Gossip in the Street

Surprising discoveries are often made when circuitous research routes are taken. Recently I learned that the Bay of Plenty Times in its first year of publication had, not one, but two gossip columns!

The first column appeared in the third edition of the paper (11 September 1872) under the heading ‘In the Street.’ The author, writing under the pseudonym ‘Paxillus’ (a poisonous mushroom) established their credentials in the opening paragraph:

"Standing, as I frequently do, at the corner of streets and often in the vicinity of public-houses, there is seldom a discussion either upon matters of public interest or private scandal but what I hear. Having also some status in society, the weak-minded often come to me for support and assistance; and even their stronger brethren, when overcome by heat of argument or the closeness, perhaps of debating room, not infrequently favour me with their company, and demonstrate their opinions to whom all find a patient listener."

Captain Henry Lufkin Skeet N.Z.F., circa 1860
Image courtesy of Te Papa, Ref. O.013509

Published on a regular basis for just over a year, the author was outed in November 1873 as Captain Henry Lufkin Skeet. A summary of Skeet’s surveying career appears in Harold Jenks’ Forgotten Men: The Survey of Tauranga and District 1864-1869 published by the Tauranga Historical Society:

"In November 1866 he was gazetted captain in the Auckland Volunteer Engineers, a unit which he helped to raise, and in November of that year he was appointed surveyor-in-charge at Tauranga to expedite the survey of urban and rural land for military settlement … Skeet remained in charge of surveys until near the end of 1868, perhaps longer. He is recorded as having worked in the parish of Onewhero in mid-1870, but he returned to Tauranga and his name appears in association with community affairs and industry between July 1871 and November 1872." (p.67)

Whether Jenks’ definition of “community affairs” would include Skeet’s side hustle as a gossip columnist, is unclear. But how scandalmongering was it? Disappointingly from a social history perspective, the answer is, not very. Individuals and their failings are rarely mentioned, and never by name. In one column Skeet discusses an ‘old settler’ heading for the ‘lunatic asylum’, detailing the unfortunate circumstances around their decline (BOPT, 25 September 1872). However, Skeet’s intention was to elicit sympathy from readers rather than provide them with entertainment.
Overwhelmingly, Skeet uses the column to express his opinions and vent frustrations. These generally focus on local and national politics and the poor behaviour of fellow residents:

“Whilst the older inhabitants of Tauranga are taking steps from time to time to secure its advancement, it is a pity some effort could not be made to restrain the playful eccentricities of some of the juvenile population. Ropes stretched across a street, old kerosine tins, iron hoops and broken bottles placed in the middle of roads are not of any particular advantage to either foot passengers or horsemen … I trust if one of the delinquents be ever caught, a day or two in the redoubt, with a private whipping to dispel the monotony, might prove advantageous to himself and his associates.” (BOPT, 16 November 1872, p.3)

Taken from the Wharf Street Wharf (built 1870), facing toward The Strand. The Mission Institute (demolished 1874) is visible in the distance at the far right
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 16-011

In November 1873 Skeet left Tauranga to take up a government post in Taranaki. The editor of the Bay of Plenty Times wrote of his contribution to the paper:

“… Captain Skeet has been a constant contributor to our columns, and his various articles, under the title of ‘In the Street’ have afforded, no doubt, much interest to our readers, and at the same time frequently been instrumental in promoting local matters, whilst, by his careful avoidance of personalities, he has not at any time laid himself open to strictures.” (BOPT, 8 November 1873)

So perhaps Skeet wasn’t really a gossip columnist after all?