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Typo: A Monthly Newspaper and Literary Review, Volume 3
[miscellaneous paragraphs]
The New York Tribune has a peculiar idea of the inhabitants of Australia. It dreads their competition in the wool market, and opposes any reduction in the tariff on the ground of « principle » ! It says « The principle involved is that American woolgrowers ought to be effectively defended in their industry against the destroying and degrading influence of competition with wool grown by serfs, savages, and convicts. » —The Tribune has surely learned its geography from that famous American schoolbook that describes England merely as « a small island lying off the European coast. »
The Napier News has issued a prospectus of a company with a capital of £5000 in £1 shares, to purchase and carry on the concern. According to a leading article, the paper was at the point of death eight months ago when some gentlemen took it in hand and undertook to carry it on to the end of the year. They are in no way dissatisfied with the result of their experiment; but their other affairs claim attention, and it now becomes necessary that new arrangements be made. « Were the News not in existence, » we are told, « the most exorbitant rates would be charged for advertisements and general printing, » and a similar statement appears in the prospectus. The slur upon the other printing offices is unjust—there was keen enough competition before the News appeared, and charges were as low as a standard rate of wages would permit. Newspaper and printing companies are to a great extent responsible for the bad state of the trade and low wages in the colony, and have never proved a financial success.
With the Sydney Daily Telegraph of 18th November is issued a large sheet giving an illustration of their splendid new premises; and the same issue contains a full report of the celebration of the opening. The success of the Telegraph, with so powerful an opponent in the field as the able and old-established Morning Herald is sufficient proof of the ability with which it has been conducted. Referring to the celebration, the editor says: « The occasion stood alone in the history of Australian journalism. Never was so large and distinguished a company assembled to recognize the progress of a newspaper. The company was representative in the widest sense of the term. It comprised many of the best men Sydney had to send. It included some of the ablest men on both sides of politics and also representative men in art and science, in public administration, in the large interests of finance and commerce and general production. It represented almost every section of our active social and public life. What we valued most of all, it was attended by representative men from other Sydney journals whose presence showed that however we may be divided by trade and professional rivalries we all feel united as members of a great and honorable profession. »
page 136
Address Wanted of Mr Joseph Wood, Printer or Schoolmaster, late of Kennington, London, England, by Mr E. Pechey of 33, Aldersgate-street, London, England.
A List of upwards of 120 Books now in print relating to this Colony and Oceania may be had free from W. Wildman, Bookseller, Auckland, who is also a purchaser of any rare books or pamphlets relating to the above subjects.
We acknowledge with thanks the following new exchange: Printing, San Francisco, from No. 1, Sept., 1889.
We have received copies of the Opotiki Mail, a weekly paper bearing the imprint of Mr R. Rhodes, and published by Mr M. Downey. It appears to be partly, if not wholly, an offshoot of the protean Tauranga Times.
A six-page double-demy weekly has just appeared in Otago entitled the Nenthorn Advocate and Waikouaiti County Press. It is described as « well written and well printed. »
The Takaka News is the title of a small weekly started in the Collingwood district, Nelson, during the month, by Mr C. Girling Butcher, late of the Colonist.
Mr Stead is reported to have severed his connexion with the Pall Mall Gazette, and thinks of trying his fortune in the United States.
On the 13th November, the plant, stock, good-will, and book-debts of the Marlborough Daily Times were offered by auction. The concern was bought in without opposition by the mortgagee. There was no bid for the book-debts.
In the « libel » case, Mynott v. the Taranaki Herald, judgment was given for plaintiff for £20, with costs on the lowest scale. The amount of fine and costs was quickly made up by voluntary subscription, and handed to the defendant.
Mr G. Alderton has repurchased the Northern Advocate, Wangarei, and made improvements in the paper. It is to be edited by Mr J. M. Geddis, a member of the « Hansard » staff and formerly chief reporter to the Auckland Star.
The Wellington Post offers three prizes of fifteen, ten, and five guineas respectively, for the best original poems, not exceeding 150 lines, on the subject of the foundation and jubilee of the colony. The poems must reach the Post not later than the 31st December.
Mr W. F. Terry, who has resigned the position of manager of the Sydney Star, and is leaving for England, was entertained at a supper by the staff, and was the recipient of a purse of sovereigns and a complimentary address.
Dr. E. Shortland, an old resident of Auckland, and well-known as a writer on the traditions and mythology of the Maori people, has left for the home country, where he intends to end his days. Dr. Shortland, who has filled many responsible positions in the colony, came out in 1841 as private secretary to Governor Hobson.
Buenos Aires possesses twenty-three daily newspapers—more than either London or New York.
Mr Ferrier, who was for many years manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Dunedin, is now on the business staff of the London Sunday Times. The proprietor of that journal is Miss Alice Cornwell.
One of the most peculiar terminations on record to a threatened libel action is reported from Dunedin. The party aggrieved accepted a mild printed explanation in complete satisfaction, stipulating that it should be inserted in twenty copies of a given issue of the paper, such copies to be handed to him to use as he pleased—no reference to the matter being made in the ordinary issue!
Mr James Wilkie, of the Reefton Guardian, is again in hot water. Several people in the mining city appear to have thought that Mr Warden Bird, the Resident Magistrate, had given a foolish decision: the Guardian said as much in a leading article.
Two of a trade fall out and fight—
So proverb says, and song:
And what the Warden said was right
The Guardian said was wrong.
So Mr Wilkie finds himself committed for trial (bail allowed) on two charges of criminally libelling Mr Bird in his official and private capacity.
Irreverent scribe, thy hasty word
Was neither mild nor meek:
Unwise wert thou to tempt the Bird
Who is, not has, a Beak!
Mr W. Wildman, Auckland, has published some Christmas cards with original verses of local application. He has sent specimens to Typo. One bears the following stanzas:
Old Christmas comes once more on Time's fleet wing,
Peace upon earth he breathes the wide world o'er,
And fancy hears those herald angels sing
Who sang of yore.
This year he finds me on the rugged track,
In a new land with heart both faint and sore,
Oh! but to hear the English Christmas chimes
With thee once more!
And this is another:
Crimson and creamy the roses
Glow in our gardens so bright,
Whilst thy dear land with its snows is
Clad in its cerements of white.
Leave it to Winter and sadness,
Better you'd find it to rove;
Come to our sunshine and gladness,
Come to the land that we love.
Come where warm breezes will soothe thee,
Lulled in a languorous dream
Come where sweet Christmas can crown thee
With roses of crimson and cream.
These cards should have a good sale.
Mr T. P. O'Connor's Star is printed on paper manufactured by « the hated Saxon. » Another injustice to Ireland! For quality the products of the North of Ireland papermills are unsurpassed; but possibly they cannot compete with English houses in the matter of price. A patriot, however, ought to rise superior to such a consideration.
Mr Algie's N.Z. Musical Monthly completes it second year with the December number. We are glad to see the paper is a success. It is conducted in a manner equally creditable to the proprietor's enterprise and judgment. The printer should get a few ♯ and ♭ signs— « Eb » has the appearance of a make-shift. And we would suggest that the machine-sewing through the side be discontinued. It makes an ugly « rip » and quite spoils the sheets for binding.
Mr H. Ellison has been appointed editor of the Waipawa Mail.
Mrs Besant, according to a late telegram, has brought a libel action against the rector of Stepney for charging her with unchaste teachings. The jury were unable to agree.—The probability is that the charge was based on the lady's connexion (a very remote one, by the way), with the re-publication some years ago of a very objectionable American book.
At a recent representative gathering of Sydney journalists, including the members of the « Hansard » staff, preliminary steps were taken for the formation of a national association of journalists, on the lines of the British National Association of Journalists. An executive committee was appointed for the purpose of communicating with the pressmen in all the other colonies with a view to secure simultaneous action throughout Australasia.
A black marble timepiece, paid for by sixpenny subscriptions, has been presented to Mr Donnelly, editor of the Christchurch Telegraph, for the services he has rendered the community by exposing a religious impostor. About nine months ago, a man styling himself G. T. Sullivan, and claiming to be a brother to a noted pugilist, professed conversion, and being taken in hand by some of the churches, developed into a popular « evangelist. » While this man was carrying on a profitable « mission » in Christchurch, the Telegraph received information that he was a swindler named Arthur Clampett, and notwithstanding much threatening of libel suits, and even of personal violence from the « converted athlete, » ferreted out the whole of his history. The clergy then repudiated him and refused him their pulpits; but his infatuated followers held a great public meeting, at which a prominent lawyer presided, and presented him with a purse of gold and a communion service! Immediately afterwards, he went on a disgraceful « spree » and boasted of his successful imposture, stating that he was « dead-broke » when he started the « religious racket, » and had made more than a thousand pounds out of the « soft » people who had assisted him. He has since left by the San Francisco mail steamer. One of the most unpleasant and risky duties of the journalist is the exposure of cheats who impose upon the public; and it is gratifying to see that their efforts sometimes meet with recognition.