FIFTY YEARS AGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20867, 8 May 1931, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

EXTRACTS FROM THE HERALD. The following are extracts from the New Zealand Herald of May 7, 1881: The more the subject of the wreck of the Tararua on the Otara reef is canvassed, the more it appears that somaone connected with the Government is to blame for the dangerous condition in which the reef now is. It appears that preliminary arrangements had been made for erecting lights on that part of tha coast, but nothing more was done. No (ioubt now that such a severe loss of life has taken place, steps will be taken to make the place less dangerous in the future, but that will not restore those who met so untimely an end. If all steamers and other vessels . carrying passengers were compelled to provide an ample supply of cork jackets for all passengers carried, a great step would he taken to prevent the loss of life. The Hon. R. Campbell, who is a passenger on the Zealandia to England, is to try and make satisfactory arrangements there on behalf of a company recently formed in Otago for the regular shipment to England of frozen meat. Many difficulties have yet to be overcome, but it is calculated that each vessel leaving the south could take 8000 fat sheep to the London market, which would net to their owners from 12s 6d to lfis per head after the cost of freezing, freight and commissions had been deducted.