THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 1866.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23326, 19 October 1937, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, OCT. 19, 1866.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

The greatest efforts of civilisation have certainly been influenced by gold discoveries. It is to be regretted that accurate histories have not been preserved, but sufficient is known to establish as a fact that the world’s history supplies many instances of countries redeemed from wildernesses or from a more or less savage condition by the magic influence of the presence of the precious metal. In our own time, California and Victoria supply two notable instances. From the crudest of conditions they have risen into grand countries, studded with large cities, and replete with all the humanising and social advantages which modern science has lent to civilisation. Melbourne and San Francisco are to be named with cities in the Old Country, which can trace back a prosperous and populous existence, at a time when, in the case of the Australian City at least, the grass had not received a white’s man’s footprint. On a smaller scale, Otago has presented a yet more recent instance of what the discovery of gold can do; and more recent, and perhaps more wonderful still, stands forth the colonization of the West Coast of the Middle Island. When all the circumstances are considered, the West Coast Goldfields seem entitled to prominence over all modern discoveries. True, no Victoria or California has risen out of them; but they were as much deficient in natural advantages and facilities as Victoria and California were gifted. It is marvellous and almost incomprehensible how a foothold was obtained at Hokitika. With no settlement, however small, to serve as a nucleus of a larger concentration of population ; dangerous, almost unapproachable, landing in front; behind, an untrodden and presumed impassable wilderness; with no resources than this same golden store, tens of thousands of people have settled the country, and, wonderful to relate, with hardly any detailable difficulty. . . •

We extract the following directions for preserving the scent of flowers from the “Scientific American “Pure inodorous glycerine will completely absorb the odors of flowers, it you submit them to a digestion for severalweeks in a well closed jar ana in a moderately warm place. The flowers should be covered by the glycerine.” The fine line of brick building forming the westerly side of Fleet street is now completed; some of the shops are occupied, and the others are being fitted up. Fleet street, it may be explained, is the name now given to the opening from High street to Maclaggan street, which has hitherto been known as the Arcade —or rather to the street line which has been formed by removing one side of the old Arcade and putting up a row of shops which stand upon the ground formerly occupied by the “New Arcade. In making the alteration, Mr H. Farley has effected a really great city improvement ; and it is to be hoped that he will be successful in letting his new premises, as to be induced to complete the work by substituting brick buildings for the wooden ones, which still form the easterly side of Fleet street . . . The width of the street is 30ft in all; and it is divided into footways. with a stoutly battened carriage way between them. A substantial culvert has been erected over the stream which has long been of no savory note; and there has been a good deal of filling done, so as to make a solid path and roadway. Some of the shops at the Maclaggan street end have cellars; but, as a rule, it has been necessary to put the staircases at the back of the shops.