GILLON, EDWARD THOMAS (1842-96) was born at Douglas, Isle of Man, of Irish parentage. He attended Forester's School there and came to New Zealand with his parents in the Maori (1851). Thereafter he received his education at his mother's school. He early showed literary tastes and contributed sketches to the Otago Witness, as a result of which he received an appointment on that paper. He reported the Provincial Council meetings and represented his paper at the opening of the goldfields.

When Vogel established the Otago Daily Times Gillon joined the staff as chief reporter, but a severe attack of fever compelled him to give up journalism for a while, and he became clerk of the court at Tokomairiro. There in 1864 he helped to found the Bruce Herald, which he left to establish the Bruce Standard. In 1867 he was appointed to the newly-established Hansard staff and clerk of private bills, filling in his leisure with special correspondence. He soon gave up his official duties and joined the Evening Post. In 1868 he won a government prize for an essay on land settlement. In 1872 he was appointed manager of the Press Association, but the business being disposed of to Holt and McCarthy, he rejoined the Post as editor. This he resigned to contest the Wellington Country seat, in which he was unsuccessful. For a time he edited and partly owned the Argus. In 1878 the Press Association was reformed, and he became manager, all the opposition was absorbed, and the United Press Association was the result. After managing this business successfully he resumed the editorship of the Post (1884).

Gillon was M.P.C. for Wellington City (1875-76) and about the same time was a member of the City Council. He was a powerful, trenchant writer with a lucid style, and for many years was one of the most influential journalists in the colony. He championed the rights of the press fearlessly. On one occasion he refused in the Supreme Court to divulge a source of information and a few years later he supported a member of his staff who refused to disclose the source of his information in a case of parliamentary privilege. He took an active part in founding the New Zealand Journalists' Association, of which he was president for three years. Gillon was a clever horseman, an enthusiastic volunteer and a good cricketer. He was one of the leading exponents of Shakespeare and represented in New Zealand the Dramatic Authors' Society and the J. C. Williamson Co.

As a freemason he helped to create the grand lodge of New Zealand, but firmly refused to be made grand master. He was eventually elected P.D.G.M. and was chairman of the central committee and president of the board of general purposes. He was twice married, his second wife (Isabella Jackson) dying in 1884. Gillon died on 19 Apr 1896. (See C. W. ADAMS)

Wellington P.C. Proc.; Cycl. N.Z., i (p); Otago Daily Times Diamond Jubilee Souvenir; Evening Post, 20 Apr 1896; Research Lodge of Wellington, leaflet no 100, Feb 1934.

Reference: Volume 1, page 165

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