The Bathurst Free Press published poetry by colonial authors under the column banner 'Original Poetry' and reprinted poetry from overseas poets, e.g. Eliza Cook. Includes Miscellaneous extracts and anecdotes reprinted from other sources e.g. Punch. It's major focus was on political policy at home and abroad.
The first page of the first issue of the Bathurst Free Press a 'Note to Subscribers' informs readers that: 'Subscribers to the Bathurst Advocate will learn, we trust without dissatisfaction, that the property has changed hands, as well as title. It occurs to us, as a very fortunate circumstances connected with our present position that we are permitted to speak for ourselves in the plural, rather than the singular number.'
The note continues: ' We shall not affect to be the very "Heralds" of every new-born event, nor to pretend to insinuate that our sources of information are more numerous and authentic than those of the London Times. It will be our principal ambition to be useful without obtrusiveness - entertaining without coarseness - liberal without licentiousness and consistent without obstinacy.'
The editor continues by indicating that literary matters will not be a focus: 'In the selection of our matter, a decided preference will at all times be given to subjects of a local description, and the space occasionally devoted by other journals to the fictions of novel writers, will be occupied by something of a more substantial and profitable character. We do not by any means wish to depreciate a taste for this species of literature, but can scarcely agree in opinion with those who consider the columns of a newspaper as improved by its details.'
The editorial further states (and this is of interest as Farrand, the editor, also reports as Secretary of the Bathurst races): 'Sporting intelligence will prove at all times highly acceptable, and any accurate narrative of such occurrences will entitle the reporter to our very best acknowledgements.'
Initially a weekly newspaper, the editor expressed the hope that 'we shall be enabled ere long, to come out, at least twice a week'.
In 1851, when gold was discovered in the Bathurst District, the newspaper changed its title to the Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal and concentrated on reporting mining intelligence and news from the 'diggings'. During this period there is very little literary content.
A reader who signed himself 'A Cornish Miner' wrote to the editor (published 23 November 1850 p.6) to complain about the publication of original poetry in the newspaper: 'Our mining or any other interests which have a tendency to develope (sic) the resources of this ultra-montane [sic] district should take precedence, in your valuable journal, of old-womanish twaddle or poetical stupidity'.
The Bathurst Advocate
Benjamin Isaacs
(editor),
Bathurst
:
B. Isaacs
,
1848-1849
Z1617275
1848-1849
newspaper
(70 issues)
Publishes poetry, and occasionally prose, by colonial authors often under the banner of 'Original Poetry' as well as verse, presumably reprinted from other sources, under the plain title 'Poetry'. Includes extracts from overseas established authors eg Charles Dickens; re-told anecdotes from America and Europe.
On the first page of the first issue of The Bathurst Advocate, published 5 February 1848, Benjamin Isaacs, the publisher, printer and sole proprietor of the newspaper, sets out his 'Prospectus' thus: 'In this enlightened age and Colony, it seems desirable that so large, wealthy, and respectable a portion of the community as are settled in and around Bathurst, should be regularly supplied with a vehicle for the general diffusion of knowledge, communication of sentiment, and interchange of ideas. Nor can the Proprietor of 'THE BATHURST ADVOCATE' anticipate aught but encouragement, to a plan which will afford the Inhabitants of this populous District, the means of registering local events relating to their own and other Districts, and furnishing some useful and interesting information respecting passing events in this Colony, as well as those connected with it. The Proprietor of 'The Bathurst Advocate' will spare no pains or expense to furnish his Subscribers with the earliest news; he proposes occasionally, to give selections from the most esteemed writers, as well as literary and other articles from the British, Foreign and Colonial newspapers, and to add an accurate compendium of the most material political intelligence, local, foreign and domestic - a correct Price Current; a register of Shipping, together with a list of Births, Marriages and Deaths. With respect to Politics, the Proprietor begs sincerely to ensure the Inhabitants that 'THE BATHURST ADVOCATE' shall maintain an independent position, and shall never become the Tool of a Party, but whilst its columns shall be ever opened to every temperate expression of opinion on the various subjects of colonial policy, he is determined to pursue the true principles of independence, and as far as possible, endeavour to protect the best interests of the District.'
On the second page of the first issue, in a column, titled 'To Our Readers', Issacs writes that: 'He is fully aware that many entertain a notion, that a newspaper published in Bathurst may be come a vehicle for disseminating personalities and slander, causing ill-feeling and endless squabbles. The proprietor, however, pledges himself, that the columns of his paper shall, on no occasion, be open to personalities, except in cases of great flagrancy, and that he will not suffer himself to be made a cats-paw of for the gratification of private pique, or ill-feeling.' Unfortunately for Isaacs, the sentiments expressed in his opening address to his readers proved not to be the case. A poem 'Jack Crib and His Family Crew' published in the 26 May 1849 issue of the newspaper was the cause of a successful libel case brought against Benjamin Isaacs as the publisher of The Bathurst Advocate by Mr Davies the chief constable of Bathurst. On 27 September 1849 the court found Isaacs guilty of publishing certain libels in The Bathurst Advocate defamatory to the character of Mr Davies. Isaacs was sentenced to two months gaol, fined forty pounds and one shilling, and bound over to keep the peace for 12 calendar months. The court case led to the demise of the The Bathurst Advocate (the final issue published on 29 September 1948) and the formation of The Bathurst Free Press.
The Bathhurst Free Press published weekly on Saturdays from 6 October 1848 to 24 May 1851.
The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal published on Wednesday and Saturday between 28 May 1851 and 10 July 1852, then weekly on Saturdays thereafter.
The Bathurst Free Press: Six shillings per quarter, payable in advance. Single numbers, sixpence.
The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal: Eight shillings per quarter until 31 Dec 1951, then ten shillings per quarter or nine shillings if paid in advance until 21 August 1852 when the subscription is reduduced to seven shillings per quarter. Single numbers, sixpence.
On 28 May 1851 the Bathurst Free Press changed its name to the Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, increased the price of subscription, and changed the publication frequency. For a short time the number of pages printed per week remained the same. The 8 page weekly newspaper became a 4 page biweekly publication. By 12 July 1851 the Saturday edition had 8 pages, the Wednesday edition 4 pages.
On page two of 28 May 1851 edition the editor writes: 'The pressing demands for early intelligence from the Gold Country have induced the proprietor of the "FREE PRESS" to publish a single sheet twice a week from the present time, instead of a weekly double sheet as hitherto'.
By January 1852 both the Wednesday and Saturday were four-page issues. The editor, on page 2 of 21 December 1851 issue, referred to the 'altered shape' of the paper 'without preface or apology' due to 'the uncertainty which pervades all things cismontane since the Bathurst District was discovered to be a Gold Field'. On 17 July 1852 the paper, once again, became a weekly publication issued on Saturdays.
Hilton Fernbrook, part-Maori and orphaned heir of Colonel Fernbrook returns from five years abroad to his ancestral home and wealth. His fiancee Lady Blanche Trevor feels he has changed as do the old Maori servants who raised him but his rich hospitality convinces NZ society. He is, in reality, an expert mesmerist and an escaped convict who uses music and the power of his will to overcome the mind of his beautiful Maori ward Te Coro and use her as his visionary oracle. Other characters include the poor but latterly successful writer Alton Lyndhurst; Ralph Warne the banker's son who promoted Alton's work; Blanche's father, a respectable MP.
