EARLY HISTORY OF OTAGO.

Evening Star, Issue 7875, 6 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

EARLY HISTORY OF OTAGO.

DUNEDIN".—FIRST PERIOD,

Part XI. (Continued),

The sketch of the condition of the sottlolimit iluriiii.; iu iii.st; yv.'r* would fio: •■■;

fail', uuicli less complete, if reference, w.-ro not made to the manners and customs of the primary inhabitants. Certainly there was nothing peculiar about them, but there wai» in their surroundings. Transferred from civilisation to an uninhabited waste, the difficulty occurring was whether to accept the position and become like the spot itself, or transform the spot and make it like its possessors. Of course the latter course was followed, and in process of time the developments were both numerous and substantial. To quote a scribe of the period : " Nino months ago the pioneers commenced what seemed to them the endless task of clearing ground for their houses and gardens. On every side the wilderness of wood and flax and fern met the eye, diversified here and there with a dismal looking swamp. Amid toil of no ordinary kind, and under discouragements which damped the ardor of some of their number, they continued progressing, and now instead of seeing one or two solitary houses with a narrow, swampy footpath, the eye is gladdened with a goodly sprinkling of bouses, some of wood, others of mud and grass, whilst numerous gardens, well fenced and cleared, and one street at least (Princes street), showing its broad track from end to end of the future town, give evidence of the progress we have made. We have two hotels, a church, a school, a wharf—small though it be. We have butchers, bakers, and stores of all descriptions. We have an Oddfellows' Society, a cricket club ; we have boats plying on the bay and river, and every cutward sign of commercial activity aud enterprise. If we want anything at present it is more capitalists to aid and increase what has been already begun. Our population in the town alone is nearly 500*, including eighteen landed proprietors, twenty storekeepers, twenty-four carpenterß, sawyers, etc., and about 100 laborers. At Port Chalmers, Anderson Bay, Halfway Bush, Taieri, and Molyncux we have a population of about 100, including sixteen landed proprietors, nine carpenters, sixteen shepherds and laborers rather a small amount of labor for the country district, we confess ; but we expect to see the reverse of this shortly. For so small a colony our success must seem wonderful to those who do not know the elements which have composed it. With few exceptions, every immigrant has worked as if tho well-being of society depended upon himself alone. Sobriety, industry, and a determined perseverance in overcoming all obstacles have been the distinguishing traits of each and all. Such causes combined must always have produced happy results; but here in a new country it is more apparent, and a wider field is open for exertion. To our fellow-colonists we would say : Continue to work in the way you have begun, and your property and comfort will be Eubstantial and secure. To capitalists intending to emigrate we would say : Come over and help us; and in helping us you will increase your own a hundred-fold." Tho picture here given la an extremely fair one, depicting faithfully the position of affairs at tho end of the first year's existence. Dunedin of the past was a much more contented and active community as a whole than Dunedin of the present, if the street corners are to bo taken as an index ; which clearly expresses the idea that too many expect thu.t society is bound to maintain them, and that they should do nothing for society. Passing on from generals to particulars, it may bo noted that Mr Cutten developed as the first auctioneer, having his sale room at the corner of Jetty street. The amount cf goods passing through his hands was not large, and he had abundant leisure to indulge his propensity for a lounge or a snooze on the beach or scrub with his famous cutty pipe—his almost sole companion. Ship stores and extra provisions saved on passengers' account formed the principal items of vendition, to which may be added a stray bullock or two, with an occasional horse, or, perchance, a pig of a noted breed. The ladies were not omitted by the caterers for public patronage, as Miss Graham was gushing in her announcements of Dunstable and colored straw bonnets of the most lovely shapes and forms, from the coal scuttle to the pyramid—a rango wide enough to embrace all the present modern innovations, and, mayhap, of better material for durance. At all events, although the prices were reputed as moderate, the cost of one of these ancients would purchase a couple of the present highflyers. And, not to be behind-hand with fashionable apparel for the male gender, Mr J. De La Condamine Carnegie paraded in his Princes street window an array of slops—straightforward enough he was to ticket them as such—which the most fastidious of the genus man could buy and invest himself in their capacious interior, making a quite true declaration that in this now suit of his he was just the " man for tho ladieß." Theu turning up High street, either making desperate leaps to overcome a "dib," or making a dubious track along a "shikkery" plank, or yet, again, employing Ihe raft which Mr Watson, of the Commercial Hotel, had specially built to ferry passengers from Princes street to his own hostelry in High street, where Messrs Uutterworths' waiehouse now stands, one reached Pat Crow's butchery establishment, where everything choice and desirable was to be had on certain days of the week or month, asthe case might be, of which due notice would bo given by Sandy Low by means of his bell and clear resounding voice. And well did old Sandy discharge his duties, for the inhabitants rushed wildly to the shambles, and in an hour or two Mr Crow's shop was like old Mother Hubbard's cupboard, quite bare, so that the last comer got none. Besides these indispensable requisites the usual addenda closely followed, as Mr Morgan Evana, of Port Chalmers, would be glad to supply claimants in Dunedin with brandy, rum, or gin, in quantities of two gallons or over, at a figure which showed no usurious profit; and not to be behind hand in tho race for public patronage, Mr Archibald Anderson, now of Balclutha, would compete on equal lines with his opponent, and fill the jars or greybeards of the new chums with said liquors on equal terms, and thus ran the risk, delay, and expense of transfer from Port Chalmers. It is a curious fact, but still needful to relate, that in the liquors offered for sale whisky was the exception. It was hard to get it, and then at a big price. There was a curious admixture of law and—no, not crime—misdemeanor in those days of primeval bliss. Mr Strode, as Resident Magistrate, held his Court in one room of the Commercial Hotel, duly flanked with a J.P. on either hand, while occasionally 'd tho adjoining room a small fight was occurring, rendering the participators liable to be called before their better.". Besides being Magistrate Mr Strode was also Chief of the Police, and on an emergency would be bound to leave his place on the. Bench, seize an offender by the collar, and lead him to the dock, thereafter assuming his place on the judgment seat, giving his own evidence to himself against the culprit, and in due form passing sentence. This is no imaginary picture, but a faithful record of more than one event. The relation of the doings of the Judicial Bench, when there was no law in tho land, would cause shouts of derision to be raised as to how such things were tolerated, and possibly wiser heads now would Bay such things should not be eo ; but they were, and affairs prospered. Then, again, the Magisterial Bench was frequently occupied in trying charges against its own members. Fancy one J. P. brought; up before his brother J. P.B for fighting with another J.P. in broad daylight in Princes street. For shame be it said; yet such things did [occur, and the annals of the period bear a testimony not so creditable to the community as would have resulted had each member of the family, it may be called such, acted " honor bright" with his neighbor. These breaches of the peace committee] by tho Justices of the Peace must!

not be considered aa representative of the community generally, but only of the "nobs" who were in the upper circle. The only outbreak occurring amongst the public generally was on the occasion of the first Christmas Day in the settlement, when a, portion of the crew of an American whaler lying at the Kaik, having obtained leave, came up in their boat to Dunedin, and getting on the spree were likely to kick up a row; but the Magistrates promptly called out all the male inhabitants, swore them in as special constables, and were about to read the Riot Act, when the had their fill of fun, and seeing such an nrray of able bullied volunteers prepared to att-i.uk them, very soon made for their boat, and a few minutes afterwards might be seen rounding Logan Point as if a vengeful enemy were in full pursuit. The Magisstrates, on the disappearance of the rioters, called the specials together at the hotel, told them their duties and responsibilities, and further to keep themselves always in readiness for an emergency, but omitted altogether to dismiss them, which may account for the the tendency still for mobs of men to congregate at Hardie's corner and thereabout, near the spot where the first of our preservers of the peace were mustered. As a rule the gaol was tenantless, or if it had an occupant it was in the person of a runaway sailor who was fortunate enough to escape from his ship and get a mild sentence until his vessel left, who then, instead of " ploughing the main, became a ploughcr of the manor." Several of the lucky settlers of to-day rejoice in the freedom and comfort which the three months in Dunedin gaol has given them._ Then the safety of the populace, particularly the young, was a matter of first importance, and in the full display of anxious interest in their behalf, both the resident agent of the company and the one resident medico drew particular attention to the tempting allurements of the toot aB follows :

Tho attention of the community, and especially of parents, iB requested to the following letter from Dr Ramsay cautioning against the eating of the "tutu" berry now approaching to maturity. William Oakgill, Resident Agent. Dunodin, December 9,1818. Dear Sir,— Excuso me taking the liberty of suggesting to you the propriety of warning those people who have lately arrived and settled down here against the indiscriminate use of certain plants growing so luxuriantly amongst us —I mean more particularly the "tutu," or, as it is called in more common language, the "toot."

Of this plant the leaves and fruit contaiu properties highly injurious to sheep and cattle on their beiog first landed in the country ; but not only bo, symptoms also of the most alarming kind have been reported occasionally to develop themselves in the human subject after ueing tho fruit. I therefore think it right and proper that tho younger members of the community should bo strictly warned against eating any part of this well-known shrub.—l am, etc., Kobeiit Ramsay, M.D. The clusters of fruit on the toot are certainly very tempting, and have since been utilised in the making of jelly and wine, as further investigation and experiment have shown that it is only in the seeds contained in the berries that any deleterious matter is contained affecting the human system. It would tako an extreme human appetite to make a meal of the leaves of the plant, although it was a well-established fact that newly imported sheep and cattle partook of the leaves ravenously, and thereby brought themselves to an untimely end. The honest doctor who had accompanied the first batch of immigrants in the Philip Laing was only doing his duty in raising a warning note against the risk which impended on the indiscriminate use of tho tempting bait; but as the health of the community was exceptionally good, and finding it did not pay, he retired, and was succeeded by Dr Manuing as physician No. 2 of the settlement.

A glimpse at the social condition of the settlers will come in very apropos here, and as tho social state is very directly and seriously affected by the taxation and cost of living, these two items will form a favorable introduction, The ouly tax was the Customs duties levied on imports, and the list was simple but comprehensive.

IMPORT DUTIES. British ami foreign spirits ... 5s per gallon Tobacco (manufactured) ... Is per lb ~ (unmanufactured) ... 9d ~ ~ Cigars and snuff 2s ~ „ Wines 20 per cent. Malt liquors 15 ~ „ Munitions of war 30 ~ ~ British goods and produce ... 10 ~ „ Foreign „ „ ... 12.J „ „ Glass bottles (full), specie, bulbs' and plants, live animals, printed books Free This constituted the whole Customs tariff, and it yielded a very handsome revenue to the State, enabling the Government to carry on its various functions quite satisfactorily to itself and to its well-paid officials, although, possibly, the general public expressed a decidedly opposite opinion. The Customs revenue collected for the period ending 31st December, 1848, was L 909 10s 7d, and the expenditure L 659 4s 9d. For the year 1849 the revenue was Li,995 8s lid; expenditure, L 1,732 5s Gd. Articles of daily consumption ruled much higher than they do now, and house rents were at least equally high. For the 41b loaf the price was lOd; beef and mutton, 7d and per lb ; butter, Is 8d to 2s a lb ; flour, per 1001b, ]6s to 235; potatoes, per ton, L 4 and L 5 10s; sugar, 4d to Gd per lb. Wages per day : Mechanics, 5s to 7s ; laborers, 3s to 4s. An indifferent house on hut could bo rented at Ga to 8s per week.

In tho midst of Buch adverse circumstances—for such they would now be esteemed—the people were not only contented, but enjoyed themselves after a similar manner to the moderns. A teetotal society was formed and prospered. Public dinners were not uncommon with guinea tickets, which included wines. The Hand ,and Heart Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, held weekly meetings. Building societies were an institution and did incalculable service; on Anuiversary Day horse racing and land and aquaticsports were indulged in, backed up and protected by service in the church, winding up with a ball in the evening. So according to taste or desire everything was provided. It was not so common for sections to be offered for sale, but such is the fact that the three-roomed cottage on the section at the corner of High and Princes streets whereon the Grand Hotel now stands was about the first placed in the market, and for an eighth part of the present annual ground rent the land and tenement could have been bought from Mr James Adam, who, along with the present owner, was joint possessor, and over which a bitter correspondence occurred in the absence of a Court of law to decide, The first almanac in Otago was published for 1849.