EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26544, 20 August 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago ©ail'? fttmes DUNEDIN,.AUGUST 20, 1862. “We observe that the hard labour prisoners have commenced levelling the approaches to the new jetty nj Stuart street. The jetty itself is fas approaching completion.” Says the Daily Times: “It is very probable that a rush unprecedented m the mining annals of this colony will take place to the new diggings, and that when the news reaches Melbourne a large influx of population may be anticipated from there.” The Sydney correspondent of the Daily Times states that “the mission of our Emigration Commissioners, Messrs Parkes and Dailey has turned out a failure. It is not known that they have induced a single person to come out here. . . . You are that Henry Parkes is a man of mark here; at one time editor of the Empire which he founded, and member for Sydney.” I Sir Henry Parkes later became prominent in political circles m Australia.] “ The Coromandel diggings are not likely to tempt many more miners from this province. The last accounts received f?om Coromandel all agree as to the great natural difficulties of the place and the improbability of the diggings being able to support a large population.” The Invercargill correspondent of the Daily Times writes: ‘‘The rush to the Wakatipu diggings has already set in. By last reports there were 60, and every day makes additions. Several parties have started witmn, the last week from Invercargill, some with drays, and many more are maxing arrangements for leaving soon.The Daily Times in the course of a leading article has this to say of he Duke of Newcastle, secretary for the colonies:—” The further despatches from the Duke of Newcastle may well excite the surprise of the Assembly. They exhibit the tone of a petulant girl anxious to wound without expressing any real meaning. The studied tone of galling sarcasm adopted towards the colonists and the gratuitous assumption that they desire to evade the responsibilities for which they are properly liable seem to be more the production of a peevish valetudinarian than an expressed statesman.” Writes the Sydney correspondent of the Daily Times, under dale J-uly 2o:— “The Australian Steam Navigation Company, held its usual half-yearly meeting yesterday. The net profits for the six months amount to £26,zb5. The dividend declared was about 2S per cent, per share.