Saturday, July 10, 2021

GULGONG GUARDIAN 1871

Thomas Frederick DeCourcy Browne's Guardian Newspaper Office
Source: SLNSW

NEWS ITEMS

1871 - FIRST EDITION
It has become an established custom that the first issue of a new journal should contain an address from the pro-prietors to the public, in which they would state their claims for support, so that a clear understanding be-tween them would exist from the beginning. Believing in the wisdom of this old custom, we intend to briefly address our readers, and would state in clear and em-phatic language what course we intend to pursue in seeking public support for the "Gulgong Guardian".
As our readers are doubtless aware, it is no small under-taking to start a newspaper even under the most favour-able circumstances, and how much greater are the diffi-culties and risks in establishing one on a goldfield, where every interest lacks that permanency so essential for steady progress. We therefore think that it is our du-ty to say, that the "Gulgong Guardian" is intended to be a commercial success or else cease to exist. We do not intend to sacrifice ourselves in a patriotic way by advo-cating the interests of the goldfield at a pecuniary loss, this we presume we shall not be expected to do, as it would be unwise on our part, and unreasonable on the part of whose especial benefit and information we have entered upon. This being clearly understood, we shall not further enlarge upon it.
In carrying on the "Guardian", it shall be our earnest de-sire to make it in every way worthy of the support of the inhabitants of the goldfield. We shall take as our motto "Justice to the Miner", and in adhering to it, we shall ever consider that the welfare of the miner and the de-velopment of the goldfield must take preference above all else - and according to our advocacy of these views we expect to be supported.
The necessity for a newspaper in Gulgong is admitted by almost everybody. It is at the present moment the "promised land" towards many a yearning glance is turned. With a population now estimated at 4,000, and daily increasing, this goldfield as a matter of fact is the largest in the colony, and from general appearance promises to be the most important goldfield since the wealth of the Lachlan and Burrangong, has attracted miners from all parts of Australasia. Such being the case a newspaper is a vital necessity for its progress.
A goldfield’s newspaper differs in many essential detail from that of a settled town or district. The "Guardian" has a large and varied experience of goldfield journal-ism, mining legislation, and goldfield management generally. We profess to know the grievances and wants of the miner and how to suggest a remedy, and our mining readers may rest assured that no issue of the "Guardian" will appear without noticing this important subject, and dealing with it in a temperate, and, we hope effective manner. Differences of opinion may exist on some mi-nor points, but on the main points of mining reform, we feel assured of having the whole body of miners with us.
The present condition of mining in this colony is sadly a neglected one, and needs a radical alteration in the sys-tem of management. The history of mining legislation in New South Wales would form one of the most humiliat-ing chapters of its Government, and if compiled would, we venture to say, startle many who believe that there is little room for improvement in the present system. Previous to 1866 there was some interest taken in legisla-tion for the goldfields, but since Mr Bowie Wilson passed into law his amendment Act of that year, the gold mining industry has steadily languished. Capital has been repelled, miners have been disheartened, and at present it is but an unprofitable and precarious occupa-tion. Never since the first code of regulations was an-nounced in 1851, has a worse code been in existence than the present. Obscure in meaning, restrictive in character, illiberal in conditions, and extortionate in fees, the existing code holds out no encouragement to the miner to develop the auriferous wealth of the Colony. It will be our duty to point out the existing defects in the present system, and continue to agitate until justice is done to the miner.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 1, 18 February 1871

1873 - [CESSATION]
The 'Gulgong Guardian,' formerly the property of Mr. T. De Courcy Browne, has ceased to exist.
Source:  The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931) Sat 30 Aug 1873 Page 2

1873 - LIBEL
The proprietor of the Gulgong Guardian has another criminal prosecution against him for libel. He is charged "that he did, on the 29th day of March, 1873, maliciously publish a false, scandalous, and defamatory libel of and concerning Thomas Alexander Browne, Esq., gold commissioner," and is commanded to appear at the police-office today, to answer the charge.

1872 - ISSUES 47 to 143


1873 (Jan to July) - ISSUES 144 to 197

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