FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18283, 27 December 1922, Page 6

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

CHRISTMAS WEEK OF 1872. EVENTS OF THE PERIOD. OUT-OF-DOOR AMUSEMENTS. The issues of the Herald for the ciwse of the year 1872 supply an admirable story of the way in which, 50 yeairs ago, Aucklanders spent their Yuletide festival. Christmas Day in 1872 fell upon a Wednesday, aind one reads with appreciative interest t*;at " the excursionists and those who went in for al fresco amusements had magnificent weather.' Obviously then, as now, the Aucklanders had a full appreciation of the joys of out-door recreations, for on tha Christmas Day 50 years ago "the steamboats were crowded with excursionists, the Northern shores dotted with family and friendly coteries, the Waitematm with boating parties, while the churches were well filled. It wnsi computed that the excursionists numbered over 6000"—no doubt a big figure for those comparatively uau-ly days. Early Eaco Meetings. The programme of Boxing Day amusements offered to Aucklanders in 1372 included race meetings at Whau, Papakurai, and Panmure. In the evening, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Charles' Osaka Japanese Troupe held the stage with its " wonderful feats of contortion, pedal, balancing, top-spinning, and butterfly | fanning. Added to these allurements there was exhibited nit the theatre a " most remarkable and educated troupe of monkeys," in charge of Signor Ferrari. Apparently performing animals and circus " turns " then exercised a strong appeal, for one of the illustrated advertisements appearing in tho Herald for that Christmas was in respect of Chiarini's Royal Italia(n Circus, which was billed to open when its horses arrived from San Francisco. This advertisement beaxs a quaint old-time picture of a marvellous equestrienne standing tip-toe on the back of a very spirited galloping horse. Contrasted with these humorous entertainments there were others of a more cultured character, notfiibly a grand concert at the Choral Hall, and war scenes and incidents from the recent Franco-Prussian war, given in the old City Hall. News from Britain at that period came both by mail and cable, but the cable news was not voluminous, nor was it thoroughly up-to-date. For instance caible news despatched from London on December 12 did not reach Auckland until December 19, coming by way of Hokitika. One notable item of news sent by caible announced the holding of a meeting at Wolverhampton " to bid fare, well to the Revs. Messrs. Selwyn and Still, Melanesian missionaries." French internal affairs then were in rather an unsettled condition, and one reads that the view expressed in Berlin papers was that Germany was indifferent to the internal conflicts of France. In America the Presidential election had then just resulted in the re-election of General Grant. Ooldminlng Boom. As indicating how prominent then was tho goldmining industry in New Zealand, the Herald for the closing days of 1872 contains many references to tho goldfields. In the Christmas Day issue reports from Thames dealt with results and workings at no fewer than 11 different claims, and the statement was made that tho returns were in many instances " much higher than was dreamt of." Just at that time, too, a suggestion was advanced that there was a good opening in New Zealand for the tinning of many kinds of foodr, such as oysters, rabbits, 'and chicken. Among items of local interest was the first testing a'; Onehunga of tho titaniferous ironsand of tho province. A furnace was erected, and the first test was with a charge of 4801b. of ironsand. This was in a liquid state in about two hours, and was ultimately run off as cast steel. Perhaps in no direction are the advances of the past 50 years more tellingly shown than in regard to the shipping trade. The deep-water sailing ship was then in her hey-day, and in the trade between England and New Zealand, vessels of this type played a conspicuous part. In tho coasting, intercolonial, and island trades, tho clipper schooner was largely employed, and numerous advertisements refer to these vessels and their respective trades. Looking Ahead. At this time discussion on the question of dry-docks was to tho fore, as well as certain proposed harbour improvements, and in a leading article, appearing in the Herald on December 18, it was maintained that " it is the bounden duty of tho Harbour Board to ' look ahead.' " When ono contrasts the Auckland Harbour of 1872 with the Auckland harbour of to-day, and notes tho marvellous advances that have been made, it would seem that the admonition to "look chead" has been wall and faithfully followed. ' Then, as now, the cost of living was a subject of keen interest- Just prior to the Yuletido of 1872 tho retail prices of commodities were:—Milk, 3d to 3id per quart; fresh^butter, 9d per lb.eggs, Is 3d per dozen; ham, Is to Is 3d per lb.; bacon, 9d to Is per lb.; bread, 4d to 4£d per 21b. loaf; beef, 4d to 7d per lb.; mutton, /-Id to 6d per lb.; and potatoes, 8s per cwt. In regard to the destruction of tainted meat, there is a quaint allusion to the action of certain butchers. Tho paragraph reads: —"The weather has been unusually muggy, and the blowflies are legion? The respectable and well-to-do butchers throw their tainted and turned meat into the sea. or boil down for the fat. Butchers who arc not respectable sell it at greatly reduced prices, to the very poorest class of customers."