EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago IDatl\> TEtmes DUNEDIN, MAY -13, 1863. The Daily Times was highly critical of the administration of the Dunedin Hospital, which, it declared. “is left to the irresponsible control of the provincial surgeon." In a scathing leading article on the subject, the paper said: “Not very long ago we received pa letter from a patient, who implored us not to allow his name to appear, detailing instances of horrible cruelty committed on the lunatic inhabitants of the hospital. Then came the grievous refusal to admit a patient who had been brought down from the diggings in a condition of serious danger. The unhappy man was turned away from the door of the hospital and suffered to remain in a tent for ndhrly two days, when the representations of the press secured his admission. He languished a day or two longer, and then died. ... It is dreadful to think that professional jealousy—and it is nothing else—is allowed such sway in the Dunedin Medical Inquisition, that practically all medical men find themselves quite debarred from the ordeal of visiting it. Those who have made the attempt have received such a reception as effectually discouraged them from repeating the experiment”

“In all young colonies where the paths to public life are easy of access, the class of place-hunters and professional politicians springs up. Men who have failed in other businesses make the pretence of serving the public the cloak to cover their private views of promoting their own personal aggrandisement. These are the men who demoralise the whole political fabric—they stick at nothing to attain to office, and once obtained, it is a bread and butter question with them to retain it.”

Flour is quoted at from £BO to £9O a ton in the Lake Wakatipu district. “It is stated,” a correspondent says, “ that dealers are more readily inclined to quit their stores of flour and provisions in consequence of the great havoc committed by rats, which have been driven from the hills in great numbers by the cold weather.”

The escort brought the following quantities of gold:—Queenstown, 22380 z, Arrow River,' 26210 z; Dunstan, 74510 z.

The population of the goldfields is estimated at about 19,000, made up of 7000 in Manuherikia, Teviot and adjacent diggings; 4000 in Dunstan (upper township); 5000 in the Lake district; 500 in Nokomai; and 2500 in Tuapeka, Waitahuna, Woolshed, and Switzers. The population of Dunedin is estimated at 14,000.