Places

Date: 1889 - 1890

By: Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd

Reference: A-014-015

Description: Shows the seated figure of "Willie the Inkslinger" (William Pember Reeves), about to throw an ink-bottle labelled "Lyttelton times", at the back of the retreating ink-splattered figure of Zealandia. His pockets contain rolled papers labelled: Leader, Lyttelton times, Dirt, Star. On the wall is a map labelled 'Canterbury electoral districts'. Identification and dating: Reeves has been identified by his appearance and by his known liberal views. Date determined by start-operating date of Whitcombe & Tombs operations in Christchurch, and by the period of Reeves' editorship of Lyttelton times. It is not known if Whitcombe and Tombs printed this cartoon as a supplement to any particular Christchurch newspaper. If so, it may have been the Press or Weekly press (published and printed by Claude French Corlett at this time however) rather than newspapers associated with Reeves (Canterbury times and Lyttelton times) Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "WILLIE, THE INKSLINGER":/ Credit, Commerce, Industries and Property; he would sacrifice all to feed his vanity.; Recto - bottom right - WHITCOMBE & TOMBS LIMITED, CHRISTCHURCH.; Recto - top left - (On wall map): CANTERBURY ELECTORAL DISTRICTS; Recto - centre left - (On bottle): LYTTELTON TIMES / (In right pocket): DIRT, LYTTELTON TIMES, LEADER / (In left pocket): STAR; Recto - centre right - (On gown of Zealandia): ZEALANDIA / PUBLIC CREDIT / COMMERCE, INDUSTRIES Whitcombe & Tombs started Christchurch operations in 1882. Reeves was editor of the Lyttelton times from 1889-1891. See for example the editorial he wrote against Humphreys MP for Christchurch South (Star [reprinted from Lyttelton times], 27 Sept. 1890, page 2) prior to 1890 elections - such attacks may have provoked cartoon in response. Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Lithograph, black and white, 447 x 284 mm. Processing information: Transferred from Ephemera section.