EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27078, 12 May 1949, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ft ©tago 2>aU£ Himes DUNEDIN, MAY 12, 1864. We regret to learn that the Molyneux, with its accustomed fickleness, has again risen several feet 0 greatly to the disgust of the numerous diggers, who have so solicitously watched the rise and fall of the waters. At the same time hopes are indulged .• in that the cold dry weather which % has set in will result in a fall of the •i water level of a more permanent ■' nature than has occurred for some '• time.

With reference to the financial embarrassment of the Southland Govern- , ment, the Southland News of the 9th : inst., says: “The mystery is still maintained as to the financial position of the province, and the people have not even the satisfaction of knowing that r. the Government is taking, or contemZ plating, any effective measure of securr>; ing relief from an embarrassment, the •<* existence of which is the only patent " -fact of the situation.”

h A public meeting, consisting chiefly “ of miners, was held -at the Twenty- ' five Mile Creek. Lake Wakatipu, on 'i the 23rd ult., when the following resolutions were unanimously carried: (11 -: “ That this meeting, having heard the decision of the Attorney-general in appointing Judge Chapman to reside at Dunedin, are indignant at such decision. The various the Government has made to the Lake District have never been performed, and this meeting is of the opinion that the apathy hitherto displayed towards this district is injurious to the commercial and mining interests.” (2) “ That this meeting approves of the action taken in the matter of a gaol and Supreme Court established at Queenstown, and pledges itself to support the movement. v Xf the Supreme Court' is established at the Dunstan it will be equally as disadvantageous to the Wakatipu as before.”

We understand that previous to the departure of the Omeo a telegram had been received in Melbourne from Sydney, stating .that the barque Prince > Arthur, bound for this port from Newcastle, had foundered at sea, about 300 miles off Sydney, where the crew had arrived safely. The Prince Arthur ' was laden with coals * for Captain McKinnon. Both vessel and cargo are • understood to have been insured, but at this particular time, the non-arrival of the vessel is a matter of considerable loss and inconvenience. By the loss of the Panama there was a break in the arrangements for supplying this nort - with coals; and the loss of the Prince Arthur, at a time when she was daily looked for, to meet present necessities, is particularly unfortunate. The early arrival of the next vessels expected is much desired, as the supply of coals in port is almost exhausted.