THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam” DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1865. SHIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 11

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam” DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1865. SHIPPING.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

PORT CHALMERS.—Makch 5. The clipper steamer Eclipse, with a large number of passengers' for Okitiki, was towed out early on Sunday morning, and proceeded southward, with a fresh breeze from N.E. She will make the passage to her destination via Foveux Straits. The s.s. Wellington, which sailed at mid-day on Sunday, had upwards of 128 cabin and fore-cabin passengers, about 20 of the number having booked at Bluff Harbor. The schooner Jennie Dove, which is one of the next vessels for Oakitiki, proceeds to Dunedin jetty on Monday, to receive her passengers and freight. The Wallace, Mary Jane, Blue Bell, and Edward and Christopher are already loading there, and the Clarendon is also advertised as on the berth.

We understand the Commissioners have decided to light up the Exhibition in the evenings, and to open it to the public. The gas fittings will be forthwith put in. To offer facilities to those who desire to make the Exhibition a study, it has been decided to admit, on application being made, tutors with their pupils before the hours of opening to the general public. The district schools are to be allowed to visit the Exhibition. Three days will be fixed for the purpose, and the admission to the children will be free. N

In the Supreme Court on Saturday, John Scott, convicted on the previous day of manslaughter at Waikouaiti, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor. . . .

A 12-pounder Armstrong gun was landed at the Jetty, on Saturday, from a lighter, with portions of the carriage, &c; and the whole was temporarily placed in the Jetty Store. Judging from the number of wheels landed, at least two guns and tumbrils have arrived; and it is understood they have been sent from Auckland for the use of the Artillery Volunteer Corps. The drama of "The Old House at Home" and the burlesque of "The Maid and the Magpie" were played at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening.

At a meeting, of ratepayers, held in the; North-East Harbor District Schoolhouse, on the Ist instant, it was resolved, by the majority of those present, that the school should be closed rather than that " the odious and obnoxious Education Tax should be.levied again." The resolution %vas arrived at after a warm debate had taken place between the residents of the upper part of the district and the Broad Bay residents.

It is not many months ago that the "Lyttelton Times" prayed that Providence might spare the province of Canterbury from the crowning misfortune of the discovery of a gold field. The misfortune, having unexpectedly come, is accepted with tolerable complacency. "It has come to this at last," says our contemporary, " that Canterbury is charged with the privileges and responsibilities of a gold held." The Provincial Government is rated soundly for having " ignored the gold field for months, though the best advice, which turns out to be well founded, was given them through our columns." It appears that with a large number of the miners the favourite route from Lyttelton to the Okitiki is overland, right across the island. "Contrary to expectation, and guided by that instinct which in the pursuit of their object seems superior to all reason, the digging population from both North and South insists upon crossing the whole territory of Canterbury from East to West Coast, in order to get to the scene of their operations. Not only from Dunedin, but even from Picton and other Northern ports, vessels continually bring to Lyttelton cargoes of passengers who prefer the overland route to the sea voyage round by Nelson. It appears that the river entrances are looked upon with considerable dread; and in the present imperfect state of organisation this is not much to be wondered at."