EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26478, 4 June 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago Utittcs Dunedin, June 3, 1862. , Many requests have been received that we should again print the column, abandoned In the war period, in which were related incidents of the early years of the Province, as reported in the flies of the Otago Daily Times. In view of the stimulated interest in thie history of the early days as the Centennial approaches, this ’ : column is being revived. The Otago daily Times appeared for the first -time on November 15, 1861, and, the narrative thus recommences a few : : months after the birth of this journal,

The gold escort brought to Dunedin on the 22nd ult. 53010 z of gold and on the 29th 4110 oz. Considerable .numbers of. miners have proceeded to Highlay, near Waikouaiti, and “from all that can be learnt there is little doubt of the’ district turning out a profitable gold, field.”

• '. No fewer than 31 vessels are reported at the* berths at Port Chalmers. They came from London, Glasgow, United States, Australia, Norfolk Island and coastal ports.

Mr Martin Sholl, secretary of the company which had been formed to supply gas to the city, was granted permission by the Town Board to open, where necessary, the roads and streets through which the company’s mains would have to be carried.

The superintendent of the province,Mr J. Richardson; announced the payment of £IOOO to the Town Board, which then decided to carry out ex-, tensive street improvements. There was stated to be an immense accumulation of mud on the street leading from Jetty street to Princes street.

Well over a column of the paper is devoted to a list of persons for whom there were unclaimed letters for March and April at the Waitahuna Post Office. :At the Resident Magistrate’s Court a. woman, was again brought up to answer a charge of drunkenness. The R.M., Mr Alfred Chetham Strode, said that the provincial government was prepared to defray the expenses of her passage to Tasmania and the accused was remanded until the departure of a ship for Hobart Town. “A violent. and unprovoked assault was perpetrated last Saturday evening, about 7 o’clock, upon the wife of the Court housekeeper. The occurrence took place in Princes street and was attended with violence of an unusual character. Mrs Gowan was knocked down and severely injured by a parcel of scoundrels who had no pretext or excuse for the wanton infliction of such brutality.” Prize Silver Cup TO THE AUTHOR OF THE , Best Pamphlet on Separation. “ The proprietors of the Daily Times will present a silver cup, worth at least £SO, to the author of-the best pamphlet on the desirability of the separation of the Middle Island from the Northern Island of New Zealand. The time for receiving the pamphlets and other details will be announced in a few days.” : Julius Vogel, by order of the Separation Committee, called for applications for the position of secretary to the separation movement, at a salary of £4OO per annum. /