Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 167

Transcript

As newcomers run away with the idea that Mr William Reeves, sire of Mr W.P. was the founder of the Lyttelton Times, it may be as well to say that the paper was established some time after the arrival of the first ships by Mr Shrimpton a printer, and Mr J.E. Fitzgerald. It after passed into the hands of Mr Crosbie Ward and his brother. About 1860, Mr W. Reeves joined Mr Ward and became Ward & Reeves. Mr Reeves did not arrive in Canterbury till 56/7. Essayed farming at Rangiora, not a success. Then tried draying and carrier business from Heathcote to Christchurch, from the small craft that then unloaded there. From that he drifted into newspapers.

The Press was founded about 1860/1 by Mr J.E. Fitzgerald and the party opposed to the Moorhouse clique. It was first printed in a wooden cottage, still standing in Montreal St, then removed (I think) to Waterlow’s old sausage shop (Aiken & Roberts) and finally to its present stand. Mr Fitzgerald was the Editor until he became Auditor General and there is no doubt, whatever, that there was some exceedingly smart writing in it, for Fitz, as he was called, was a master hand. Sarcasm, irony, humour, fun & fancy, all were fish to him.

Every now and then he seized hold of some local affair, it may be some thing of no great importance but he played round it and invested it with funny interest. Coker & Ell, butchers, advertised “Wanted, a butcher for slaughtering” that was delightful – such a text. Then the Green Grocer – Jack Elmes, had got into the meshes of Ike Raphael and percentages came out. The comments were racy and strong.

Willm. Reeves fifties