mr. Glen, Test Street, This journal was founded under the name of the “Oamaru Times,” by Mr. Frank Pinkerton, in 1864. Several years later the paper was purchased by the Oamaru Times Company, and in 1870, Messrs W. J. Steward and Co. became proprietors and changed the and Co. became proprietors and changed the name to the present title. Messrs Frew and Glen, who were associated with Mr. Steward in the firm, became sole owners in 1884. The “North Otago Times” is a four page sheet of thirty-two columns. It is issued every morning, and circulates extensively in the districts lying between Waimate and the Horse Range. The paper is well supported. Politically, the “Times is opposed to the Seddon Government. The office of the paper is centrally situated in Thames Street, and the plant comprises a Northumbrian printing machine, two Platen machines, and full jobbing fonts.

Mr. Archibald Frew was born in 1849, at Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, where he was educated. He arrived in Dunedin in 1862, by the ship “Chariot of Fame,” and was apprenticed at the “Otago Daily Times” office. In March, 1871, Mr. Frew came to Oamaru to the “Oamaru Times, and subsequently joined Messrs W. J. Steward and Co., in taking over the journal. He has acted as conductor of the Oamaru Band for several years, and was successful in carrying off a prize of £100 at the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition of 1889–90, besides a third prize at Christchurch and a third prize at Queenstown. He has acted as choirmaster of St. Paul's Presbyterian church. Mr. Frew was married, in 1874, to a daughter of Mr. Thomas Lunnan, of Awamoko, and has two daughters.

Mr. George Glen was born in 1851 at Dunedin, where he was educated. He was apprenticed at the “Otago Daily Times” office, and came to Oamaru in 1872 to become a journeyman on the journal of which he soon afterwards became part owner. Mr. Glen was married, in 1875, to a daughter of Mr. J. G. Grey, of Milburn, and has three sons and three daughters.

The “Oamaru Mail” (Hon. George Jones, M.L.C., proprietor, William Hood, page 525 manager, James Mitchell and Walter J. Jones, sub-editors), Tyne Street, Oamaru. Telephone, 27. P.O. Box 138. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd. This daily evening paper was originally established by the Evening Mail Company, and its first number appeared on the evening of Saturday, the 22nd of April, 1876. It was acquired in 1877 by its present proprietor, who changed its name to the “Oamaru Mail,” and made it noted for fearlessness and audacity. Mr. Jones still edits his paper, which has been managed for many years by Mr. William Hood. The first edition of the “Mail” is published daily at 3 p.m., and is timed for despatch by numerous trains. The journal is a four page paper of twenty-eight columns, and has a daily circulation of 2,100 copies throughout the North Otago and South Canterbury districts. The “Oamaru Mail” office is centrally situated in Tyne Street. It is a two-storey stone building, which was erected for the domicile of the paper. A water motor, supplied from the corporation water works, and a gas engine drive the plant, which consists of a two-feeder double royal Wharfdale machine, two Platen machines, three linotypes, and other up-to-date appliances, besides an ancient machine on which, it is said, the first issue of the “Melbourne Age” was printed, and also the first issue of the “Otago Daily Times.” Of course this “old identity” is now superannuated, and is, in fact, little better than a museum specimen.

The Hon. George Jones , Proprietor, is fully referred to elsewhere as a member of the Legislative Council.

Mr. William Hood , Manager of the ‘Oamaru Mail,’ was born in Northampton, England, in 1850. He came to Lyttelton by the ship “Waitara,” and after being engaged for five years in drapery houses in Christchurch, he joined his brother-in-law, the proprietor of the “Oamaru Mail,” and has been prominently connected with the journal for about twenty-five years. Mr. Hood has been a member of the Middle school committee since 1896. He was married, in 1877, at Timaru, to a daughter of the late Mr. George Jones, and has two sons and two daughters.

Mr. Hubert George Mitchell , for a number of years Sub-Editor of the “Oamaru Mail,” is the only son of Mrs. M. Z. Mitchell, well-known in the Colony as a prominent soloist. He was born in Oamaru in 1869 and educated in England at the Bradford Grammar school, and the Yorkshire Technical College. After being about twelve years in England, Mr. Mitchell returned to New Zealand in January, 1890. Soon afterwards he joined the staff of the “Oamaru Mail,” of which he became sub-editor in 1891. He took a general interest in local institutions, and served for seven years as a member of the Athenæum committee, of which he was president for one year. Mr. Mitchell was one of the founders of the Korero Savage Club. He has done literary work for a number of New Zealand weeklies, chiefly under the penname of “Hugh Bert.” Mr. Mitchell was married in March, 1892, to a daughter of Mr. L. Morton, of Dunedin and Oamaru, and has one son and one daughter. He has for a number of years been on the staff of the “Lyttelton Times,” Christchurch.