FIFTY YEARS AGO

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13330, 17 December 1943, Page 2

FIFTY YEARS AGO

The following items of interest are taken from the Bay of Plenty Times of fifty years ago. The largest steamer in the world is now under construction at New York in the yard of Messrs. Davidson and Co. She has been fitly named the Leviathan. Her gross tonnage will be 25,000 tons, and her engines 50,000 horsepower. She will steam 30 knots per hour on a small consumption of fuel. Her passenger accommodation will be equal to 20,000 adults. Manitoba is the earthly paradise of the poor man, in spite of the blizzards and mercury 60 degrees below zero. Last year the super abundant harvest could not be lifted, and the labourers had their 10/9' a day with free rations and transport. In that delightful country, which must be a veritable Tom Tiddler’s ground, the people think no more of a dollar than we do of a shilling, money is so plentiful. At Donald, in the Selkirk range, a bill was displayed last year in the windows of the inn, offering any ladies who were willing to step out of the train and turn maids of all work, £7O per annum. The Auckland Freezing Co. are now freezing at the rate of 300 carcases a day, and they expect to ship between 3,000 and 4,000 carcases by the Maori next week*