The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Revans, Samuel
Revans, Samuel, father of the New Zealand press, was a native of England. and was brought up to the printing trade. In 1833 he went out to Montreal, Canada, to assist the late Mr. Henry Samuel Chapman (q.v.) in starting the first daily newspaper, the Daily Advertiser, published in British North America. He subsequently became Mr. Chapman's partner, and it was probably at his instigation that he identified himself with the Edward Gibbon Wakefield schemes for the colonisation of New Zealand. At any rate when in Sept. 1839 a provincial constitution was drawn up in London for the Port Nicholson (Wellington) settlement, which the New Zealand Company were founding under Colonel Wakefield, Mr. Revans was appointed secretary to the executive committee nominated to control the inception of the settlement. At Port Nicholson he arrived by the Adelaide in Jan. 1840, and his signature is appended to all the official documents issued by the committee before its dissolution after the arrival of Governor Hobson and the annexation of New Zealand by England. Very shortly, however, Mr. Revans reverted to his original calling, and issued the first newspaper published in New Zealand. It was called The New Zealand Gazette, and had been issued in London in Sept. 1839. Under Mr. Revans' auspices it was published in New Zealand in April 1840. The plant had been bought in England by subscription amongst the intending colonists, and Mr. Revans occupied the triple position of manager, printer, and editor. He also assisted with his own hands in building the office for the carrying on of the paper and in setting up the press. In No. 20 (August 22nd, 1840) the name of the paper was changed to the New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator, the latter being the name then contemplated for the new settlement. Mr. Revans died in the Wairarapa Valley, N.Z., on July 15th, 1888.