EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26852, 17 August 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago 3>atlv> Unites DUNEDIN, AUGUST 17, 1863. ■ “We are enabled to report a decided Improvement in the up-country trade with the exception of flour. During the last 20 days some large parcels ox goods have gone forward to the Tuapeka and Hogburn diggings. Some large up-country storekeepers are in town, and are prepared to invest, to some extent on a change of the weather, and on some decisive information as to tlie movements of the diggers.”

. “ Canterbury and Southland put this province to shame in tjie spirited manner in which they have taken up the subject of internal communication. A portion of the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway is expected to be opened in October, and within three ■ years the whole line from Lyttelton to Christchucrh will be opened for traffie. and no doubt by that time the railway system will have been extended to various parts of the province. The Southland Government has •' the honour of having actually run the ; first locomotive in New Zealand, the '■youngest province but one being one ' of the first in the rank of progress.”

“The complete exploration of the .West Coast of the Middle Island will probably be accomplished during the ensuing summer. There are several parties at present engaged in ascertaining the best route from Nelson to the coal and gold fields on the West Coast of that province, and already settlement has commenced in the vicinity of the River Grey and at other Available places. The Canterbury Government is making every effort to open the country on the West Coast, the result of recent having established •the existence of considerable areas of land suitable for settlement, besides very valuable coal deposits. A depot has already been established by the Canterbury Government on the West Coast, and a road is in course of formation to within a comparatively easy distance of the sea. and a line of electric telegraph will’ shortly be constructed thither.”

.•;, "The river steamer Tuapeka. already '(reported as having arrived at oneux Ferry, has since been successfully >,' navigated by Captain Murray as far •■•up the river as the Tuapeka Stream .without meeting with accident or any serious impediment to her progress, the very unfavourable ■ circumstances in which the passage was accomplished. Having freight to discharge at the Molyneux township, the Tuapeka first steamed down the river to its entrance, and, after discharging ' cargo* and coaling at. the Clutha coal mine, she ascended the Matau branch of the river as far as the township of Kaitangata. remaining there until Tues- ' day morning. The passage downstream, as may be imagined, was made at a rate of speed which astonished the many spectators on the banks of the river, though to avoid snags or sand banks it was frequently necessary to proceed under easy steam.”