EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26958, 18 December 1948, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

? FROM THE FILES OF THE ' ©tago Himes > DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 18, 1863 “Mr Warden Broad, writing under date December 5, estimates the population of the Upper Shotover goldfield at 3250, of whom 3000 are miners. The mining surveyor has at last arrived, - and parties holding claims at Maori Point will now be able to set to work ?in earnest. Of course, there have been C many fierce disputes as to boundaries, - but these are now finally settled. V Scott’s party bottomed a paddock on Tuesday and from the first dish of 1 stuff obtained over soz of gold. This • will give some idea .of the richness •' of the ground.”

i The Arcade, says the Daily Times, is now in such a dangerous state that it would be appropriate to inscribe at one entrance, “All hope abandon ye 'who enter here,” and on the other, “Facilis descensus averni,” for it is quite on the cards that anyone essay- . ing the passage will find himself pre- ■ cipitated through the slender floor into the turbid creek which flows beneath. Strong symptoms of decay in ! the shape of holes of various sizes may be seen, and in some parts oscil- ' lation of the floor is by no means ' conducive to a sense of safety. The ■ other evening we happened to be ■ walking through the Arcade with a ' few friends, and as we were accident- ■; ally walking in step, the regular pedal force was almost more than the crazy _ structure could bear, and in selfdefence we were compelled to take , different parts of the roadway. Public or private property, the Arcade is \ now in a dangerous state, and ought ;to be repaired or else some serious accident will most probably occur.

“In reference to the sticking-up case reported by the Dunstan correspondent of the Daily Times, we have been furnished with the following additional particulars. Mr Skinner reports that on the 12th inst., whilst oh his way. to the Nevis to purchase gold, his mare shied at what proved to be two men behind a rock. He was thrown to the grourtd. and before he could recover himself the two men rushed out, presenting a double-bar-relled gun and. revolver. They tied and gagged him, and then robbed him of £SOO in £5 bank notes of the Bank of New Zealand (new), £95 in £5 bank notes (old), £2OO in £1 old notes, and 5s in silver. They also took his watch and chain and revolver, but subsequently returned the watch on his stating that it was a present from his mother. After dragging him behind a rock, they tbok off the saddle and bridle from the mare and then turned her loose. They then went away, stating that he was not the only man they were waiting for. In a short time Mr Skinner was able to loosen the cords on his wrists and returned to the Dunstan.”