spilt milk, tears, Unnecessary

Received from Anonymous
Sun, 10 April 2016 at 9:56 a.m.

Following receipt of the newspaper clipping, I dredged family files. My great-great-grandfather [unnamed for privacy reasons], then in business at Maclaggan Street, was one of the signatories. He went on to prominently support, with other Dunedin businessmen, the provincial and national development aims, and political aspirations of the indefatigable Julius Vogel.

The Otago Daily Times was founded by W.H. Cutten and Julius (later Sir Julius) Vogel during the boom following the discovery of gold at the Tuapeka, the first of the Otago goldrushes. “Vogel had an elevated idea of the role of the press, believing it had the power to create public opinion. He took a strong, positive line on all the current major issues and used the Times to promote his own views and political career. He appointed a number of reporters, such as Edward Gillon, William Harrison and Ebenezer Fox, who later had notable careers in journalism, politics and the civil service.”

[paperspast.natlib.govt.nz]

Another weekend find. Modern image, un-Vogel-like.

[nation.com.pk]

Life after politics Vogel has a reputation as the first New Zealander to write a science-fiction novel: Anno Domini 2000, or, Woman’s Destiny, published in 1889. It anticipated a utopian world where women held many positions of authority. New Zealand went on to become the first country to give women the vote, and, from 1997-2008, continuously had a female Prime Minister, while for a short period (2005–2006) women simultaneously held all five highest government positions (Monarch, Governor-General, Prime Minister, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice). In honour of this book, the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for New Zealand speculative fiction take their name from him.

SPEAK ● OUT ● ORGANISE
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr