First Witness Recalls Otago's Early Days

Northern Advocate, 15 January 1948, Page 7

First Witness Recalls Otago's Early Days

THE centennial of Otago occurs this year, and commencing this week a series of functions and entertainments are beingorganised so that it will be celebrated fittingly and so remembered for the years to come. An insight into the early life and conditions of the settlement in the very early days is contained in a copy—the first to be printed—of the Otago Witness dated Saturday February 8, 1851, which has been handed to the Northern Advocate by a Whangarei resident.

The Otago Witness, which ceased publication in 1932, was. at the time of its birth a fortnightly paper with, as the editor of the day put it. principals in harmony with the scheme of the Otago settlement. It was stated: “For the first quarter the Witness will be published but once a fortnight, deliverable on Saturday morning's; but the demands of the public for a weekly, or more frequent, issue will be carefully watched and acceded to as far as means and other appliances can be progressively commanded.” In latter years the Witness grew to a weekly illustrated paper. The population of the area is shown as 1182.

On the front page of the Witness is a statement of revenue and expenditure for Otago for the quarter ending December 30. 1850. This shows the total revenue at £998/8/3 and the total expenditure as £566/1/5. Included in the revenue were the customs items —spirits £255/2/3: cigars and snuffs 17/5, tobacco £565/14/-, ad valorem duty £252. Under the heading of fees, £2/10/were collected in dog registration and 5/- for registration of births. Fines at the magistrate's court, Otago, amounted to £l/17/-. Heaviest item on the expenditure side was supreme court £2OO. with the police at £l4B/4/4, next. A scab inspector received £l2/10/for the quarter’s work. A resident magistrate is shown as having received £B/14/- under the miscellaneous heading, and £25 under the judicial heading. Under this latter heading the sheriff and gaol is shown as having received £5/12/6.

Religious adherance was:—Church of Scotland, 423; Church of England, 306; Free Church of Scotland, 302; other dissenters (Independents, Baptists, Lutherans, etc.), Ill; Methodists, 5; Roman Catholics, 13; Jews, 2; professing to belong to no sect, 10; total, 1182.