Kei Hea to Whare? Titiro Ki Roto: John Stone's New Zealand Directories 1884 - 1954

Abstract

This thesis records the life of John Stone (1840-1897) and assesses his achievements as a publisher and then printer in nineteenth-century New Zealand. The thesis also argues that his publications were a product arising from the needs of a modern, market economy. Reasons are given for his company's success and eventual decline between 1884 and 1954. Finally, it is explained that the essentially rural nature of New Zealand's towns before World War II suited, indeed encouraged, the firm of Stone Son Co. to publish its series of provincial directories between 1883 and 1954.