 He emigrated to New Zealand in 1878 and worked as a journalist, initially on "The Evening Post" of Wellington, then "The Timaru Herald" of which he was the editor 1885–1886.He then moved to "The Press" of Christchurch, of which he was the editor from 1895 to 1919 and a director from 1909 to 1919.He was president of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists in 1900–1901.