1850. JANUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2300, 31 March 1898, Page 27

1850. JANUARY.

19th.— The schooner Amazon, 130 tons, Capt. Ho well, alvcrtiseda I vcrtised to sail for California, the " Land of Gold," if 30 passengers can be found at £20 each. Fatal boat accident to man named Stewart, of Otago. He was proceeding in a boat with two others to Port Chalmers v> hen some words arose between Stewart and another, and a scuttle ensued, and both parties fell into deep water. The accident was seen from the Port, and pilot boat saved one. The boat was the same as that by which ~r. Watson and the others had been drown ed. First tire, Monson's house, Water of Leith. FEBRUARY. 23rd. — Prospectus of Dunedin Property Tnvest-m'-iit Company. Objects: To enable its members to become the possessors of heritable property, and to secure a profitable return for the investment of money. Share?, £5 each. Fortnightly payineni. Is. Entry money, 2s. 6d. Rate of interest charged on acl\ Alices, 5 per cent. Interim Committee: Thos. Bain, John Hill. Win. Young. MARCH. 2nd. — Advertisement notifying that "Teetotal "' .Society is being formed in Dunedin. 16th.— Publication of proclamation by Lieut. - Governor Eyre declaring Dunedin and Port Chalmers to be towns. 2(ith.— Arrived ship Lady Nugent, 80S tons, Parsons, from London, with omigiants. Passengers: Chief cabin — Hon. Mr. Tollemache, Mr. Godley. Lieut. Bulkeley of the (soth Kegimenf. Air. Jerningham Wakefield. Alessrs. Elliott, Robison, Lee, Nicholson, Mis-s and Dr. Laking. Fore-cabin — Air. and Mrs. AlcC'ray and family, Mr. and Mrs. O'Gloghlin, Messrs. Borton, Drewit, Wintcrberne, G. T. Fergusson, Mr. and Mr.. Cleaver and child, Mr. Morrison, Miss Howe, Miss Bishop, and Aliss Spencer. There were 38 passengers for Otago, and 72 for other settlement 0 . Second anniversary fete. Races on rising ground near Halfway Bush. Regatta on 27th at Port Chalmers. The committee of management for the fete were : A. C. Strode, F. D. Basire, H. B. Graham, A. McDonald, J. Sutton, C. Webb, S. Gibbs, J. de la C. Carnegie, F. Sherley, C. Lloyd, W. Popplewell, R. B. Tyser, P. Crow, S. Shaw, F. V. Martin, Morgan, Evans, G. Houghton, of whom Mr. A. C. Strode was judge, and Air. Fleury clerk of the course. APRIL. 6th. — Leader in News detailing progress of settlement. The population on April Ist was: Married— ATales, 212; do. females, 197. Singlemales, 455: do. females. 3ls. Total. 1,182. Arrived, per Lady Nvgent, 3S. Grand total, 1,220. Consisting of Church of Scotland, 423; Church of England, 3o6; Free Church, 302 ; other Dissenters, 111; Alcthodists, 15; Catholics, 13; Jews, 2; no sect. 10. Total, 1,182. Buildings — Stone, 5 ; brick, 5 ; weatherboard, 83 ; pole« or logs, 14 ; grass and poles, 10 ; clay, etc., 85. Total, 202. Cultivation— Potatoes, 92-kicres; garden ground. 49; oats, 27}; wheat, 20] f grass, 1!H; barley, 10}. Total, 219 { acres. Total fenced in, 3161 acres. Live stock— Cat tie, W2\ : sheep, 3,408; pigs, 732 ; goats, 169; horses, 45. Prices current— Flour, £20 ; bread, 9d. ; beef, C4d. ; mutton, 6d. to 6W. ; potk, 6^d. ; butter, Is. 9d. ; potatoes, £3 10s. to £4 ICs. ; "sugar. Id. to 6d. ; milk. Id. quart ; coffee, Is. (id.; tea, 2s. 6d. ; tobacco, 3s. 6d. to 4s. Gd. ; firewood, 95., 10s., and 10s. Gd. per cord ; coal not yet in the market ; candles— mould, Bd. ; linpe, composed of burnt shells, 2s. per bushel. Wages —Daily labourers, 3w. to 3s. Gel. per day; shepherds, £30 to £40 per year with rations : agricultural labourers, £25 to £30 per year with rations; domestic servants, £8 to £18 per year ; carpenters, ss. to Gs. Gd. per day ; masons, os. to 7s. per day ; wood-cutters, 4s. 6d. to ns. per cord; sawyers, 12s. to 14s. per 100 ft .; shingle splitters, 9s. to 10s. per 1000. 2ith. — Mr. E. McGlashan and Mr. W. H. Cutten, duly licensed as auctioneers by A. W. Shaw. Sub-Treasurer. Mr. Cutten held a license previously. MAY. 11th.— Neics complains that surplus from six quarters' revenue, £920 i°s. Gd., is not spent, but lie- in strong-box of Customs office. First flour and sawmill started ("Valpy's) at Water of Leith. JUNE. Ith.— H.M.s. Acheron returned, having completed survey of South Coast. slh.— Testimonial of purse of SOsovs. presented to Air. 11. B. Graham at a public meeting (Mr. George Lloyd in the chair and Mr. Popplewell vice), in order that ho might be induced to reconsider his determination to discontinue publication of the JVc if s, and try it tor another yo.ir. Air. Graham had admitted \n ,i prc\ious article that what ho said in the f ".nous article in No. 5 of the News might be liable to misconstruction, but he protested that ho had acted with the best motives. lie also adverted to the difficulties of journalism under the circumstances, stating that he was editor, reader, compositor and pressman, and also that he had ne\er had more than one or two offers of literary assistance. 12th.— Public meeting in school-house to protest against sub-treasurer sending the aecnu 1 .surplus (£200) to Wellington. Committee formed to prepare memorial to Lieut. - Governor on subioct. Committee — Messrs. John Proudfoot, H. B. Graham. A. Mercer. S. Shaw, W. Popplewell, John Hill, Wm. Stevenson. John Dewe. E. McGlashan, with power 1o add. Memorial 1 duly prepared and left for public signature. | 15th. — Letter in Netrs signed " Centigenarian," who compares his lot as a laboui'er with that in the Mother Country, and states that blessed with frugality and health, he looks forward to a green old age. JULY. 13th. — Publication of letter from Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary, stating that surplus would be returned, having been taken merely for safe keeping, also that in future notes of Provincial Bank of issue woxild be exchanged for specie. Lock-up proclaimed a public gaol. Messrs. Alex. Todd, Henry Oatts, Robert Williams, and William Purdie appointed magis- , tratos. 16th.— Air. A. C. Strode appointed R.M. and Sub-Treasurer. 27th. — Henry Monson, sen., returns thanks for subscriptions (£l3 los.) to recoup him for loss by fire on January 27th. Judge Stephen of Supremo Court appointed for Otago. AUGUST. 6th.— Arrived, ship Mariner, 637 tons, Harland, from London direct, with 171 cabin and steerage passengers, of whom between 40 and 50 were for Otago. SEPTEMBER. 4th.— Arrived. Poictiers, barque, Beal, from London, via Taranaki and Wellington. 28th. — Gavin Park proceeded against by Resident Agent for "squatting" on Town Belt. Fined Is. and costs, and ordered to remove. OCTOBER. 24th. — Arrived, Phcebe Dunbar, 701 tons, Michie, from London direct. 30th. — News publication changed to every tenth day, to enable proprietor's health to hold out till end of quarter. NOVEMBER. 17th.— Arrived IT.AI.s. Fly, vwth Govcrnor-in-Chief (Grey) on board, en route for Auckland I Island. | 25th. — Robert Williams, Es'i-, appointed Coroner for Otago. SOth. — Tenders called by Mr. A. C. Strode, Resident Magistrate, for extending jetty, aiso for erecting public hospital.

DECEMBER. 3rd.- — Public meeting (Captain Cargill in the chair) decided not to ask Government for L'iovincial Institutions. Opening of Oddfellow*' ll. ill in Princes-street, and .second amii\ cr&ary banquet o£ Hand and Heart Lodge. 11th.— Publication of text of Provincial Councils Bill, sent by Governor "for ;in> observation v, hich the set tiers might \\ ish to make thereon." 20th. — Subscription started to erect building for Church of England. 21st. — Last issue of Otago News, and farewell leader by editor.