It consists of a small news sheet, called the Nokomai Herald, and it was published in Invercargill in 1871, at the price of 1s.
The edition is a very early one - No. 2 - and, though the whole four pages have been laboriously written out in pen and ink, the newspaper form, as it exists today, is faithfully represented even to the motto, ''Union is strength''.
The issue contains a leading article, entitled ''The Squanders of Squander Castle'', a serial story called ''The Black Hut and its Inhabitants'', and a great many incidents of current interest at the time of publication, which appear under the heading of Table Talk.
One of the items which appears under this heading reads as follows: - ''It is said that one of Mr Vogel's fellow-passengers from 'Frisco was a young Yankee about 18 years old.
Vogel, who is passionately fond of gaming, and the youngster played at unlimited loo, and Vogel was cleaned out of his last sixpence, which caused our Yankee friend to remark that he (Vogel) might be a mighty clever Minister in New Zealand, ''but, if ye were a Minister in my country and played so deuced bad, ye not be, I guess, a Minister for 10 days.''
On the front page there is, also, a correspondence column, set apart for the use of ''all to whom the subject is of interest and the language used temperate.''
Altogether the production is a most interesting one, especially in view of the facility with which a modern newspaper is published, and those who are apt to smile at the price as being excessive would do well to reflect on the difficulties with which the editor must have been faced.
The task imposed by the collection of the news which the sheet contains, and the patience required for its transcription - and for that of the advertisements - would probably daunt a good many present-day journalists, and much excuse could certainly be found for them.
A further touch of romance is given to the relic by reason of the fact that it was rescued from a fire which occurred some few weeks ago in Messrs Kingsland's boot factory in Invercargill, and it is now in the possession of Mr William Tyrie, of this city, who proposes shortly to hand it over to the Otago Early Settlers' Association.
It should form a valuable addition to the present collection of mementoes of early Otago.
The twin-screw cargo and passenger steamer Waipu, which has been under construction for some months past by the local firm of Messrs John McGregor and Co., to the order of the Northern Steam Ship Company, Auckland, was successfully launched late yesterday afternoon.
The steamer was built near the foreshore at the cement works, and was launched broadside on.
The Waipu is 110ft in length, with a beam of 22ft; her draught, loaded, is 5ft 6in. Aft is the accommodation for the passengers, the officers' compartments are amidships, and those for the crew forward. The steamer is lighted throughout by electricity.
The cargo hold is in the well forward, and is served by a powerful winch. A steam steering gear is fitted, and two large lifeboats of the latest New Zealand Government requirements are supplied.
The vessel is capable of doing 9 knots loaded, and her machinery is very complete and up-to-date. The boiler, whose working pressure is 190 pounds per square inch, is of McGregor's ''Rob Roy'' patent type, and develops its power with natural draught. The vessel was designed and has been built under the supervision of Mr H. McRae, naval architect. - ODT, 27.8.1915.
