MOLONG PRESS OF OTHER DAYS 1945.

Molong Express and Western District Advertiser NSW

5 Jan 1945

MOLONG PRESS OF OTHER DAYS

(By 'OLD TIMER').

When one reads the Molong paper, now linked with another district paper, with all the latest world's news, one is forced to call to mind the press of yesterday.

The first paper to be established in Molong was the 'Molong Express.' in the year 1876, just on 69 years ago, by Mr. Leathem, who had six children (four boys and two girls). 

Mr. Leathem was owner and editor and was a fine type of man, but he only lived a few years after the paper's establishment. It was then carried on by his good wife and family for over 35 years, during which time Mrs. Leathem had in her employ many editors. Though the paper was rather on the conservative side, and a great advocate for free trade, many of the editors, in their hearts, were socialists.

After the death of Mrs. Leathem, the sons, Charles and Jack, carried it on, and after the untimely death of Jack it was carried on by Charles and his widow, Mrs. H. A. Leathem, now of Greenethorpe, until about 12 years ago, when it was taken over by Mr. W. P. Stanger. The 'Express' has since passed into the hands of R. J Neve and Co., which firm has brought it right up to a standard of modern literature.

In the old days, news travelled slowly. The 'Express' office was the hub of important news, such as the Melbourne Cup, boat races and Elections. People would wait hours on the roadside for the mail coach to come along to hear the news.

MOLONG'S SECOND PAPER.

About 1894, Dr. Ross, who was the Member for Molong for 24 years and a protectionist, could not hit it with the 'Express,' so he established the Molong 'Argus,' under an editor named Anderson.

He only reigned a few months when he sold out to a young man from Forbes named Baker, who made it a live paper and barracked for protection. He carried on until about 1907, when he sold to J. C. L. Fitzpatrick, who afterwards became Member for Orange, when he defeated the sitting Member, Jupp Gardiner. 

Mr. Fitzpatrick sold out to a man named Hartley, who ran it for a few months.

When he lost his wife, he sold out to Wigg and Dignam. They were freelance politically, of the Dickens or Thackery type.

When Mr. Stanger took over the 'Express,' he also absorbed the 'Argus.' All the previous owners, except Mr. Stranger and Mrs. H. A. Leathem, have passed to a better land, let us hope, where the worries of running a, country paper are unknown.

Now, Mr. Editor, you have the history of the press in Molong.

So carry on from that!

THE 'EXPRESS' EARLIER DAYS RECALLED. 1933.

Molong Express and Western District Advertiser NSW.

22 NOV 1933

THE 'EXPRESS'

EARLIER DAYS RECALLED.

In a recent issue of the Wingham 'Chronicle' (conducted by Mr. Fred. Fitzpatrick) the following article appeared:

Mr. W. P. Stanger is the new proprietor of 'The Molong Express.' The Leathem family conducted 'The Express' for many years, and Old Man Leathem was one of the pioneers of the Molong District. 

He did much towards developing the public thought of the district, and assisted materially to develop its fine resources.

His widow ran the paper for years after his death, and the sons since; — up to the disposal of it just recently to Mr. Stanger. 'The Express' was always a great battler for Molong and district, and as a fighter at election time stood out on its own.

The late J. C. L. Fitzpatrick had a 'champion of champions' in 'The Express.' Ftz had owned and conducted the opposition paper — 'The Molong Argus'— but that fact not- 'withstanding.

'The Express' worked hammer and tongs for him when he stood against Tom Brown for Calare, and ran him within an inch of his political life. Then when Fitzpatrick came again, a few months later against Mr. Albert Gardiner (then the sitting member for Orange) 'The Express' was with him from the first round to -the last.

Fitz accounted for Jupp Gardiner's political scalp, and none of the would-be politicians who bobbed up serenly at every election could afterwards get within political coo-ee of Fitz.

Jack Fitzpatrick always had a kind word for the Leathem boys, and for their good old mother who had seen so many changes in the West of New South Wales, and who saw many a good Molong citizen gathered to the folds of his fathers before she was laid to rest in the General Cemetery on the outskirts of the old town herself.

The “Molong Express,' under the control of the Leathem’s, was always straight, honest, and clean. It had a political policy, and was never afraid to expound it and stand up for it.

There was no rail sitting'-about 'The Express' in those days. It stood for the man and the party in which it believed, and cared not -a two-penny dump- who it pleased or offended.

Writer knows all about it, for he was on the staff of its contemporary, 'The Molong Argus,' at the time

"OLD BREAD". NSW Lancaster family.

Here is just a short but interesting news item.

1926 The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (NSW : 1913 - 1954) Friday 27 August

FORTY YEARS' OLD BREAD

Mr. R. L. Paterson, of Wyee, writes: — 

Having read in the 'Gosford Times' a reprint from the "Cessnock Eagle' about bread being found in the ground at Cessnock supposed to be forty years old, I would like to state that there is living at Wyee an old gentleman, Mr. T. H. Lancaster, who says that his father, the late Mr. Joseph Lancaster, was a timber contractor living in Cessnock between 40 and 50 years ago. 

He had a lot of men engaged timber getting around where the town of Cessnock' now stands, and Mr. Lancaster states, as near as he can remember' those men had camps somewhere in the vicinity where the bread was found. The bread may be some thrown away from the old camps of those days