THE Otago Daily Times. "Inreniam riam aut fariam." FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1861. THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inreniam riam aut fariam." FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1861. THE PAST AND THE PRESENT.

The passenger by rapid conveyance cannot Icll that lie is moving unless by fixing his eyes on objects as lie passes them, lie is able to note that lie leaves them behind. As with spacc so it is with time—it is only by fixing the mind's eye on the events of tho past, that the dreary interval of long years between it and the present can bo pictured. The rough broken plain the traveller wades through with difficulty, appears to him at a_ distance as lie gazes back on it, one unvarying level surface. Even so it is with the past,—the rough surfaces are smoothed over, the difficult passes disappear,—the memory recollects the spots they obstructed, but their traces arc lost to detection. Yet it is good to look back to tho past, —it is well to remember that there is no such thing in existence as rest; that time is constantly moving on, and that those who do not make progress, necessarily retrograde, —they cannot- remain stationary. To few, indeed, could a review of the past be accompanied with more pleasant feelings than to tho oarly settlers of Otago, who will never want n more enduring monument to their succcss than that of timonnmentum requirit, circumtpite. Thirteen years ago the colonial-

Hon of Otago was simply based on the speculative ideas of those who believed that from the - application of sound principles sound effects would follow. Tho New Zealand Company having, with some difficulty, succeeded in forming colonies within its territories, readily listened to the plan tor forming one in tho Middle Island, which seemed likely to be accompanied with fewer obstacles than those hitherto interposed. What wider basis could they desiro than a community knitted together by the associations of religious sympathy? The proposition to establish a colony in connection with an association of lay members of tho Free Church of Scotland, found ready and zealous supporters. The spot was. selected by' Colonel Wakefield, and n species of prospectus issued describing the terms on which tho New Zealand Company was willing to permit, and. co-operato in tho formation of the colony. A certain area of land, comprising 144,600 acres, was set aside for the new colony. This, which was afterwards enlarged, was to be divided into 2,400 properties, each property embracing the threo ..descriptions of lands, town,- suburban, and rural. One hundred of the properties were to bo devoted to the purposes of tho Church. Minute details wcro further arranged, and in August 1847, tho first bravo band of Pilgrim Fathers departed from Scotland's shores in the " Phillip Laing,"'to seek their'fortunes in the new but unknown land of promise. Within a few days another ship-load was dispatched from London in the " John Wickliffc." The two vessels together contained 321 passengers. Let us endeavour to fancy these immigrants' arrival at Dunedin,notas it now is, but in all the wild picturesque primitivonesa of its early days. There were three apologies for dwellings, and tho resl was nature in its original ntntc, wjicn " unadorned adorned the most." But our bravo pioneers had little time to sentimentalise,—work, labour, toil; the heads to devise, the hands to execute, were tho stern necessities on which their future progress depended, and they wcro not found wanting. Somo mado shanties out of thty bush; others had brought houses with them; and each member of the little commupitv at once beset himself to tho pursuit he desired to follow. Stores were furnished by tho New Zealand Company at cost prico. Meanwhilo further ships arrived, and under tho watchful vigilance of Capt. Cargill, who occupied a semi-official position, the settlement soon displayed symptoms of thriving prosperity. A magistrate wus sent down from the Northern Island, but he found scarcely anything to do. A Custom-house was established, and in the course of a couple of years a sum of £1200 accrued to the colony from this source of revenue, after payment of expenses. Tho greatest dilliculty was felt to know what to do with tho amount until the gordian knot was cut, by the sapient appointment of a judge, at n salary of £800, who with £400 for travelling expenses, absorbed the whole amount, and remained two years v.ith scarcely a single case to try. About this time the discovery of gold in Australia commenced to exercise an important influence on the condition of Otagu. Tho first announcement of it wus looked upon as a death-blow to the settlement by tlioso who were apt to take a superficial view of things. Thoy saw many departing to Victoria, many moi'u anxious to go if they could manage it, and much depression was felt. But time showed how short-sighted were these view*—and we cannot too strongly impress this fact on those of our neighbours who are deploring the passing of similar events at tho present time in Otago, to those that occurred nine years ago in Victoria. Instead of ruin and misery, the Victorian mines exercised a beneficial effect on Otago. The agriculturists found they were enabled to obtain a certain and lucrative market for their produce; prices rose, and a large increase of capital shortly made itcelf apparent,—brought back by colonists who, having met with more or less success in Victoria, returned to employ tlieir means in Otago.

11l 1052 the Constitution Act was passed, iiihl tliu people of Duncdin were so delighted that they consumed nearly all the candles in the town in illuminating their houses.—The Constitution gave them u Superintendent, mid Captain Cargill v.as worthily appointed to a post, the duties of which, without the title, he had hitherto worthily fulfilled. The price of laud was reduced from £2 to 10s. an acre, and a great impetus was given to agricultural pursuits by the acquirement of land at the reduced rale. Miners returning from Victoria, and freshly-arrived immigrants, eagerly invested their means in land at this figure. Capital also began to make its appearance in the country, in the shape of speculative investments. Then came an era full of great importance to the Colony—the first dawning of the runholding interest, which has since acquired such large proportions. Fromtho earliest days of the settlement, the rearing of sheep, was found to lie a profitable occupation, and attention was frequently directed to it; but it was not until 1856 that any marked movement took place in pastoral pursuits. A small body of runholders commenced proceedings, and—partly in consequence of their success, partly owing to the report of the Provincial' Surveyor, Mr J. J. Thomson—a "rush" took place from the neighbouring Colonies and from the northern parts of New Zealnnd, every spare ncro in the Provinco was taken up in runs. In December 1854, there were 59,000 sheep, whilst in December 1859, the number had increased to 300,000. With the advent of capital in the Province,

the demand for land became so largely increased, that the price was raised to 20s. uiC acre. Tho principle of hundreds wm adopted with the avowed purpose of allowing persons . of small means to bccome possessors of land. Tho run-holding and agricultural interests continued to gather in importance, till nothing seemed likely to rival much more check them. No one dreamed of the vast cffecls to ariso from a discovery similar to that which has produced such startling results in Victoria. For years vagno rumours had floated about, that gold existed in small quantities about the Province. Few thought it wortli looking after, no orio in liis most sanguine expectations ever dreamed of anything beyond an ordinarily payable field. We have come down to the present time, and what we now write of, hundreds of our readers can bear us out in. Ihe unfolding of the golden wealth of the Province has been like the divulging of a fairy tale to the major portion of the inhabitants. As week after week has brought to light fresh instances of success, as escort after cscort has presented the tangible evidence of undreamt of wealth; the feelings of wondering doubt have given way successively to startled joyful amazement and to unquestioning confidence. No more are heard tho fears of difficulties concerning the unemployed, the streets aro emptied of those who half supplicated half demanded employment. Business in every branch is prospering in town; the inland navigation is being opened up, and a large and enterprising population is permanently locating itself on the gold fields. With this number we are enabled to bo the first medium of announcing the arrival of the largest cscort that has yet como down; one that would e\ en have been larger, if the carts could have brought down more. Since June the gold produce of Otago has reached the extraordinary amount of 109,045 oz. brought down by escort, besides at least 20,000 more brought down by private hands. The population, which in 1854 amounted to 2557, and in 1859 to 8706, has been increased in four months, by fresh arrivals, to 30,000; and if reports are to be credited, larger numbers arc likely to arrive than have even yet comc down.

Do our readers ask why we have been so minute in travelling through the details of the past, we will say that all histories at whatover period they commence, have a retrospective introductory chapter. From this day we aspire to be the historical mirror of all that occurs in Otago,—of all that in anyway affects its history. \Ve have gone through the introductory chapter—wo have run through the history of the past till we come to the epoch! when the fortnightly production of gold has reached 35,000 ounces. In ourselves we are the symbol of the progress of Otago. No one, a few montli3 back, would have thought of establishing a daily paper in Dunodin —the first daily paper in New Zealand! The past and the present our readers have before tlieni— the future rests with themselves. If they will wisely avail themselves of thr resources which a bounteous Providence has placed at their command; if they avoid alike the dangers of excessive doubtfulness and of reckless confidence ; if they will add to discriminating judgment the auxiliaries of energy, perseverance, and industry, there is no limit to the success which may crown their career.

If tlicy complain thai in one remarks we have nicntiancd facts with which they were previously cognizant, we may plead that, besides their appropriateness to an opening number, they may serve the purpose of a record, when the present Piiiiedin may not be recognizable in the large city it will become. The early pioneers ot Utago may years hence turn to these pages and recall, with mingled feelings of thankfulness and triumph, tho humble times and the hnnl efforts of their* earliest associations with the great colony, and they may dwell with laudable pride on the success of the place whose first settlunenti they assisted. Some of them may nerhapfj pass again through a similar ordeal—may again aid in rescuing from wild primitiveness a new country. 'L'his history to them will speak volumes, it will remind them of the rewards that wait on energetic perseverance, and teach them not to be discouraged by trilling reverses.