THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1866.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1866.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

At the Mayor's Court yesterday _ six persons were charged with various degrees of drunkenness and disorderly conduct. . We extract the following from the "Timaru Herald" of 2nd February:— "About two years ago a young man named M'Guiness arrived at Timaru in company with another young man. from Ireland, bringing with him a box or chest, with his initials ingeniously formed upon the lid of it by screws. He was going, we believe, from Timaru to the Otipua station, when he fell from the dray and was killed. The police took the matter in hand, and sold the deceased's watch, clothes, and box to defray his funeral expenses. Mr Robert Taylor, the undertaker bought the box. and shortly afterwards sold it again foi; a small sum, and we believe it changed hands several times until it came into the possession of Mr Wedderell, of Arowhenua. The police received a letter from the parents of the deceased a short time ago, describing the box, and containing a plan of the lid of it. which showed that if four screws, marked A. B, C. and D. were undone, they would disclose a small secret drawer, containing sovereigns wrapped in paper. The police traced the box to the possession of Wedderell, and purchased it from him for the sum of sixteen shillings: and on opening the lid, as directed, Sergeant Ramsay, discovered seventeen pounds secreted there."

Arrangements for holding annually a "grand provincial steeplechase" in Canterbury are now being made. . . . A full-length portrait of the Rev. Dr Burns has been painted by Mr John Irvine, A.R.S.A., of this city, for a number of the leading residents, by whom it is, we believe, to be presented to the Government, with a view to its being placed in some part of the new Provincial Buildings. . The new Fire Brigade offices erected on the reclaimed land at the junction of High and Rattray streets have been completed, with the exception of some minor details; and the monthly meeting of the Brigade was held for the first time in the large room over the engine-house last night. This room has

been carefully painted and decorated, and furnished very comfortably . . • The children attending the Sunday schools connected with the First Church yesterday enjoyed their annual treat—a Pic-nic at Anderson's Mills, Water of Leith. Under the head Piscatorial Enthusiasm, the "Timaru Herald" says:— " We are informed that Mr J. Pilbrow and Mr H. Rayner, a short time ago, went in company with a number of Maoris to fish for partiki, on the beach near the Maori pah at Arowhenua. They were out for two nights and a day, and during that time succeeded in securing about a ton and a-half of fish. Mr Pilbrow went into the water up to his chin, with a line and strong hook baited with a piece of flounder, when he secured a shark five feet long, containing twenty-five young ones; and on going in again, he caught a grouper weighing fifty pounds, ine sea along the beach appears to swarm not only with grouper, but sharks also: anglers must therefore be very cautious."