EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26750, 20 April 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago TDatl? Utmea DUNEDIN, APIIIL 20, 1863. “ Several Government immigrants to South Australia are violating their bonds and are proceeding to this colony.” “We notice that the steamer Settler, intended for the trade of this port, has had to put in at Sydney on her way from Adelaide in a leaky condition.” “A police magistrate at Burrangong, New South Wales, has been adopting a very singular and unusual means in endeavouring to get hold of Gardiner, the highwayman. He is said to have written to Gardiner .advising him to repent, surrender, ■rand trust to the mercy of the Government, For writing this letter the magistrate in question has been called on to show cause why he should not be dismissed.”

“It would seem that the provisions of the Arms Act are not so stringently enforced as they ought to be in Otago, and further, that the Customs officers in Wellington are very remiss in thenduty. At any rate the following paragraph for the New Zealand Advertiser will, it is to be hoped, have the effect of inducing a little better look-out after returned Maori diggers:—‘A native who lately arrived at Otaki from Otago, boasts that he could buy any quantity of powder and arms on the diggings. We. are informed that he brought up with him 401 bof powder, 25 boxes of caps, and two double-barrel guns.’ ”

“A meeting of the Drapers’ Assistants of this city was held on Wednesday evening last, having for its object to procure the closing of the various establishments in Dunedin at 6 p.m. during the winter months, and at 7 p.m. during the summer, Saturday excepted. A committee was appointed to wait upon the several heads of establishments, in order to solicit their signatures to a memorial to this effect. We need hardly add that the movement has our entire sympathy, and we can hardly anticipate any antagonism to the adoption of a system which has been found to work else- ' where so beneficially both to employer and employee. We would urge upon our friends the obvious necessity of seconding this rnovement by completing their purchases by a reasonable time of the day-time, . thus affording the assistants some for that mental recreation after the labours of the day, which is so essential to the performance of their duties on the morrow.”