EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THI ©tago Sail? Hfmea . DUNEDIN, MAY 19, 1863 The polling for the" two seats for the North Harbour District, in the Provincial Council, resulted in the return of Mr John Cargill and Mr George Duncan, the unsuccessful candidates being Mr John McGlashan 3nd Mr Charles Duke. “By a miserable series of complications, the City of Hobart has come on without the English mails, although when she. left they had been lying in Melbourne three days awaiting transit. . . It is difficult to judge with calmness an affair which, producing so much inconvenience, naturally excites the greatest indignation.” “Tt has hitherto been the custom of the residents in Queenstown to provide for the protection of their property by means of nightwatchmen paid by themselves. It would appear that it is not very easy to enforce discipline. among the members of the private police, and accordingly application is to be made .to the police authorities for the services of the regular constabulary during the hours of night.” “ ‘ Bullock-punchers ’ are not as a rule the gentlest of beings, and when they imbibe immoderately of strong waters are apt to transfer their violeb attentions from their quadruped! charges to any; person who may ba>pen to be in the way. It so happened on the. 17th inst., when the esort halted at Waiwera, a crowd of ine.riated bullock-drivers interfered 'ith the sentries placed ever the treture and prisoners, indulging in the elgant phraseology peculiar to their era;- and otherwise disturbing the equality of the police. After being caponed to go away several times, one ylorous driver taunted the sentry witlhis inability to take him prisoner- 3 most unfortunate joke for the perb ra t° r — for he. was instantly secur-*- His companion, who attempted / rescue, was also arrested, and both ien were later heavily fined.

“ The gold escort arrived' the Treasury with the following m °nnts of gold:—Queenstown, 1424; Arrow River, 26730 z; Dunstan, $° oz ’ ,Juapeka, 26440 z; Waitahuna^ oo2 ! Woolshed, 2230 z.” •