FROM THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1863.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 10

FROM THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam out faciam." TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1863.

Like Melbourne in the early days of the Victorian goldfields, Dunedin is by no moans so lively as the extraordinary discoveries in (lie interior of the Province might lend one to expect. The enterprise and energy which a few months ago found their abiding place in the town are now transferred to the diggings. Business, excepting that which concerns the supplies of the goldfields. is dull; even the amu&dmonts arc not patronised so liberally as might be anticipated. Three year? hence when the goldfields have subsided into a regular jog trot condition, the Christmas season will bo (he signal for the bringing to town of troops of diggers. But. in the first flush of such discoveries as those lately proclaimed at the Lakes, few miners care to risk losing the chances that might render them independent for life to enjoy the brief pleasures of a week or two’s “spree.” The ephemeral attractions of pleasure sink into nothing in comparison with the more substantial ones of prospective gains, and the charms of the Dunstan and the Lakes are paramount whilst those of Dunedin are forgotten. . . During the month of December (ho exports of gold from the port of Dunedin amounted to 23,9910 z 2dwts of the value (at £3 17» 6d per ozj of L 92.953 17s. A meeting of members and friends of the Wesleyan Church was held last evening at (he Oddfellows’ Hall, George street, but it. was not very numerously attended. The objects were to submit a statement of the financial position of (ho church, and to adopt a plan for raising funds to complete the- repairs and extension. ~ . . Mr Cook, the treasurer, stated that the original liability fort building the church Yus 1,1,380. A sum of LE9O was paid to the contractor, followed by one of L 527: there was a claim for LlO5 as nllowapco for extras, which with L 57 balance made (he total named. The bank advanced L6CO towards the payment?, and the remainder was raised in donations at the time. The contract for extending and strengthening the church, after the recent, damage done by the wind, was L 920; new seats would cost from L7O to LlOO; and other charges would raise the total to L 1,120. There had been raifed and paid on this contract L 578, and there were promises, which would no doubt be made good when wanted, for about L3OO more. There would thus remain L 440 to bo raised to defray the cost of the repairs and extension: and adding the L6OO duq upon the building contract there was a total of LI.IOO to ho cleared off. The contractor for the works now in progress had not into difficulty; but it, was very probable than an arrangement would be made by which they would bo completed by his creditors, and if so all would be done in about three weeks. The bank had declined to advance another sixpence; and the special nature of the effort now needed was that during (he three weeks a considerable portion of the L 440 necessary must be raised, so that the congregation might again assemble in their repaired, enlarged, and beautified church. —(Applause.) . . . During the evening a sort of promissory engagement to ‘‘give or' get” a certain sum was handed to each person present and was returned filled up.

SIXTY YEARS AGO