“OLD DUNEDIN.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 7

“OLD DUNEDIN.”

LECTURE BY MR W. B.'M'EWAN. An interesting lecture on “ Old Dunedin” was given by Mr W. B, M'Ewan (city librarian) in Messrs C. Begg and Co.'s concert chamber last evening. The lecture, which was given under the auspices of the Otago branch of the Historical Association' of New Zealand, drew a fair audience, and, although the subject has been dealt with on many 'Occasions previously, Mr M'Ewan’s remarks claimed the close attention of all present. The outstanding feature of the lecture, which was illustrated with over RIO lantern slides, was the fact that it showed the progress and development made in the city since the days or the earliest settlers in the province. The lantern slides were particularly interesting, especially the views which depicted the city in the making in the ’fifties and ’sixties. The president of the association (Dr J. R._ Elder), in introducing the lecturer, said Mr M'Ewan was very popular on account of his efficiency as a librarian and because of his.,readiness to serve all who asked for bia guidance and help. He thanked' Mr M'Ewan for his assistance, particularly for his readiness to help the students when they attended the reference room at the Public Library, and also when they* visited the M'Nab collection. Mr M'Ewan was an authority on early Dunedin ( and his story of the rise of the city was a veritable romance, as he could speak of the sterling qualities of the early settlers who sowed the seed which the people of to-day reaped, aud who lived amidst all the discomforts of a town in the making, Mr M'Ewan commenced by saying that according to Dr Hockeu’s works on the settlement of Otago the first inhabitants were two runaway sailors, who built a hut on the banks of the Knituna stream, near the old Post Office site. Towards the end ot December, 1844, two families —the Andersens and the M'Kays—arrived from Nelson. The Anderson family later built a house at Pelichet Bay, where the first white child was born in 1846, two years before the first settlers arrived from Scotlecturer next referred to the late Mr Frederick Tuckett, who conducted the negotiations for the purchase of the Otago block from the Maoris before the settlement of Otago. After inspecting Port Cooper (Lyttelton), Mr Tuckett went to Waikouaiti, and later came to Dunedm, and, after inspecting the present site of the city, went to the mouth of the Molyneux River. He returned later, and he was so impressed with the land where Dunedin now stands that it became his final choice for the settlement. The Otago block, consisting of 400,000 acres, was obtained for the sum of £24oo—less than IJd per acre. The surveyor of the city was the late Mr Charles H. Kettle, was born in Kent.- and who arrived emngton >y the first immigrant ship (the Orient) m January, 1840. He surveyed Port Nicholson, and with others discovered and surveyed the Rimutaka, VVairarapa, and Manawatu districts. He returned to England in 1843, when he visited Edinburgh and made himself acquainted with tlie plan of the city and its street names. _ He then returned to New Zealand, arriving in Otago on February 23, 1846, and at once set about surveying the settlement. The lecturer referred to the life of the Rev. ihomas Burns and the work he did in connection with the settlement of Otago before, leaving Scotland and after his arnval in the colony. Mr M'Ewan next referred to the late Mr John M'Glashan, who was. appointed secretary of the Otago Association in 1847, and who discharged Jus duties m connection with the settlement of the province with much devotion and zeal. Mr M'Glashan arrived at Port Chalmers' by the ship Rajah in 1853. The lecturer also referred to the late Captain c ’ '™° wns the first superintendent of Otago. The pictures shown on the screen included portraits of several men who were closely associated with the settlement of the province in the early days. The portraits included the Rev. Dr Stuart, Messrs John Jones, Donald Reid, and others. Of particular interest were the views relating to Bell Hill and its neighbourhod. These views showed that Bell Hill extended right across Princes street, near Dowling street, to. the harbour. The hill was removed bj’ prison labour in the early days. It was a stupendous undertaking. The lantern, by. means of which the fine collection of views was shown on the sci-een, was operated by Mr E Aslin. On the motion of Mr F. W. Knight, Air M Ewan was accorded a hearty vote ot thanks for his lecture.