Early New Zealand Newspapers

Papers Past Images online. NZ National Library.  A wonderful site, free and easier to search.

Australian Resources | Newspaper Extracts | Newspaper Preservation | Shipboard Newspapers

Sir Henry Brett, a shipping reporter wrote in White Wings, 1924. "Fifty years ago, when we had to depend on the beautiful old sailing ships to keep us in touch with the outside world, an expected arrival from overseas was a great event...  Many an important bit of news was brought to Auckland by the "White Wings" of the Circular Saw Line as they were the regular traders they generally brought complete files of the Australian newspapers for the Auckland daily newspapers."

The early newspapers listed a vessel's arrival within one or two days and sometimes included passenger list, accounts of voyage and cargo, births and deaths that occurred on the voyage.  Discrepancies maybe found in the spelling of passenger names and number of passengers when compared to the assisted emigrant passenger lists.  In the early days there where so many smaller newspapers being printed with shipping arrival and departure columns so if there was more than one newspaper in the vicinity check all as reports may vary.

• Newspapers often listed surnames only e.g. The Lyttelton Times Jan. 20, 1859 sailed schooner, Sea Bird, 20 tons, Thomas, for Akaroa. Passengers, Mrs. Staples and 5 children. 
•  Shipping Intelligence columns are the main source for departures and often listed cabin passengers and only the aggregate in steerage.  The 'Cornwall' arrived Lyttelton 10 December 1851.  The Lyttelton Times newspaper names of the cabin passengers and 49 steerage. 
• Most military arrivals were simply listed as 251 passengers including 167 rank and file 58th and 65th regiments, 27 women, 25 children or '57th Regiment, 10 officers'. Names were not given. 
• Newspapers have usually rerecorded the arrivals of ships to New Zealand ports.
• The papers of the day are only as good as the editorial staff employed.  On many occasions shipping lists ''xx passengers' (no names) and at other times the list the passengers but spell surnames incorrectly and do not list the whole manifest..
  Each newspaper develops a pattern were death notices are located e.g. the ladies' news column, page 2, ...

The London Gazette
National Library of Australia newspapers - online images
NZ newspapers today
The National Library of NZ
British Library Newspaper Library Colindale Ave., London, NW9 5HE, ENG. Good newspaper catalogue 
Welsh Newspapers Online
Shipping Gazette & Sydney General Trade List 1844-1855 snippets e.g. Stirlingshire
The Illustrated London News. NZ content from Volume 1, 1842 to volume 50, 1867. Waikato U.
The Times [ London ] Archives prints
BBC [ L
California Digital Newspaper Collection 1849-1911

A diary survives of David Burn, a newspaper editor working in Auckland during the 1850s. It is full of shipping intelligence.  If truly kept, how much of passion, pain, and mortal sin, these pages may unclose! David Burn (c.1799 to 14 June 1875) migrated to Auckland from Tasmania in 1847 where he worked as an editor and journalist on several newspapers until his retirement in 1865. He was a voluminous writer and many of his manuscripts are preserved at the Mitchell Library, Sydney, including his reminiscences and diaries. Burn was associated with several Auckland newspapers. He was at first on the New Zealander and subsequently as a partner in the New Zealand Herald, Auckland Weekly Register and Commercial and Shipping Gazette, were under the editorship of David Burn.

I often use the media, and get success.... glad someone else does it... bought in quite a few enquiries for my research..
Lost Friends -Lloyd's Weekly

Newspaper Help Columns - A reader service.
Australian Woman's Weekly: Where are they now?
Two NZ magazines with a wide circulation, have similar help pages but there is a fairly long waiting list.
NZ Woman's Weekly, Noticeboard,  Email: [email protected]
NZ Woman's Day, Helpline, Email: [email protected]

Two address for Sydney newspapers:  
    [email protected] Sydney Morning Herald
    [email protected]  The Daily Telegraph

Evening Post, 8 February 1915, Page 22 History of the Press association
Negotiations were set on foot before the association had been two years in existence, with the result that on 19th. December, 1879, a conference was held at Timaru, from which the present Press Association was born. It is a coincidence that the annual meeting of the association will be held at Timaru this month, the first time the shareholders have met there since the conference. As a matter of newspaper history, it may be interesting to give the names of those present. They were : Messrs. A. G. Horton, New Zealand Herald ; H. Brett, Auckland Star; H. Blundell, Evening Post ; Hon. W. Reeves. Lyttelton Times and Star ; G. Fenwick Otago Daily Times, Dunedin. J.G. Fraser, Dundien Morning Herald, J.W. Jargo, Dunedin Star; H. Belfield, Timaru Herald.

Newspaper Research

• Newspapers are a secondary resource
• Look for newspaper indexes at libraries. Check all ways a subject might be listed.
• If a local newspaper did not exist for a time period check metropolitan newspapers indexes that circulated in the area as they reported regional news
• Newspapers on microfilm are available through the inter-loan service from the National Library of New Zealand.  Ask a librarian.  At your local library fill out a form, pay $5. About 10 days later the library will let you know  the film has arrived.  Pay another $5.  The loan was for one calendar month. 
• Check the book The Union List of Newspapers which lists holdings of newspapers, or on National Library's website to make sure they hold the films of the papers. 
• Public and university libraries often have back issues of local and regional newspapers
• Compilers of all information can make mistakes
• Main newspaper repositories in New Zealand are: Alexander Turnbull, Parliamentary (Wellington) and Hocken (Dunedin) Libraries
• Note newspaper, date, page and column number of article
• Read the local newspaper for the time period to gain an understanding of hardships your ancestors endured.
• Newspapers are, the day-to-day (or week-to-week) diaries of local community events.
• Compare departure and destination newspaper shipping columns
• Australian newspapers can be found at the Hocken Library and other major NZ libraries
• Obituaries, marriage notices and birth notices in early newspapers might provide leads.
• Some immigrants were unable to join their own ship because of illness.  When they finally sailed they were not included in the official passenger list because their passages had already been paid as immigrants and debited against the ship in which they should have travelled but their names might appear in arrival port's newspaper listing the immigrants.
• Early newspapers were often published weekly, as much as 50% paid advertising, only 4 folded pages pages to make an eight page edition e.g. The Lyttelton Times. Front page all advertising or notices.
• Many papers have "looking back" type columns that reprinted old news stories from that day or week in the past  5, 10, 25, and 50 years ago or published special 'famous pages', commemorative issues, or centennial supplements from the newspaper.

Harvey, D.R. Union list of newspapers preserved in libraries, newspaper offices, local authority offices and museums.  National Library, Wellington 1987. Lists the names of newspapers, where held and what years they hold. Arranged geographically, according to place of publication, then alphabetically by latest title. Index.

Millet , A.P.U. & Cole, F.T.H. Bibliographic Work in New Zealand1986, Work in progress and published. University of Waikato, 1986. Contains an alphabetically (by newspaper title) list of indexes to New Zealand newspapers and newspaper clippings held at libraries in NZL.

New Zealand newspapers on microfilm.  National Library of New Zealand. 1995 Wellington [N.Z.] National Library of New Zealand

The Star, Christchurch Thursday 4 June 1891 page 2
Death - WILSON - Departed at the age of 31, Alfred Wilson, the beloved son of Alfred and Augusta Wilson, of Yaldhurst, at 10 mins past 7pm, June 2nd. He left our zone in perfect peace, after only a week's suffering, assured of a continuous life and of an ultimate reunion with all his sisters and brothers and his father and mother. All papers in New Zealand in your monthly summaries to England please copy.

"We are sadly pining after ships and news from England," wrote Henry Sewell at Lyttelton 1854. Eleven days later. "No ships, no letters - and we are lying in a state of miserable stagnation until the steamer arrives. The Ashmore ought to be here..." Four days later. The Ashmore sailed into Lyttelton Harbour and Sewell wrote of his joy at receiving mail from home.

Auckland Repositories

• Auckland City Library. Newspaper room Newspaper lists, 1840-1882 are indexed. There is a card index in their Family History Room. Points you the newspaper collection where the arrival of the ship was recorded. "The Southern Cross" sometimes gave the full list of passengers while "The New Zealander" sometimes only listed first class passengers and just the number in steerage. Shipping index info 1840 up to the end of 1899, excluded ships arriving directly from Great Britain.
• Auckland University Library NZ Gazette - weekly publication of official government notices and proclamations. There is an index at the beginning of each volume and indexes to each separate issue at the end of the issue

Wellington Repositories

• Alexander Turnbull Library
  The Newspaper Room is located on the lower ground floor at the National Library in Wellington and have an extensive collection of New Zealand newspapers e.g. Early Wellington newspapers Aug 1839/1860. Indexes for the:
  Sydney Gazette 1803-1842
  Argus 1846-1920    on microfilm, index in the FHC National Library
  Nelson Examiner 1842-1853
  New Zealand Mail 1870's-1907
  New Zealand Spectator
  Cook Strait Guardian 1844-1861
  Wellington Spectator
  New Zealand Gazette 1839-1844
  They also have vertical files of historical newspaper clippings, Early shipping days 1850-1859 (Christchurch newspaper articles) and shipping boxes (newspaper articles).  Check other libraries, public and university and museums catalogues for holdings.
• Wellington Central Library second floor. The New Zealand Room collection includes  microfilm copies of The Evening Post beginning in 1865 and the Dominion beginning in 1907. Photocopies from the microfilm cost 70c a page.

Christchurch Repositories

The 'Lyttelton Times' was first published Saturday 11, January, 1851, amazingly only 24 days after the first emigrants arrived.  Editorial: Part One Part Two. The main avenues in Christchurch are Bealey, Moorhouse, Fitzgerald and Rolleston. The 'Lyttelton Times' first editor was James Edward FitzGerald (1818-1896) of Irish descent but born in Bath, Somerset and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, a passenger on the 'Charlotte Jane' , was also an immigration agent, inspector of police for Lyttelton, and in 1853 he was elected the first Superintendent of province of Canterbury in 1853, an office he held until 1857. He was also a MP for Lyttelton. Occupied a seat in the first Parliament and had was the first premier of the colony.  Founded The Press (Vol. 1. No.1 25 May 1861) as well, before entering politics. He died in Wellington on 2nd August, 1896 and is now buried thanks to the motorway construction in a mass grave in the historic Bolton Street Cemetery, Wellington.

Dec. 20 1856 Mr John Ingram Shrimpton, died aged 23, published the first number of the 'Lyttelton Times', in the open air. He was the eldest son of Ingram Shrimpton, formerly an eminent printer at Oxford. He was out duck shooting with his brother Walter near the river Ashley. Walter slipped and the gun went off, and the contents lodged in his brother's heart. Walter immediately hurried to Miller's house of accomodation, at the Salt-water Creek, and asked for help. Inquest held before W. Donald, esq. Verdict of "Accidental Death" returned.

Smith, A.A. Printing in Canterbury: A History of Newspapers and Printing Houses of the Province from the Earliest Times. Chch: W&T for the Christchurch Club of Printing House Craftsmen, 1953. First ed. 68pp. 25cm.

• Christchurch City Libraries - Aotearoa New Zealand Centre (New Zealand Collection) Catalogue searchable. Impressive. View the newspaper catalogue in the NZ Room to find which newspapers are available and view the card indexes to locate local information by subject. Ask for booklet 'Guide to Newspapers in the New Zealand Collection'.
  
  McGirr, Val. Shipping strays found in old Grey River Arguses Includes passenger lists for ships which disappeared. Information copied and compiled by Val McGirr and Thelma Forrest from the newspapers held at the Greymouth Public Library. Spine title : Greymouth : shipping strays, 1866-1878
  Greymouth, N.Z. : V. McGirr and T. Forrest, 198-?
  
• Mcmillan Brown Library University of Christchurch. Open to the general public although only members of the university, and graduates may get a borrowing card.
  
• NZSG published Canterbury Public Library Newspaper Index 1987 and Marriages notices- Lyttelton Times1851-1880 on fiche.

Dunedin Repositories

• Hocken Library: Newspapers local and overseas. Friends of the Hocken Collections published a list of Otago-Southland newspapers. Large holding including:
  Sydney Morning Herald 1851-1903
  Illustrated London News 1842-1968; about 75%
  New Zealand Herald (Auckland) 1863-1966; on microfilm
  New Zealand Spectator (Wellington) 1844-1865
  Daily Examiner (Nelson) 1842-1872; about 75%
  The Press (Christchurch) 1861-1966; on microfilm
  fax 03  479 5078 or all enquires
• Otago Settlers Museum: Mallard Newspaper card file.
  E-mail: [email protected] include your snail mail address for a reply
• Dunedin Public Library New Zealand Room: Newspaper index includes Dunedin Star, Evening Star, ODT (1861- m/f) and Otago Witness (1854-1932). They hold other newspapers: The Colonist 1856-1863, The Echo 1869-1883.

Australian Resources - newspapers

• Sydney Morning Herald foundered 1831-. The State Library of NSW (in Sydney), has microfilm rolls of the Sydney Morning Herald, along with copies of several other papers. The papers contain a column or two on shipping news. This is from foreign newspapers, passenger stories, etc. Also: ships arriving, leaving, ready to leave, passengers arriving and leaving, cargo imported & exported, when the mail was leaving, ships sunk, lost, stuck on the mud, sold, bought, races, mutinies, etc. As far as passengers go, only cabin passengers get their names mentioned.  The rest are just a total number.  News on shipping during the two wars was restricted.  Unassisted Immigration to NSW, 1842-1855:  consolidated index compiled from shipping lists & Sydney Morning Herald, 1842-1856 on microfiche. Other facilities have the SMH on film e.g. QLD State Library. The SMH doesn't mention a lot about NZ shipping except maybe as an arrival/departure site or a  newsworthy event such as a wreck.

• Hall, Nick Vine Tracing your family history in Australia,1994 General guide to sources available in Australia for family history research. Has sections for each state e.g. newspapers, passenger arrivals and departures.

• Union List of Newspapers in Australian Libraries

• Trans-Tasman Migration
  Archives of Australia 
  Australian National Library Newspaper Collection  Newspaper Reading Room
  National Library of Australia Catalogue searchable
  Mortlock Library, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide Newspapers
  Australian National Maritime Museum library holds the following newspapers: Sydney Morning Herald (microfilm) 1833-1895   Argus (microfilm) 1846-1895 (Melbourne)  [email protected] Librarian

Victoria Resources

• State Library of Victoria
  328 Swanston Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  Tel: (03) 9669 9825 (general reference and information centre)
  (03) 9669 9810 (weekends and evenings)
  Newspaper Reading Room The Argus has been indexed from 1846 to the 1860's.
• Wood engravings were published in The Illustrated Melbourne Post.
  Argus & Port Phillip Herald Passenger Index 1840 - 1846
  Argus Passenger Index 1846 - 1865 Available from MacBeth Genealogical Service
• Reading Room, Melbourne Archives Centre
  Casselden Place, 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
  Tel: (03) 9285 7999
  PO Box 8005, Burwood Heights VIC 3151
• McBeths Genealogical Services fiche: Victoria migration

Tasmanian Resources

• Tasmanian Pioneer Index
  Archives Office of Tasmanian do have some records which document vessels leaving Tasmania for New Zealand, but it is information scattered throughout Marine Board and Customs Department records, as well as the Ships News columns of daily newspapers. A number of card indexes have been created by Archives Office staff including  a departure index  which includes departures from Launceston and Hobart. The cards have been compiled from several sources - e.g. returns of passengers sent by the Port Officer to the Colonial Secretary, and newspapers.
  Email [email protected]
  Archives Office of Tasmania
  77 Murray Street 
  HOBART 
  Tasmania 
  Australia 7000 
  
• Principal Tasmanian Newspapers
  Hobart Town Advertiser 1839-1862
  Hobart Town Courier 1828-1857
  Hobart Town Gazette 1816-1899
  Tasmanian Mail 1882-1916
  Mercury (Hobart) 1857-present
  Examiner (Launceston) 1842
  Location: Back issues of Tasmanian newspapers can found in the State Reference Library and the Tasmanian Archives in Hobart and some are in the Launceston Library. Derwent Star and Van Diemen's Land Intelligencer started in 1810 and only lasted six months. The archives in Hobart have a card index people arriving and departing Tassie - they are by no means complete. Most newspapers had shipping columns.

Newspaper Extracts

Australian newspapers sometimes reported New Zealand events including ship arrivals, deaths, marriages and births.

Newcastle Courant
20 Aug 1852: Married at Auckland. NZ 18 March 1852 J.C. Blackett third son of the late Sir Edward Blackett, Bart. of Martfen Hall, Norththumberland to Emily Jane Cockcaft second daughter of Major Cockcaft of Her Majesty's 58th Regiment.

_3 Oct 1857 Birth at Wellington, NZ, on July 22 1857, to the wife of his Honor T.E. Featherston MD, Superintendent of the Province Wellington, a son.  (Dr. Isaac Earl Featherson, afterwards first Superintendent of Wellington was the ship surgeon on the 'Olympus' which sailed from Gravesend Dec. 8, 1840 and arrived Port Nicholson on April 20, 1841. Reference: 'White Wings' by Brett )

3 Feb. 1860: Death at sea on the passage to NZ on board the Cashmire, on 29 October 1859, Robert Atkinson, son of Robert Atkinson, late of Sunderland, furniture broker.  Death at sea  on 30 July 1859, Charles Atkinson, son of Robert Atkinson, late of Sunderland. Death at sea  on 29 October, 1859, Isabella Atkinson, wife of Robert Atkinson, late of Sunderland.  (White Wings by Brett mentions "During the passage to Lyttelton in 1859 no less than 16 children, died. The ship 'Cashmere' landed 190.  It was stated that the vessel was overcrowded.")

15 Jan 1858 Married at New Plymouth, NZ, on 29 July 1857 John Carrick, 3rd son of R. Carrick, Croft House, Halthistle, to Anne Oxenham, eldest daughter of T. Oxenham

26 Oct 1860: Birth at New Plymouth, NZ, on 21 July 1860 to the wife of John Carrick, a son.
Reference for the above extract: Ancestors: Quarterly Journal of the Genealogical Society of Victoria Summer 1993/1994

The Lyttelton Times
Wednesday, January 26 1859
Our disappointment at not receiving English mail now due at the time expected is almost as great as ever, in sprite of frequent warnings.  The hope, raised by recent arrangements and some regularity of late has been almost sanguine as ever, that we should not again suffer formally: and the disappointment is proportionate.

The Oneida, by which vessel it appears that the mail was to come to Melbourne, had not arrived in that port on the 14th instant, the day before the Lord Worsley left Sydney.  The Boomerang, by which vessel our mail would be brought to Wellington, seems to have waited for the Onedia, for she had not arrived at her port of destination on the 24th.  She would not probably be long detained, having to provide for her return trip.  It is possible that when she does come she may not even then bring the mail with her: but we must hope otherwise.

The news which we have received is given at some length in our general intelligence. It seems, however, that English news of a date seven days later than our former advices, namely to the 30th of October, had been received at Sydney.  Owing to a hiatus in the Sydney papers received this news has not come to us, except as far as relates to mercantile matters.

Mr. Swell arrived in Melbourne by Royal Charter, and at once plunged into further negotiations on the subject of steam communication, especially turning his attention, it would seem, to Panama route, and urging its adoption upon the Melbourne Government and Chamber of Commence in that town.

Local Intelligence
The Lord Ashley arrived at half past eight last night, bringing a large number of passengers and horses, but without the English mail, the Boomerang not having arrived at Wellington at the time of her departure.

Shipping news
ARRIVED
Jan. 23, schooner Canterbury, 37 tons, Bowton, from Wellington. Passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Olson and family (3), Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Wilson, Miss O'Connell, Messrs., Spencer, Kingsbury, Noaworthy, Graham, Williams, Thompson, Anmer, and Wilson.
Jan. 25, schooner Lucy James, 33 tons, Throp, from Wellington, for the river.
Same day, s.s. White Swan, 191 tons, J. McLean, from Wellington. Passengers, Captain and Mrs. Milton, Dr. Hodgkinson, Dr. Buchanan and son, Mr. and Mrs. Turrell, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. McAlpine, Messers. Kenyon and Hart, and 3 in the steerage.
SAILED
Jan. 24, Thomas and Henry, for Dunedin.
SAILED
Jan 25, s.s. White Swan,  sailed for Otago from Lyttelton, J. McLean (Capt.)
Passengers , Mrs. Hollinshead, servant, and 2 children, Mr. Hodgkinson, Dr. Buchanan, Messers. Kenyon and Chapman, and 4 in the steerage.

IMPORTS
In the Canterbury, T.B. Craig, agent; 4  qr. casks do., 4 packets hops, F.N. Campbell & Co.; 2 hhds. brandy, 4 qr. casks do., whiskey, 1 case Brown & Co.; 6 bales, 1 roll, Cookson, Bowler & Co. 4 bales sacks, Armstrong, 1 parcel Greeson; 3 cases Nathan; 1 cask Henries; 1 case, Davis; 2 sofas, Miles, Kington & Co.; 3 tons limestone, 3500 bricks, 8 parcels, porter, Order.
In the Lucy James, Master, agent; 3 bundles bags, Miles, Kington & Co.;  1 reaping machine, Dalgety Co., 1 qr. cask, 1 sofa, Order.
In the White Swan Dalgety, Buckley & Co. agents; shipped at Manakan: 4 horses, order. Shipped at New Plymouth: 1 case, 5 bags, seed, Order. Shipped at Nelson: 10 trunks boots, Turwell; 1 bale, Moss.  Shipped at Wellington: 10 tons flour, 4 horses, 7 coils rope, Order.

LIST OF PASSENGERS PER STRATHALLAN

The Ariel, from Melbourne, arrived in Wellington on the 18th, and left for this port on the 22nd.
The Dart, which left on the 29th Dec, arrived in Sydney on the 14th inst.
The Lion was to sail for this port direct from Sydney, on the 15 instant.
The Lord Worsley left Sydney on the evening of the 15th instant and arrived Nelson on the 21st, making another smart run of 51/2 days.  At that time of her departure the Oneida had not arrived Melbourne with the English mails.
The ship Equator, from London, arrived in Wellington on the 20th.
The Nourmahal cleared for London from Sydney on the 14th.

The Lyttelton Times
Wednesday, December 7, 1859
ENGLISH SHIPPING
Nine vessels are on the list as having sailed from London and other ports for New Zealand in the month of August. Among them is the 'Lyttelton,' described as of 49 tons, indicating the coasting steamer built for the Canterbury Steam Navigation Company. The whole measurement of the boat including the engine room, is, we believe, about 130 tons. Of the commencement of the voyage we are informed that " The Lyttelton, Coleman, of and from London, for Lyttelton, N.Z. put into Ramagate, Aug. 31, for more canvas." We learn, further that she left again on the 13th September, and is, therefore, 80 days out. She need not be expected very quickly.
On Sept. 5th, the Golconda sailed from the Downs for Nelson; on the 7th, the Nimroud, for Auckland
The ships loading for New Zealand on 17th Sept. are as follows:-
For Auckland: Jura, African, and Frenchman
For Canterbury: The Roman Emperor, Lamprell, and John Lawson, Bice
For Otago: Bosworth, and Ambroaine
For Wellington and Hawkes Bay: Wild Duck
For Wellington and Canterbury: Viscount Sandon
For Wellington and Nelson: Robert Small
From Liverpool for Auckland, &c.: The Shalimar cleared on the 12th Sept.
The Gloucester, Hiate, from Otago, June 3rd, arrived off Portland on 16th Sept.
The Burmah, belonging to Messrs. Willis, Gann and Co.'s New Zealand line, left St. Katherine's Dock on August 26 for New Zealand. She takes out the following valuable selection of thorough-bred horses and cattle, the largest ever shipped at one time: : Blood stock....
The Royal Bride screw steamer, 2000 tons burden, from Bristol for Melbourne, with passengers and a general cargo, arrived in Queenstown on the 28th August and steamed opposite Glenbrook, where she cast anchor for the purpose of taking on additional passengers and cargo. She is the first of a contemplated line of steamers between Bristol and Melbourne, which will make Cork a port of call. Most of her passengers accommodation having been engaged at Bristol, she received only 20 passengers at Queenstown-including five first class, being all she had room for; and about 300 tons of goods, including 2300 firkins of butter. She sailed again in a few days. Home News.

The Times, Saturday, Jun 04, 1831; pg. 5
The Emma, of Chepstow, Oliver Chapman, master, arrived at Poole last week, having on board a young man, about 24 years of age, the son of a chief of one of the Southern islands of New Zealand, who was delivered to the captain to bring to England, by Henry Parkinson, Esq., British Consul at Babia. This young man took his passage in the brig Volutia, of Glasgow, bound to London, for the express purpose of having an interview with the British King; but that vessel was unfortunately wrecked on the Bar of the River Francisco, about 150 miles north of Bahia; he, together with the master and crew were brought to Babia, but this young man (not being a British subject) remained with Mr Parkinson for three months. The young man is greatly tattooed, very muscular, rather stout, and about five feet five inches high.

The Times, Monday, Jun 13, 1831
The ship City of Edinburgh, J.R. Clendon, commander arrived at Gravesend on Friday last, from New Zealand, having on board two native chiefs and three attendants. They are very handsomely tattooed and strong and well made men. They state of their object of their visit to England is "to see all the white people, and have a talk with the great King, the bare mention of whose name Captain Clendon has found of infinite importance in trading with them."

The Melbourne Age Oct 17, 1854
Vessels laid on at the Port of London for New Zealand:
August:
    Polar Star: Auckland, and New Plymouth
    Monsoon: Nelson and Wellington
    Royal Stuart: Canterbury, Wellington and New Plymouth
    Pudsley Dawson: Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury and Otago

September:
    Simlah: Wellington and Nelson
    Josephine Willis: Auckland

Timaru Herald Wednesday 7th Dec. 1870 Latest Australian News
The Bluff, Dec. 4
The Tararua, Hagley, commander, left Melbourne on Nov. 29 and arrived at the Bluff at 12 on Dec. 4. She has 21 chief and 39 steerage passengers, the Southland portion of the English mail, 323 tons cargo, and 42 horses. The Tararua leaves for Dunedin today.  Passenger list: For Dunedin -

Clapperton 	Mr
Gidney 		Mr
Greig 		Mr
Greig 		Mrs
Muir 		Mr
Peake 		Mr J.F.
Paterson 	Mr
Pittman 		Mr
Smith 		Mrs
30 steerage, 160 tons cargo and 42 horses.
For Northern ports -
Garwood 	Mr 
Loughnan 	Mr
Louisson 	Mr
Templer 	Mr
White 		Mrs
White 		Miss and Master
Wood 		Mr
9 steerage and about 120 tons of cargo.

Otago Witness May 30 1874 page 3 column 4
English Shipping  London
Arrived - March 22nd, Excelsior, from Napier; 29th Adamante, from Lyttelton
Sailed -
24th Halcione, with 337 immigrants; 26th Caroline, for Otago, with 350 immigrants (from Queenstown); 
28th Hindostan, for Otago, with 344 immigrants;
29th Stonehouse, for Canterbury, with 43 immigrants, Peeress, for Timaru, with 260 immigrants; Carts Burn (from Glasgow) for Otago with 310 immigrants'
April 7, Atrato, for Otago and Canterbury, with 400 immigrants.

Star, Christchurch Wednesday 28 June 1881 page 3
Arrival of "Orari" at Home
The NZ Shipping Co. have received a telegram from London announcing the arrival of their ship Orari on 28 June after a passage of 80 days. This is the ship in which W.W. CHARTERS went home.

 Star, Christchurch, Saturday 21 December 1889 page 3
Homeward Bound - STARKY
Mr G.B. Starky owner of Brackenfield, near Amberley, left Christchurch last night for a sojourn in the old Colony. He departed from Lyttelton in the Hauroto. After staying in Australia a short time he leaves Melbourne for London on the s.s. Valetta.

A returned Colonist - Joseph Ives
Mr Joseph Ives and his family returned to Christchurch last night after having made a prolonged stay in Victoria.

The Times, Friday, Mar 09, 1877; pg. 10
Ship Thomasina Maclellan, of Glasgow, Official No. 68,058, bound on a voyage from London for Otago. Smoke issuing from the forward hatch. Cargo consisted of 800 kegs of gunpowder and it was decided to throw the kegs overboard. The vessel put into Rio de Janeiro in distress July 31 1876.

The name Gazelle appears to apply to several ships in Sydney at the time. e.g.. a brig and another schooner. This vessel mentioned traded between Sydney and Auckland.  There were sometimes a dozen or so ships arriving at & leaving Sydney each day at this period, some for the South Seas fishing area, some trading up and down the Australian coast, others going to various American, Asian and Pacific island ports, and to European ports, via The Panama Canal and via The Suez Canal.  

Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday November 10 1857 (Page 10)
Arrivals - October 15
Gazelle, schooner, 212 tons, Captain P. Jones, from Auckland 28th   September; 12 passengers.
                  
SMH Thursday December 10 1857
December 9. - Gazelle, schooner, 212 tons, Captain Jones, from Auckland 27th November.
Passengers - Mr and Mrs Reynolds, Miss Cohen, Mr and Mrs J Stewart 2 sons, Mr and Mrs Shepherd, Messrs. Scanlan, Brown, Barton, and 3 in the steerage.   Laidley, Ireland, and Co. Agents.
Imports - December 9. -  Gazelle, from Auckland: 33,000 feet timber, Laidley, Ireland and  Co.; 800 bags gum, W. and P. Paul; 78 bags gum, A.S. Webster; 4   bales wool, Gillfillan and Co.; 489 bags gum, 67 hides, Order.
Custom House -The fine clipper schooner Gazelle, Captain P. Jones, arrived yesterday, having sailed from Auckland November 27th, called off Wangaroa on the 28th, and embarked two passengers. Experienced fine weather during the passage. Sighted the brig Gertrude, Dunning, from Auckland, bound to Hobart Town, of Wangaroa. The brig Gertrude, Captain Grange, was to sail for Sydney, on the 5th November.

                    *************************

Auckland arrivals: November 16. - Gazelle, from Sydney.
Auckland Departures: November 22. - The Gazelle, from Sydney, came up the harbour in gallant style, walking over the first of the ebb at a single board. She is in first rate order, the very "moral" of what a packet and passenger ship ought to be, - her accommodations being lean, comfortable, and well arranged. We heartily wish that Auckland  had a few more such craft, and then we think the complaints of our postal no-service would be few and far between. As an instance of the celerity with which the engineers of Sydney execute an order, it may be worth while to notice the arrival of large Cornish boiler, 18 feet long, 5 feet diameter, and of 20  horse power, which occupied no small portion of the Gazelle's hold, and which is intended for Messrs. Henderson and  Macfarlane's saw mill. In six days after this order had been in their hands, this boiler  was executed and turned out for shipment by the Messrs. Russell of Sydney. - New Zealander, 17th November.

The Wellington Independent, Nov 24. 1863
Arrived Wellington. Nov. 21 1863, John Bunyan, ship, 520 tons, Allan, from London. Passengers per ship John Bunyan, from London. Rev. Mr Muir, Mrs Muir, and two children, Miss Emily Hobson, Rev. F. Humphries, Messrs H.B. Smith, W. and B. Cazally. 

The Star 30th March 1889
Albany, March 29th
Arrived - P. and O. Company's Victoria; Passengers for New Zealand. The Earl and Countess of Onslow and two ladies, Lord Cranley, Messrs Fullerton, Smallbones, Smith, Johnson, Garland, Walrond, Saville, Perceval and wife, Rev. Mr Smith-Wilson and wife, Colonel and Mrs Williams, Miss Freekhart and Mrs Stephenson.

Timaru Herald 7 Oct. 1893  page 3
Albany, 6 Oct. Arrived - Britannia from Plymouth. Passengers for New Zealand - Mrs Donaldson, Messrs Toshosh, Rusfort, Anderson and Berne.

The Illustrated London News
First published 14 May, 1842. Copies of microfilms are widely available throughout the United States and the Commonwealth. Try interlibrary loan service to obtain the appropriate volumes. Also available in bound volumes at certain libraries.

March 4, 1876.

"During the months of December and January the following vessels carrying emigrants left for the Government of New Zealand:-
     In December, the 'Waipa', from London for Wellington, with 215 passengers: the 'Wellington', from Glasgow for Otago, with 50: the 'Gutenburg', from Hamburg for Wellington, with 164.
     In January, the 'Fernglen', from London for Nelson, Westland, and Marlborough with 189: the 'Countess of Kintore' and the 'Caitloch', from London for Canterbury, with 183 and 23 respectively; and the 'Pomona', from Glasgow for the Bluff, with 164. The total emigration for New Zealand in these two months was therefore 979 persons. The following vessels which carried emigrants for the Government of New Zealand have arrived in that colony:- the 'Hudson',' Otaki', 'Corona', 'Rangitiki', 'Jessie Osbourne', and 'Hurunnui'."

Dec. 8, 1877

"The following vessels dispatched by Sir James Vogel, Agent-General for New Zealand, in the months of July and August, with emigrants for that colony, are reported to have arrived safely at their destinations:-
   The 'Waldron', the 'Otaki', the 'Rataura', the 'Rangitiki', and the 'Marlborough'. A letter dated Oct.1, lat. 19.30 S., long. 27.0 W., has been received from the Surgeon-General of the ship 'Waitara', which vessel left Plymouth with emigrants on Aug. 24, stating that the voyage had been a safe one, and that all on board were well."

In the days when mail was carried by sailing ship, it was common procedure to send duplicate copies by different ships to increase the chance of the information arriving safely. Masters of sailing vessels calling at NZ ports were required to sign a declaration. 'I ... have delivered all public dispatches, letters, parcels, newspapers, and all Post Office mails and letters, both in parcels and loose, which were on board my vessel.'

Newspaper preservation 
1) Make sure there is a copy taken of the paper. This is best achieved by microfilming it.
2) At all times it is important to keep the paper flat and out of light. DO NOT photocopy it.
3) You can purchase an acid free folder.

Dennis Hardin, head, Preservation Imaging Department, Indiana Historical Society Library suggestions: Newspapers printed in the 1800's maybe made of  "rag" paper which contains cotton and linen fibers much like an everyday dollar bill.  It is a much more stable material than later newspapers (after about 1890) when modern "newsprint" was developed using wood fibers.  If your paper is folded up, you should flatten it out, even using an ordinary steam iron to eliminate creases.   Use medium steam and medium-high heat as you would to iron a handkerchief.   Once the paper is flat, you should decide if you want to display the paper or (better for the paper) to simply store it safely.  For display purposes, you might use sheets of mylar to make an envelope big enough to fit the entire paper inside, with full front page showing.  Use double-sided tape to adhere the mylar sheets together at the edges, leaving a little breathing room at the corners (in other words, don't make your envelope completely air-tight).  Panes of glass work OK too if you want to mount it in a frame. If the paper needs cleaning from soot etc, get a document cleaning pad from an art supply store.  Rub the pad gently over the dirty areas, then brush away the eraser-like residue. The paper should be as clean as possible before you encase it.  If you want to simply store it safely, go ahead and clean and iron as before.  We use 20" x 25" cardboard sheets to sandwich the papers, then wrap them in brown kraft paper.  The most important thing is to keep the paper out of the heat, light and damp.  It should last you a very long time with little or no further deterioration.

 "home papers please copy" but with a city name. May mean that part of the family still lived in that city, or have returned to the UK and lived there.

Shipboard  Newspapers

Newspapers or weekly magazines were often published aboard ship to amuse the passengers.  Immigrant vessels came out with printing presses e.g. 'Randolph'  Some papers were handwritten. Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin 'Ships Box' collection includes newspapers from these emigrant voyages: Aboukir (1862), Alpine (1859), Jessie Redman (1883), Monowai (1901), Morning Light (1866)

Vessel	Arrival port	Masthead	Year	Remarks
Benares	Otago	Benares Ocean Chronicle	1878
British Empire	Lyttelton	British Empire Gazette	1864	Nat. Lib. AUS. Canberra  voyage
Charlotte Jane	Lyttelton	Sea Pie	1850	also The Cockroach
Duke of Portland	Lyttelton	The Portland Gazette	1851	Alexander Turnbull Library
Edward P. Bouverie	Port Chalmers	The Bouverie Emigrant	1868	by Mr S.C. Brown, weekly 9th Nov. 1867 -25 Jan. 1868, 58 pages
Evening Star		Evening Star
H.M. Troopship Gymeric	South Africa	The Gymeric Times	1900
Hereford	Lyttelton	Hereford Times	1879
Howarh	Nelson	Howarh Weekly Times	1876	Wellington Maritime Museum
India	Lyttelton	The Times of India	1902	Canterbury Museum
John Wickliffe	Port Chalmers	Otago Pioneer	1848
Lord Auckland	Nelson	Lord Auckland Journal	1841	?weekly
Matilda Wattenbach	Auckland	Albertland Gazette	1862	two issues online  On Papers Past
Mataura	Bluff	The Mataura Herald	1877	State Archives  W.A.
Mokoia	Europe	Mokoian	1914	Troopship - departed Auckland
Montmorency	Napier	Record	1867
Otago	Port Chalmers	Otago Gazette	1874
Piakio	Lyttelton	Piako Gazette	1877	edited by Mr Whitcombe
Piakio	Lyttelton	Saturday Review	1877	edited by Mr McNeale
Randolph	Lyttelton	Masthead	1850
Royal Stuart	Lyttelton	The Ocean Mail	1854	Canterbury Museum
Samarang	Lyttelton	The Sootie Sammy	1852	Alexander Turnbull Library
Southesk	Lyttelton	Southesk Weekly News	1879	Canterbury Public Library
Waimate	Lyttelton	Waimate Gazette	1876	Nat. Library of AUS, searchable
Waitangi	Lyttelton	Waitangi Tribune	1876	Canterbury Museum donated by Mr E.T. Reece.
Whitby	Nelson	Whitby Times	1841
Zealandia	Wellington	The Zealandia Times	1877

Southland Times, 18 January 1875, Page 2
A copy of "The May Queen Weekly News," a newspaper published on board the May Queen during her last outward voyage, has been forwarded to us by Captain Tatchell. It consists of sixteen columns, the contents of which comprise 'leaders', advertisements, correspondence, notices to correspondents, of Sunday services and vessels spoken; charades, 'poetry,' and critiques on theatrical entertainments.

Otago Witness, 12 December 1874, Page 14
There has been brought under our notice a novel publication, entitled the May Queen Weekly News, which it may be inferred from its name, is a paper that was brought out in M.S. form, of course, on board the ship May Queen during her passage from England. Our marine contemporary that was, is an amusing little paper much given to poetry and witticisms and home reminiscences, with, at the same time, a happy inclination to regard coleur de rose everything south of the Equator. There are some good things in the May Queen Weekly News, not the least noticeable of which is "A Nautical Incident" Copies of the paper can be obtained at Mr Wise's establishment.

Otago Witness,  17 June 1876, Page 21 The Riddler.
414. Charade.  J.C. sends us the following Charade, which he says was published in the May Queen Weekly News, on the passage from London to Otago : 
1st. Sir, I enclose my little bill,
Due Christmas last and owing still;
If you don't pay my just demands,
I'll place it in my lawyer's hands.

2nd. We are twenty- six in family,
Look out for the fifth, and you'll see me.

3rd. They are squigeeing the decks,
And the pigs are all squeaking,
The crew are all tumbling about overhead,
They are making such a row one can't hear oneself speaking,
What's the use of attempting to stay in one's bed.

Whole.
" My own romantic town," sang Scott,
" Our new colonial town," sing we, "
The city where we cast our lot,
And one we hope once more to see."

Dun-e-din = Dunedin

Timaru Herald, 11 January 1898, Page 2
Mr Leggott, quite an old identity of Timaru, has shown us a curiosity in the shape of copies of a newspaper, The Greyhound Chronicle, published in February, 1865. The "copy" for the paper was written on the voyage of the ship Greyhound, and each MS. day's paper carefully bound, and on arrival at Christchurch the whole was printed and distributed among the passengers. The daily record is interesting reading, the short articles dealing with the voyage, the medical officer's report, astronomy, correspondence on various matters, poetry, humourous paragraphs, etc. Mr Leggott, who was a passenger by the ship, assures us that the paper was eagerly looked for, and helped time to pass very pleasantly. [available through the ATL, Wellington, interlibrary loan]

Otago Witness, 21 June 1900, Page 30 THE GYMERIC TIMES,
Mrs Black, of Dunedin, has received from her son, Corporal Black, of the fifth contingent, an interesting memento of the voyage of the Gymeric to South Africa namely, the newspaper published on board. This journal, which is .styled the "Gymeric Times," consists of 15 pages of foolscap, "printed" by means of a cyclostyle. It was edited by Mr A. C. Morton, and the published price was 6d a copy. The contents are varied and decidedly good. With the events of the voyage our readers are already familiar. Among the contents were some articles giving good advice to troopers about their health and conduct. From the frequent compliments paid to the officers and crew, the supercargo, and others, it is apparent that the best of feeling existed. The provisions are said to have been, on the whole, excellent. It appears that the Gymeric Times came very near to not seeing the light at all. Some troopers in search of a target came across the case containing the printing apparatus, and believing- it to be empty, were about to consign it to the deep to serve a-s a mark for bullets, when one of the staff of the journal arrived and rescued it.

Otago Witness, 13 September 1905, Page 29
A committee meeting of the Otago Early Settlers' Association, held in the office of the association on Monday evening, was attended by Messrs John Duthie (in the chair), Duke, Brenner, Brown, Ferens, McIndoe, Proudfoot (treasurer), and Langlands (secretary). Votes of thanks were passed as follows: To Mr Henry L. James (Jockey Club) for a quarterly-bound volume Otago Witness from October till December, 1859, and for 26 well bound and -well-preserved half-yearly volumes of the Witness from January, 1890, till December, 1902, a most generous gift, increasing in value as the years roll on; to Mr W. Farquhair Young (telegraphist) for 11 single copies of the Witness dated April 15. 1862, and April 18, 25, 1863, May 9, 25, 30, June 6, 13, 26, and July 4 and 11, 1863  a very welcome addition to the collection of early history.
No doubt there are many loose copies of the Witness from 1851 and through the sixties still in existence, and the committee would gratefully receive the presentation of all such With a view to forming a complete series, and would also be glad of a few copies of the Otago Journal, published in Edinburgh in 1848, 1849, and 1850, to make up the set of eight originally published; to Mr Peter Dick (watchmaker) for The Alpine, a newspaper published on board that vessel, which arrived here from Glasgow on September 9, 1859, edited by Mr James McIndoe who has just passed away, and by him, presented to Mr Dick, a fellow passenger, an early record of events on board was the birth of a son to Mrs John Black, to be named John Alpine Crawford Cochrane Black, and one feels anxious to know if the little stranger was able to carry such a weight of names or was ultimately crushed by them ; it would also be interesting to know if correspondents who wrote under the names of " Renfrewshire," "Vulcan, 'Alexander Begg, " An Inhabitant of the Lower Region," and others, are still in our midst, there is also a copy of a largely-signed protest from passengers to the captain against the filth prevalent on board, caused principally by pigs being allowed to run loose on deck, and against not receiving their proper allowance of stores (with regard to this court proceedings were taken after landing, and heavy fines inflicted on the captain; particulars can be seen in office ; to Mr Whitelaw, Dunedin, for four views of Hokitika river and town.

Evening Post, 2 September 1895, Page 2
We have received a copy of "The Gothic Gossip," a newspaper published on board the Gothic on her last homeward voyage. It was edited by Canon Diggons, aided by a sub-editor and an assistant sub-editor, and the Rev. L. M. Isitt and Mr. P. P. Peireon wore the publishers. It is full of amusing, interesting, and instructive matter, and its issue must have helped to wile away the tedium of the voyage most agreeably.

Bibliography | NZ  History

Letters

Every day brings a ship,
Every ship brings a word;
Well for those who have no fear,
Looking seaward well assured
That the word the vessel brings
Is the word they wish to hear.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1867

June 30 1909 The Times
The Lyttelton Times, a leading Government organ says that there is no surer bond of Empire that the cheap and rapid telegraphic service.

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