CHARLESTON
established about October, 1867, by Mr. Charles Mirfin, of Brighton, where he had been publisher of the Brighton Times. Upon leaving Charleston he founded newspapers at Inangahua and Reefton. This newspaper replaced the Charleston Argus, the plant of which was taken over by Mr. Mirfin. It is believed that it was subsequently acquired by Mr. R. G. Neale, who changed the title to Charleston Herald and Brighton Times; a copy dated 8th October, 1870, bears his imprint. Mr. Neale in turn sold to Mr. Thos. Dwan. In 1879 the title was enlarged to Charleston Herald, Brighton Times, and Croninville Reporter. At first the premises were in Camp Street, then in Prince’s Street West (Section 109) and later in the building vacated by the Union Bank of Australia (Section 114). Later proprietors were Alonzo Dwan, Thomas Dollman, Patrick Kittson, and Norah Kittson, the latter from the death of her husband Patrick Kittson, in 1893, until it ceased publication in 1911. The dates of the other transfers cannot be definitely stated. It was a four-page twice-weekly issue selling at 6d. per copy. It is said that in later years it became a weekly, and at the last published at irregular intervals. It is believed that the plant of this paper had many vicissitudes, being originally obtained second-hand from Melbourne, then used at Okarito, then at Brighton, then at Charleston and, after about forty years of service, going for further use at Murchison. Patrick Kittson, who was from the staff of the Melbourne Argus, had served on the Inangahua Times before arriving at Charleston, and was reporter, compositor, etc., on the Charleston Herald before taking over its control. He was a competent and talented journalist, worthy of a position on a larger paper whereon his abilities would have had wider scope. His writings, prose and verse, both serious and mirth-provoking, are still remembered and quoted by old residents. He was an outstanding personality of the town. He died at Charleston, and is buried there.
Charleston News. This was a very short-lived issue published by Mr. E. Tucker in 1875. See Nelson Gazette No. 6. No details of it are available.
In addition to its newspaper, Charleston employed a bell-ringer or town-crier for the dissemination of news, his duty
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