EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago Daihe Uimes

DUNEDIN, NOVEMBER 2, 1863. “It appears that even Tasmania has its ‘ native difficulty,’ and his Excellency, Colonel Browne, has no fewer than seven aboriginal Tasmanians un;der his Government. We notice in the Colonial journals that these seven natives cost the Government something like £ISOO a year, or a trifle . over £214 per annum each. If the •.same scale of native Government were .adopted in New Zealand the expenditure would be £10.700,000 per anvaum." “The Town Board of Port Chalmers has at length resolved upon proceeding with various street improvements, ■ifor which a sum of money was redden tly voted by the Council. George ‘street, which is at present the leading thoroughfare, is to be lowered three feet at one place and raised four feet at the southern termination. Wickliffe terrace and Currie street are also to be partially formed, and other steps will shortly be taken to open up the township, which is more extensive and more advantageously situated than is generally supposed, the small ; portion, of the town .visible from the n'bay giving but an indifferent idea of the extent of the place.” Sergeant Hardcastle, writing from Mount Ida under date October 24. - 'says: “ Weather still wet and severe. , Many persons who have been unsuccessful in getting good claims at ■Clarke’s-and the neighbourhood have returned to Hogburn. The population is estimated, at 3090. New discoveries: None reported save one prospecting • claim applied for by Patrick Nichol "and three others for the bed of a creek about six miles from the third gully towards the Snowy Mountains in the direction of Garvey’s Track. Being • ; outside the district the claim could not be granted, but a certificate of the ‘application was' given to the prospectors.” «within the last few days it' has ■ F been conclusively shown that the new Jetty street pier is quite inadequate :for the growing traffic. It is almost an impossible' task for a pedestrian to •‘pass along the pier during the busy part of the day. What with the multi-' _ -tudinous collection of bales, boxes and casks, which encumber the pier, and -’the numerous drays loading or dis- ”•• charging, the roadway is completely blocked up. If, as is exceedingly probable, there should be any large increase ?in the trade of the port during ’.the’ next few months, it will become quite necessary to take steps for pro- • '•viding greater facility for the discharge and shipment of cargo.”