THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1865.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22810, 20 February 1936, Page 14

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1865.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

It seems, from hints dropped in the newspapers at home, that the English Government have determined to prosecute the Maori war vigorously. From information which has come through a private source there is also reason to believe that the Secretary of State has resolved to support Sir George Grey against the opposition manifested to him by his Ministerial advisers. ... It is most unfortunate that a new difficulty has started up in the shape of the Waitotara war. It is not to be expected that the Home Government will accept any liabilities on this account. Supposing it to be entirely caused by the opposition of the natives to road making, the Duke of Newcastle was very explicit ... in declaring that the Colonists would have to take the entire cost of quarrels of this kind upon themselves. When to the ostensible object of road making is added the suspected object of establishing the validity of the Waitotara purchase, it is likely the Imperial authorities may more than passively show their disapprobation; may, in fact, tell the Colonists that the war is an iniquitous one. . . .

Wo understand that good news was received at Lyttelton, before the Geelong left, of the Oakatoka diggings, on the West Coast, between the Buller and Grey Rivers. One man was reported to have found sixty pounds weight of gold in one week. The reports had occasioned considerable excitement in the north. We remind our readers that the Calcutta sweep on the Launceston Champion Race, will bo drawn at the Empire Hotel this evening. Tenders are called for the conveyance of mails between the Mataura Ferry, and a post office to be established on the Mataura gold field. The first meeting of the recently appointed Committee of the Wakatip Hospital took place on Saturday, the 11th instant. . . .

A public meeting was held in the Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers, on Friday evening, the 17th instant, to consider the propriety of forming a lire brigade. Mr Brownhill occupied the chair. Mr Findlay moved the first resolution, which, with the others, was unanimously carried, and was to the following effect: —“ That this meeting is of opinion that it is urgently necessary and important that some means for preserving life and property in Port Chalmers against fire should be adopted, and for that purpose resolve that a Volunteer Fire Brigade should be at once formed.” ... A subscription list was

opened, upwards of forty persons adhibiting their names, a committee was appointed, and votes of thanks were proposed and heartily accorded to Mr Hodgf;on and to the chairman of the meeting. Mr Lyster and the members of the Opera Troupe left town yesterday, and embarked on board the Airedale, en route for Melbourne. They will land at the Bluff, arrangements having been made for them to give a series of four or five operatic entertainments in Invercargill, where their presence has been anxiously looked for, every seat in the dress circle and stalls having, we understand, been engaged for the season for many weeks past. This engagement over, Mr Lyster’s troupe will proceed on to Melbourne by the Alhambra. Wise’s Dunedin Directory for 18G5, the first copy of which is before us, is a very comprehensive compilation of information suitable to the everyday life of a commercial community like that of Dunedin. . . .