THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, DEC. 23, 1867.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 3

THE Otago Daily Times. “ Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, MONDAY, DEC. 23, 1867.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

Owing to the Mail being detained in England, the P. and O. Company’s steamer, with the English Mail via Suez, did not reach Melbourne until the 16th inst,, three days beyond her contract time. Were it not that, when the Mail left last month, European matters were in such a state, that the news of war on a large scale having broken out, would have taken no one by surprise, there would be nothing of more than ordinary political interest in this month’s intelligence. Parliament has been called together at an unusual period of the year, but this has been rendered necessary on account of Parliamentary sanction being required for the expenditure in connection with the Abyssinian expedition.

In other respects the news from England is calculated to allay apprehension respecting Continental affairs. Contrary to numerous prophecies, the Emperor Napoleon continues to maintain peace with the different European Powers, and with that after wisdom so constant amongst the far-sighted, the seers who anticipated such terrible results from his Salzburg visit, have discovered that his designs have been foiled. They have found out, what a little reflection might have taught them earlier, and which was hardly likely to be hidden from the Emperor, that “ the Southern Governments of “ Germany would not help him to “ attack Prussia, and that Austria “ was in no position to make war.” Perhaps, were it worth the denial, it might prove also that he had very little to do with “sanctioning “the alarming telegrams,” and that their origin might be traced, more or less intimately, to movements connected with the Stock Exchange. Hence many of those panics of which we continue to hear both in England and France. . . . Of matters immediately affecting the Australasian Colonies, the announcement that the Australian Meat Company has sold 38,000 tons of preserved meat in Great Britain is, perhaps, the most important. It is the first instalment of a new trade, which only a few days ago we brought under notice as likely, if the process prove successful, to give a new impulse- to the commercial relations between Great Britain and her Southern Colonies

The general Information contains an enumeration of disasters more than usually destructive to human life. Some of them are of an almost unprecedented character, and the details, which in due course will be received, must prove more than ordinarily interesting.

From one end of New Zealand to the other, alike by political supporters and opponents, and by an immense number of personal friends and acquaintances, the intelligence of Mr Crosbie Ward’s death will be received with profound regret. There is no one in the Colony who has taken a part in public affairs who has gained so much personal affection or made so few enemies. The sad intelligence will be felt as a heavy blow. . . The. Water supplied by the Water Works! Company was pleasantly used on Saturday. The day was hot, and the dust was most annoying: but there were little “ practices ” by employees of the Company which soon put an end to dust through the greater portion of Princes street, and also enabled persons to see for the first time the volume of water, and the strength of the stream, which can be thrown when a hose and tin nozzle are fixed to one of the hydrants. . . -