EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27267, 19 December 1949, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

*ROM THE FILES OF THI ®taao ©aily> XEimes DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 19, 1864 The usual fortnightly escort arrived in town yesterday afternoon, bringing down the following quantities of gold: Queenstown, 1501 oz; Arrow River, 9520 z; Dunstan, 1850 oz lOdwt; Manuherikia, 1386 oz; Dunstan Creek, 1910 oz 15dwt; Hamilton. 8240 z; Tuapeka, v 25250 z; Waitahuna, 3730 z; Woolshed, ,3130 z lOdwt; Hyde. 1308 oz; total, . J2.9430z 15dwt.

At Hamilton, the large sluicing companies are preparing to wash up and clean their races in anticipation of Christmas. Report speaks very favourably of their prospects, especially of the United Company. The Perseverance Company’s yield is also expected to be good. Their operations will be somewhat impeded by the' giving way of a portion of the face. Notwithstanding the larger races that have been cut. the supply is not equal to the requirements of the place.

A new Maori prophet has made his appearance at Petane, in the Hawke’s Bay province. He declares himself to be an acci edited agent of the Almighty, Who, he says, has made his appearance upon earth in Taranaki, m the form of a Maori. No doubt this is a device of the leading members of the King party who evidently yet seek to give fresh inspiration to the movement.

A matter of importance to Home shipping is the exhibition of a good light at the Otago Heads. The new light on Taiaroa Head is expected to be shown on or about January l next. The light will be a fixed dioptric red one. No doubt an intimation of the existence of the light will be made at Home so as to assure its publication in the charts and books of directions. At present dependence is not usually put upon the light by ship captains, as In the charts, it is intimated that the light is one which is only occasionally shown.