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274:. Thus by amalgamating their publications with their older-established more successful rivals, they could transform the two concerns into a lucrative business. The directors of their rivals were adamantly opposed and it was necessary for Fenwick and Reed by using W. H. Reynolds as secret negotiator and by raising and offer £30,000 before they gained control. As soon as Reed and Fenwick assumed control of the
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Robertine
Fenwick. In response to the campaign a royal commission on sweating was established in 1890. Its conclusions and recommendations formed the basis of many of the country's social reforms of the following decade. He also used his time as editor to support funding of the University of Otago, a women's hospital ward, the expansion of the University of Otago Medical School, and the Hocken Library.
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Carrick intended to set up newspaper. When
Carrick agreed to drop his venture Matthews and Fenwick decided to proceeded and made a successful canvass for advertisements and subscribers prior only to find on 1 November that Carrick had changed his mind and was also going ahead with his publication. His printing press was in the process of being loaded on a wagon in Dunedin for conveyance to Cromwell.
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Arthur
Fenwick (1886–1891). Jane and George's son David Eardley Fenwick served in the R.A.M.C. and N.Z.M.C. in World War I, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and for a period was the officer commanding the Queen Mary Hospital for Nervous Diseases. He also served as a member of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis in New Zealand in 1928.
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Fenwick soon found that the narrowness of life in
Cromwell and the absence of opportunities were not congenial to his temperament, which lead him in 1871, to sell his part-ownership in the newspaper to his brother William and move to Dunedin. He eventually joined John Mackay (who subsequently became
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pm on
Saturday 6 November 1869, 500 copies of the new paper had been printed off, and with them strapped in front of the saddle Fenwick set off on a ride of over 80 miles (130 km) from Lawrence to Cromwell. After a 30 miles (48 km) ride he reached Miller's Flat, crossing the Clutha River by
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George was able in 1858 to secure a five-year printing apprenticeship at the newspaper. Because he was still not tall enough to stand at the composing frame, he had to learn the trade by standing on a box beside Daniel
Campbell, the manager of the newspaper. The discovery of gold in 1861 at Gabriel's
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The couple had eight children: Lilian May
Fenwick (1880–1957), Linda Constance Fenwick (1876–1962), George Earnest Oswald Fenwick (1878–1955), Florence Eveline Fenwick (1879–1914), Ruby Beatrice Fenwick (1884–1968), Marion Robertine Fenwick (1875–1952), David Eardley Fenwick (1887–1934) and Stanley
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He was an office-holder in many welfare and cultural organisations, including St Mary's
Orphanage, the Prisons Board, YMCA, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, New Zealand Nurses' Memorial Fund, Hocken Library, Otago Expansion League, Shipwreck Belief Society, Patriotic and General Welfare Association and
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His commercial interests led to him serving in 1916–1917 as president of the
Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. In 1909 Fenwick was chairman of the New Zealand delegation to the Imperial Press Conference being held in England. In 1918 he was chairman of the New Zealand press delegation that visited the
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labour in the clothing industry which stirred many of the local community into action. The cause was taken up by
Fenwick in a series of articles published in January 1889 which had been written by the newspaper's chief reporter Silas Spragg (1852–1935), who was married to his younger sister Alice
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pm on Sunday, where he presented the mayor and one or two prominent residents with copies of the newspaper. The following morning Fenwick delivered copies to every house. in the town, before hiring a fresh horse to deliver copies over a large part of the surrounding district. As they explained in
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Following the completion of his apprenticeship he worked in the office of the newspaper before leaving in 1868 to gain a wider experience of newspapers and the priming trade in Australia. He initially resided in Sydney attracted by the presence in port of his uncle, George Turnbull Brown, who was
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While the negotiations for the sale of their newspaper proceeded, Matthews and Fenwick had looked for other opportunities and identified that that rising goldfields town of Cromwell did not yet have a newspaper. When Fenwick investigated the town in detail in October 1868, they found that Robert
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When deciding to purchase the publications Reed believed that he could redeem the newspaper's fortunes by the sheer force and power of bis writing and editing. Against his better judgment, Fenwick was influenced by Reed's conviction, and stayed on in his position and also became a partner. The
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The partners were already committed to the new venture as Fenwick during his visit had leased land from the Borough Council and had let a contract for the building of a newspaper office on it. Unfortunately they could not immediately relocate to Cromwell as many subscribers of their existing
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Fenwick married Jane Atlantic Proudfoot at Dunedin in 1874. Jane had been born to Marion (nee Jack) and George Proudfoot on the board the Strathfieldsaye, while it was en route to Melbourne in 1851. Following the death of her father she and her mother followed her brother
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business however continued to deteriorate and it took little more than a year's experience for Reed by 1877 to come to share Fenwick's view that Dunedin was not able to support two morning newspapers, theirs and the much larger and more prosperous
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He also served as a director on numerous companies including Perpetual Trustees Estate, and Agency Company of New Zealand; Standard Insurance Company of New Zealand, United Press Association of New Zealand, and of the Lyttelton Times Company.
240:, which was performing poorly. Soon recognising that it was impossible to stem the heavy losses that the newspaper was incurring Fenwick recommended to the directors of the company that they sell both it and the company's weekly paper, the
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Fenwick was the founding president of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association, and was also prominent in the industry's professional organisations. He also served as chairman of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Press Union.
73:, reaching Dunedin on 23 January 1856. He initially attended the Government school in Lower High Street before attending the Dunedin Academy, a private school in Princes Street which was run by J. G. S. Grant until it closed.
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Fenwick was an ardent tramper, making many excursions into the remote regions of Otago and the West Coast. He recorded his enthusiasm for tramping, natural history and travel in a number of books and pamphlets.
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As the gold fever in Australia subsided, his parents in response to the advertising of W. H. Reynolds, honorary immigration agent for the Provincial Council of Otago of the superior advantages of
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Other than once heading a licensing committee pool Fenwick refused despite being asked on several occasions to accept nominations as a representative in either local or national politics.
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Fenwick died at his home at Napier Street, Mornington, Dunedin on 23 September 1929 following a short illness. He was survived by his wife Lady Jane Fenwick and six of their children.
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He was a founder member of the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation Society, which was established on 15 October 1888. He was the founding president of the Dunedin Rotary Club.
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in competition to the existing New Zealand Press Agency. After the two groups merged in 1879 Fenwick became a member of the committee of the resulting United Press Association.
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Fenwick accepted the offer, but the partners soon found of 18 months of struggle that Lawrence was too small for both their newspaper and their better resourced rival, the
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In 1909 Fenwick handed the editorship of the newspaper to James Hutchison. While William Easton succeeded him as manager in 1919, Fenwick remained managing director of the
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By the time Matthews arrived in Cromwell in a wagon with the printing equipment and their household belongings the office was almost ready for occupation. Their rival the
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In 1894, as editor, he attacked conditions in Dunedin's slaughter-houses, which resulted in a poll in April 1895 which approved the establishment of public abattoirs.
117:, which was involved in the Australian trade. After staying on board his uncle's ship he took up the offer of a position in Townsville, Northern Queensland at the
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to close down. Fenwick had learnt a valuable lesson – that it was folly to attempt to maintain two newspapers in any community where there was room for only one.
123:. However he found the tropical heat and wildlife not to his liking, which combined with the death of his mother in October 1866 caused him to travel back on the
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Fenwick soon found he was not satisfied with his immediate prospects and so in the following year accepted the offer of James Matthews a former co-worker at the
62:. When he was six years old his family responding to the discovery of famous goldfields emigrated to Australia, arriving in Victoria on New Year's Day in 1853.
266:. Fenwick had a brainstorm and staggered Reed when he proposed that they should endeavor to purchase via a reverse takeover the company that owned the
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the punt that night and rested for three to four hours at the station of Walter Miller. At dawn he recommenced his journey and reached Cromwell at 9
32:(2 February 1847 – 23 September 1929) was a New Zealand newspaper proprietor and editor. He is best known for his time as manager and editor of the
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had to be published in order to complete a quarterly period. The only way out was to immediately after the printing of the last issue of the
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Gully and the resulting gold rush, resulted in a scarcity of adult labour rendered his services all the more valuable. As a result when
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Fenwick was born on 2 February 1847, the eldest child of Robertine Jane (nee Brown, 1823–1866) and Robert Fenwick (1815–1878) in
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Following his funeral service in St Paul's Cathedral on 24 September he was buried in the Southern Cemetery, in Dunedin.
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newspaper had paid in advance, and they had advertising contracts which made it essential that two further issues of the
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The idea was promptly carried into effect, and on Wednesday, 3 November 1868 after printing off the last edition of the
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155:. Mathews was also prepared to offer a job to Fenwick's younger brother William, who was still an apprentice.
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the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society. To counter cruelty to horses in 1882 he led the founding of the
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in 1890 after a disagreement with the directors, Fenwick also took on the editorship duties.
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to Dunedin. Jane died on 21 December 1938 at the age of 86, nine years after her husband.
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He compiled the historical chronicle issued for the Dunedin City Council jubilee in 1915.
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786:"Otago Pioneer Dead: Sir George Fenwick. Veteran Journalist. Leading Citizen of Dunedin"
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Government printer) as partner in a general printing business based in Princes Street.
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from Sydney to Dunedin. He had no difficulty in returning to his old position in the
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Fenwick was transferred in 1861 to the composing department of their new newspaper.
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Fenwick subsequently became managing director when the business was floated as a
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in New Zealand the couple immigrated with their three children on the schooner
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before departing in 1878 to become New Zealand's immigration agent in Ireland.
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and other necessary alterations were made before the printing commenced. By 6
162:. After opening negotiations they were happy in 1869 to accept £150 from the
891:"Sir George Fenwick: Impressive Burial Service Many Expressions of Sympathy"
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638:(Paperback). Masterton, New Zealand: Fraser Books. pp. 129, 138–140.
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and then to take the freshly printed newspapers to Cromwell on horseback.
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soon commenced publication, but after six months it ceased publication.
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Contributions to the Early History of New Zealand (Settlement of Otago)
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59:
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their first edition, it did thus not contain any local Cromwell news.
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Lasting Impressions: The story of New Zealand's newspapers, 1840–1920
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Lasting Impressions: The story of New Zealand's newspapers, 1840–1920
818:"Obituary: Sir George Fenwick. A Pioneer of New Zealand Journalism"
1114:. Photograph of George Fenwick with his wife and two of his sons.
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66:
20:
244:. Taking his advice, the publications were soon after sold to
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After his father heard through a friend of an opening at the
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gave a sermon in Dunedin "On the sin of cheapness", against
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Sir George Fenwick and Lady Fenwick of Dunedin, New Zealand
38:, during which time he supported the campaign initiated by
688:"To the inhabitants of Cromwell and surrounding districts"
844:"Rob Fenwick & his great-grandad Sir George Fenwick"
694:. Vol. 1, no. 1. 3 November 1869. p. 2
663:"The Cromwell Argus and Northern Gold-fields Gazette"
1084:(Paperback). Masterton, New Zealand: Fraser Books.
983:"Jane Atlantic Fenwick (nee Proudfoot) family tree"
692:
The Cromwell Argus and Northern Gold-fields Gazette
202:
The Cromwell Argus and Northern Gold-fields Gazette
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The Cromwell Argus and Northern Gold-fields Gazette
236:In 1875 he took up the position of manager of the
1126:. Entry in the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.
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774:(Hardback). London: Sampson Low, Marston and Co.
370:Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
189:was to print off in Lawrence the first issue of
248:, who had previously been in partnership with
200:, its masthead was replaced in the press with
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120:Cleveland Bay Herald and Northern Advertiser
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420:for public services, and invested by the
1052:"Dr. D. E. Fenwick: Death in Wellington"
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309:In October 1888, Presbyterian minister
1032:. Dunedin City Council. 14 August 2019
918:. Dunedin City Council. 14 August 2019
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714:"Alice Robertine Fenwick family tree"
198:Tuapeka Press and Goldfields Advocate
187:Tuapeka Press and Goldfields Advocate
183:Tuapeka Press and Goldfields Advocate
149:Tuapeka Press and Goldfields Advocate
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959:"Otago business pioneers recognised"
337:resigned from the editorship of the
592:Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
16:New Zealand journalist (1847–1929)
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957:McNeilly, Hamish (17 July 2008),
597:Ministry for Culture and Heritage
452:Businessman and environmentalist
430:New Zealand Business Hall of Fame
428:. Fenwick was inducted into the
326:In 1878 Fenwick helped found the
151:, which was based in the town of
1175:British emigrants to New Zealand
946:. 12 August 1919. p. 10218.
543:"Sir George Fenwick family tree"
98:the owners of started the daily
768:Hocken, Thomas Morland (1898).
842:Wood, Caroline (1 June 2016).
515:"Obituary: Sir George Fenwick"
297:a year later. Reed edited the
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1030:"Jane Atlantic Fenwick Grave"
866:"The Late Sir George Fenwick"
328:New Zealand Press Association
1165:New Zealand Knights Bachelor
424:in 1920 during his visit to
418:1919 King's Birthday Honours
1150:Businesspeople from Dunedin
741:"Rob Fenwick: Giving Earth"
383:United Kingdom and France.
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1112:George Fenwick with family
305:Campaign against sweating
139:Once back working at the
1005:"Obituary: Lady Fenwick"
456:was his great-grandson.
412:Fenwick was appointed a
147:of a partnership in the
1170:Writers from Sunderland
1155:New Zealand journalists
1120:. Photograph from 1924.
1080:Grant, Ian F. (2018).
916:"George Fenwick Grave"
746:The New Zealand Herald
634:Grant, Ian F. (2018).
26:
246:George McCullagh Reed
24:
985:. Ancestry.com. 2020
716:. Ancestry.com. 2020
545:. Ancestry.com. 2020
290:ceased publication.
872:, 27 September 1929
846:. Forest & Bird
824:, 24 September 1929
792:, 23 September 1929
585:Griffiths, George.
521:, 24 September 1929
1011:, 22 December 1938
943:The London Gazette
897:, 5 September 1929
311:Rutherford Waddell
171:The Cromwell Argus
40:Rutherford Waddell
30:Sir George Fenwick
27:
1160:Settlers of Otago
1091:978-0-9941360-4-6
1056:Manawatu Standard
1009:Manawatu Standard
963:Otago Daily Times
895:Otago Daily Times
749:. 12 October 2001
645:978-0-9941360-4-6
587:"Fenwick, George"
519:Otago Daily Times
351:until his death.
349:Otago Daily Times
339:Otago Daily Times
322:Press association
299:Otago Daily Times
276:Otago Daily Times
268:Otago Daily Times
264:Otago Daily Times
227:Otago Daily Times
219:Cromwell Guardian
141:Otago Daily Times
129:Otago Daily Times
101:Otago Daily Times
35:Otago Daily Times
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96:Julius Vogel
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1145:1929 deaths
1140:1847 births
938:"No. 31501"
454:Rob Fenwick
250:Henry Brett
44:sweat shops
1134:Categories
667:PapersPast
460:References
315:sweat-shop
115:Cornwallis
71:Challenger
56:Sunderland
50:Early life
1036:22 August
989:22 August
968:23 August
922:22 August
850:22 August
720:24 August
698:8 January
672:24 August
549:22 August
108:Australia
372:(SPCA).
286:and the
153:Lawrence
135:Lawrence
42:against
1062:22 July
1015:22 July
901:22 July
876:22 July
828:20 July
796:20 July
753:27 June
602:4 April
525:22 July
426:Dunedin
416:in the
408:Honours
252:in the
60:England
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282:, the
211:
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822:Press
397:Death
366:Otago
333:When
67:Otago
1086:ISBN
1064:2020
1038:2020
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755:2015
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640:ISBN
604:2011
551:2020
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278:and
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