EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26659, 3 January 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

' FROM THE FILES OF THE ©taso ©ail? Tltmes DUNEDIN, JANUARY 3, 1863 “As we have from time to time severely commented upon the extravagant manner in which the Auckland , papers have written up the Coro--.mandel goldfield, it affords us much pleasure to be able to say that recent C, advices tend to show that the field—--*if not all that has been described—is ; yet likely to turn out a payable one. Some of the reefs or leaders undoubtedly prove to contain rich stone, whilst ' there is reason to believe that quartz '.that will pay for crushing may be ‘obtained in sufficient quantities to keep ’"several mills going." i' “We are furnished with particulars -of the various quantities of gold deposited by the miners in the Treasury -.at the Dunstan on December 24, 26. yiand 27. The gross amount was 12820 z ~in 28 deposits. Thei’e was one of 1360 z, four over lOOoz, three over 70oz, two over 50oz, and the remainder varied from 12oz (the lowest quantity) to 370 z. The actual average was 460 z per man. The next escort will be a large one, according to all accounts, over 20,0000 z being from the Dunstan alone.”

“The number of cases of death by drowning in the Dunstan district is becoming lamentably frequent, and in ’most cases these have occurred through 7 want of proper care in crossing the i'swift mountain streams and rivers 'which cross the path of the miners in every direction. It is quite easy for • a person. crossing a swift stream that is not deep enough to take him overhead to avoid being carried away by -the current by adopting the method pursued by the Maoris in similar circumstances. When the Maoris cross . a rapid stream, where the water breaches sufficiently high to immerse the chest, and so render the body dangerously buoyant, they select a heavy piece of wood or stone, and, placing it on their heads, neutralise the buoy- . ancy of the body, and so are able to walk across with a firm foot.”

“An example of the injury that can be inflicted by suspicion and calumny is afforded by a recent occurrence in 'Canterbury. A short time back a Dr Hillson, who appears to have been of intemperate habits, died from delirium tremens, and during his illness was '"attended most assiduously by several .medical men, and chiefly by a Dr Turn- ~ bull;-an old college friend of the deceased. Certain arrangements rendered it convenient that the body should be buried rather sooner than is usual, and it appears that soon after the funeral some idle and slanderous rumours were circulated to the effect that the death of the deceased was not satisfactorily accounted for. A subordinate officer of, police, with all the proverbial officiousness of such gentlemen, when they fancy they have got hold of a ‘ case,’ forthwith made such representations as led to the body being exhumed and an inquest held. The result has been that, further than gratifying the morbid taste of the public by revealing the details of the unfortunate career, the reports alluded :to were proved to be without foundation.”