Page:Early struggles of the Australian press.djvu/44

EARLY STRUGGLES OF THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS. 37 A change in the conduct of the Paper was declared August 30th: "John Campbell Macdougal most respectfully begs to acquaint his friends and the Public that he has purchased the Tasmanian Press and printing materials from Mr. G. T. Howe. In looking round, and perceiving the Hobart Town Gazette on one hand, a Government organ; and, on the other, the Colonial Times, an opposition newspaper, we will endeavour to walk on steadily in a middle course, divested of all party motives."

January 4th, 1828, opened with a full-sized demy, m four pages of four columns, having thirty-seven advertisements. Bearing in mind the motto of the Paper—"In necessary things, Unity; in non-essentials, Liberty; in all things, Charity"—the conductor declared himself "averse to the unceasingly, week after week, coming forward with complaint upon complaint, placing in the most prominent point of view everything which could by possibility be construed into subject of reprehension, or turning and twisting into party views and party prejudices." He laments "the punishment of the Stamp Act, which fell equally on friend and foe, and which could not but be particularly severely felt at the commencement of our own undertaking."

The Tasmanian, mainly because it refused to believe the colonial rulers worse than ordinary men, and incapable of either thinking or acting for the welfare of the people, was ever the subject of derision and violent attack from the Colonial Times.

Murray's Austral-Asiatic Review had been advertised in the Paper of January to appear in February; but the issue of January 16th, 1829, appeared as the Tasmanian and Austral-Asiatic Review, with this notification: "By the change of the appellation and in the imprimatur of this journal, our Readers will perceive that the expectation we held out to them in our last has been realised. There are now three weekly newspapers in this little island, and we believe a fourth is about to come into existence at Launceston. This journal will be conducted in the manner which those connected with it may consider, to the best of their humble judgments, to be the best calculated to advance the prosperity of the land we live in."

One shilling in price, it was about 15 inches in size, with eight pages of three columns, and under the care of R. L. Murray and J. C. Macdougal. Under that combination of appellations, the Paper continued till January 7th, 1831. Then, as edited and published by Robert L. Murray, but printed by Henry Melville, it appeared each Saturday evening as the Tasmanian and Southern Literary and Political Journal. There was some enlargement of size. Though its first number had seventy-eight advertisements, a fourth were copied from the Government Gazette.

At the end of 1831, the Editor felt himself obliged from ill-health to resign, though intending to re-establish his Austral-Asiatic Review, "combining the advantages of a newspaper with the more detailed discussion of a magazine." As the Review, it long flourished as a Paper of excellent position, though regarded with no friendly feeling by those who came under its severe criticism. It was very severe upon the Governor and Lady Franklin in 1843. It had previously been on Colonel Arthur's side.

Mr. John Fawkner's Launceston Adveriser was a friend to the Hobart Tasmanian. In November, 1829, the conductor of the former declared this of the latter: "It is the leading journal of Van Diemen's Land. The proprietors have announced that it will be published twice a week; we are glad of this, we shall be proud to see it published seven times a week." Its motto was, "Open to all parties—influenced by none." In 1838 the Tasmanian had eight small pages.

This was the first enduring Newspaper of Launceston, the northern capital of the Island. It was established by John Fawkner, afterwards known as John Pascoe Fawkner, who erected the first business place on the banks of the Yarra Yarra. Hotel Keeper in Tasmania and Port Phillip, entirely self-taught, endowed with singular force of character, though with a feeble and diminutive frame, he ultimately became a Senator of Melbourne. His impulsive energy, and Bedouin-like combativeness, were as conspicuous in his Paper of 1829, as they were thirty years after, in the Victorian Parliament. His younger days, passed under the most unfavourable circumstances, were followed by those of usefulness and honor. His love of books was shown in his early tavern-lending library, and in the magnificent private collection of literature he formed in his advanced years.

The first volume of his Paper, now seen at the British Museum, was formerly owned by the primitive printer, A. Bent, whose name is written on its first page. The first number, appearing on February 9th, 1829,—was about an inch larger than an ordinary sheet of foolscap. It was thus presented.—"Tasmania: Printed and Published by the Proprietor, John Fawkner, Junr., Launceston, Van Diemen's Land."

Its first column was headed by an advertisement of "Fawkner's Hotel, Cameron Street." He therein named his Circulating Library, which vas stated to contain six works by Opie, five by Mrs. Radcliffe, two by Lady Morgan, one by Smollet, Hutchinson's Memoirs, Peregrine Pickle, Attic Fragments, &c. Each of the four pages had three columns. The paper was bad in colour, and the type was old; but the issue bore a tidy appearance. The introduction, conveying the proprietor's ideas, not altogether his language, was as follows:—"Labouring under numerous disadvantages, we feel exceeding diffidence in introducing to the public this (our first) number of the Launceston Advertiser; but, when we consider that time alone can surmount the difficulties which invariably attend a new undertaking, and that these difficulties will be allowed for, and considered by a generous public, we confess we feel our confidence encouraged. The primary object that we have in view is, to disseminate interesting intelligence, commercial information, pleasing instruction and profitable recreation. Harmony is the motto of the Launceton Advertiser, whose pages shall never be prostituted to scurrility, calumny, sycophancy, or disaffection; nor shall they be made the vehicle of slander, malice, and party feeling. For we conceive it the imperative duty of a public journalist, rather to promote good-will and fellowship, than to fan the flame of animosity, by suffering personal attacks of the malevolent to invade these columns, which ought to be dedicated alone to subjects harmless, useful and interesting to the community. But let us not be understood, by these our remarks, to exclude from our pages fair and temperate discussion upon events, and measures of public importance. British and Foreign news will occupy a considerable portion of our paper, when it does not interfere with the insertion of local intelligence; in which case, such extracts only will be given, as tend directly to the interest or welfare of Tasmania."

There was a start with twenty-four advertisements. These were paid for at the rate. of 3s. 6d. to subscribers, or 5s. to outsiders, for eight lines, with 3d. a line over that amount. Subscription was fixed at two guineas a year. It was said to be "Printed by J. Fawkner, Junr.;" as his father was still living in Hobart. Bread was then 16d, per quartern,—"left to the discretion of a mercenary