EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26731, 29 March 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago JDatl? Himes

DUNEDIN, MARCH 29, 1863. “ The brig Adolph takes from this port for Nelson a party of 12 experienced Victorian miners, lately from the Shotover, who leave with the intention of following up the discoveries on the Buller and opening, if possible, a route from a good harbour on the West Coast to the Lake District. A second party of 12 Victorian miners, also from the Shotover, has, we learn, been organised to explore the West Coast, and it is their intention to sail in a craft which they have purchased ."

“The hearing of two charges of slygrog selling occupied a considerable time at the Police Court yesterday, the delinquent being William John Hughes, the keeper of a restaurant in the Arcade. The information was laid by two men employed by the Police Department to detect such offenders, and the evidence in the first case being, as the magistrate considered, conclusive, a fine of £SO was inflicted. The second summons was dismissed.’’

“A savage murder was committed on Monday last at Miller’s Flat, which lies on the road from Tuapeka to the Dunstan. The murdered man, who was known onlv by the name of ‘Yorky,’ was a packer from Tuapeka to Miller's Flat, and of the man whom there is no reason to doubt committed the murder nothing can at present be said but that he was a short time ago taken into partnership by the deceased, to whom he became known through his rendering assistance in extricating a horse from a hole. The two men nad been drinking heavily together, and after they had been observed in company the deceased was not again seen alive. The deceased was found witn his head frightfully shattered, the .belief being that the murderer’s weapon was , a pick-axe. When the suspected murderer was last seen he was riding a horse that belonged to the deceased. This man has been tracked towards the Dunstan by Mr Millar and Sergeant Garvey, and it is a consolation to know that the police entertain hopes of speedily capturing him.”

“Up to midnight, no further information had been obtained by the police as to the circumstances of the murder of- John McEldon, alias 'Yorky.’ at Miller’s Flat, or as to the whereabouts of the suspected murderer.”