JOHNSON, SAMUEL (1827-1905) was born at Manchester, educated there and, having served his apprenticeship to the printing trade, started in business (1850). He drifted into journalism, and had some experience in connection with the Manchester Daily Telegraph. In 1858 he went to Castleford, Yorkshire, as editor and proprietor of the Castleford Guardian.

While there he became interested in the proposed Nonconformist settlement at Albertland (1862), with which he allied himself as printer and editor of the newspaper. He sailed for Albertland in the Matilda Wattenbach, taking a printing plant with him. The first numbers of the Albertland Gazette and Ocean Mail were published on the voyage, and the paper was continued at Port Albert till 1864. Meanwhile Johnson had assisted to maintain himself and his family by acting as postmaster and secretary to the settlement. In 1866 he moved to Blenheim, where he established the Marlborough Express. He took an active part in politics, being a member of the Provincial Council for Lower Wairau (1872-74). He founded the Blenheim fire brigade, of which he was captain.

In 1868 he took a printing press to Fiji, and established the News and Planters' Journal at Levuka. Returning to New Zealand, Johnson eventually sold his interest in the Express (1880), and in 1883 purchased the Waipawa Mail, which he sold to a local company in 1884. He remained there until his death (on 6 Aug 1905), engaging in journalism and taking part in local affairs. He was chairman of the building society and secretary of the Waipawa school committee.

Buick, Marlborough; Scholefield, Union Catalogue; Brett, Albertlanders (p); Hawkes Bay Herald, 7 Aug 1905.

Reference: Volume 1, page 236

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