THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1864.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 5

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 1864.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

' If we confined ourselves to the dissemination of new information, our-'readers would, perhaps, regard it as out of place that we should continue to record the laches of the Gas Company. To say that on Sunday evening the city was enveloped for an hour and a half in darkness through the unaccountable failure of gas would be „ but to record a very oft told tale. A hitch in the supply of gas, however much it may excite annoyance, fails to cause surprise. The novelty has worn off. the visitation has become frequent. Perhaps, however, we were wrong in using the word unaccountable, for it is only justice to the manager of the Gas Company to say that, however unhappy lie may be in his arrangements, he is never at loss for a plausible excuse. ...

Late advices from Auckland report the probability of more fighting on the East Coast, the rebels in the neighbourhood of Tauranga having shown symptoms of assuming the offensive again. There are very few troops down there, but some companies of the Waikato have been sent down, preparatory to being placed on their land under the terms of military settlement.

I It is stated in the " Southern Cross " I of the 11th June that Eawiri, the chief i who distinguished himself at the Gate Pa I affair, has sent a written challenge to Colonel Greer, in command of the troops, setting forth in the most explicit manner : the warlike intentions of the rebels. This 1 challenge is a most chivalrous production, and would be creditable to a civilised I commander. It is, in plain English, to I the following effect: —"Now hear what Iwe have to say. We have been waiting for you to come and attack us for a whole I month, but you have not come; and now I we are coming to you. We give you warn- ' ing therefore, that you may expect to see me within the month, and not to let any of your soldiers out, for our young men 1 will certainly, shoot them. We give you warning that you may not say it is murder, for it won't be murder. We shall treat your wounded and prisoners well, and shall expect you to do the same." On receiving this challenge, and knowing that the rebels were assembling in the neighbourhood, as their signal fires had increased in number, Colonel Greer took upon himself the responsibility of not allowing any of the troops to leave; so that lie has an ample force of about 1500 men to do battle with the rebels if they should desire it. Much of the information which has been obtained—cxclui sive of the challenge, which, of course, ' speaks for itself—is from native sources, and therefore probably not so accurate. It does not appear to be doubted, however, that the rebels are assemling in force, and, it is said, from Waikato, Tauranga, and Lake Rotorua. A proclamation appears in tlic "Gazette," constituting the Otago Gold Fields into a district, to come under the operation of the District Courte Act. Another proclamation appoints Wilson Gray, Esq., to be. Judge of the District Court of the Otago Gold Fields." It is' scarcely necessary to say that the appointment is a very important one, second only to that of a judge of the Supreme Court. We are sure that Mr Gray's selection to it will be hailed with pleasure, not only by his personal friends, but by all who know him or of him. Few men engaged in the stormy arena of political life in the neighboring Colony of Victoria have commanded, as Mr Gray has done, the respect alike of supporters and opponents. . . ." ■