THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1865.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22825, 9 March 1936, Page 5

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1865.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

It is scarcely generous to a small struggling Province like Southland to go over "on the other side" and pass it by in the hour of its difficulty and distress. Perhaps there are a few Southland people who do not at this moment feel that the separation from the government of Otago was a profound political blunder. It is true that the policy of the advocates of this measure cannot be fairly judged by the light of recent facts. There was a time when the development of.the growth of local interests gave a color to the claim for a separate government. There was a time, even, subsequent to the.gold discoveries, when Invcrcargill promised to be a rival to Dunodin, so rapid was the growth of its commerce and so great the facilities it appeared to possess for commanding the trade-of the Lake district, ft is often urged by the Southland people that their ports are at once nearest to the Australian Colonies, which are the source from which a large proportion of the supplies for the diggings arc,drawn, and to'the great market that exists in the Lake district. These views stimulated hope and encouraged the belief that Southland had nothing to do but to extemporise a road system which shoulu have the effect of appropriating the Lake trade before the Otago Government and the Dunedin merchants could complete their own arrangements. The task thus taken in hand was, however, of too gigantic a character, and the strength of the young province proved unequal to its accomplishment. It was simply a case of over-trading under the stimulus of exaggerated expectations. And the result is that many scores of thousands of pounds have been in effect thrown away. . . .

Our advices from Hamilton state that the United Company had washed up a small rich paddock near the Rine and .Shine Company's claim, which turned out 250 ounces of gold. They arc now washing up a larger claim, from which it is anticipated 400 to 500 ounces will be realised.

It is to be regretted that the promises made by many shopkeepers and others, prior to Mr H. Wilson undertaking to water Princes- street and the principal side streets, have not been kept: and that he has already hail to incur expenses considerably exceeding the amount collectable as subscriptions. During all the recent hot weather there has been no reason whatever to complain of annoyance from dust in the centre of the town; and it is much to be hoped that the watering of the streets- will not be discontinued, when only small subscriptions from those benefited are asked to enable Mr Wilson to continue the work. We learn from our Auckland letter that a number of the escaped rebel prisoners (I!)* from the Kaipara passed through Port Waikato on the 22ml instant on their way to I'aglan. Aotea. ajid Kawhia. They were unarmed, and had been provided with horses to enable them to reach their destination the more speedily and unmolested. Two of the party were women, who had been picked up on the way—at Waiuku.

Our Duustau correspondent writes: "The new rush at the Nevis still proceeds in a manner highly satisfactory, and upon completion of the tail race for draining the Flat, the quantity of ground taken up for mining purposes will be largely increased. As an instance of the improved mining prospects of this place it is only necessary to say that the rush to the "Grey" has caused no diminution whatever in the mining population.