THE OLD AND THE NEW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 29

THE OLD AND THE NEW.

DUNEDIN FIFTY YEARS AGO. To mark the occasion of his 50 years’ service with the firm of Messrs W Secular and Co., the staff met Mr John Moloney, the manager, on the morning of March 3, and presented him with a handsome barometer. The presentation was made by Mr F. Sherriff, the assistant manager, in an appropriate speech, in which he referred to the cordial relations which existed between Mr Moloney and the staff.

Mr Moloney, in replying, gave som e recollections of the changes that had taken place in Dunedin between the years 1878 and 1928 He said that from the Railway Station, which was then situated on the Triangle, ran the Port Chalmers and Milton lines, these being the only completed lines. The Milton line ran along Craw ford street, the eastern side of which was washed by the waters of tbe harbour, as there were no buildings there then. Jetty street crossed Crawford street, and gave access to the jetty, which was situated near the present premises of Messrs Donald Reid and Co. and Messrs Dalgety and Co. Sailing vessels from London landed their cargoes there, and the goods were then transferred by little sailers to Catlins, Fortrose, Invercargill, Riverton, and Orepuki, and by the Union Steam Ship Company’s fleet of small steamers to Timaru and Oamaru. The Union Steam Ship Company’s offices were of wood, and stood where the Star Office and Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co.’s office were now situated. Messrs John Reid and Sons now occupied the offices that were formerly used by the Union Steam Ship Company. When one looked at the new Otago Daily Times office, said Mr Moloney, and thought back to the time when this popu lar daily wa s printed in the little build ing on the site now occupied by the Bank of Australasia, one could not but be proud of the progress of Dunedin That spot of beauty, tbe Octagon, was then bare rock, a reclining place, on both sides of the street, for loafers, who slept there oV> warm days, while dogs fought, kerosene ting rattled, and newspapers and rubbish generally were swept about as the winds blew.

Commercial travellers knew not the luxury of moving about the country : n comfortable trains in their quest for orders from country storekeepers. They had to drive, summer and winter, through Central Otago, and the goods ordered were loaded on wagons in Bond street, "'hence they were transported to their various destinations throughout the goldfields and the southern districts.

There were three recreation grounds The North Dunedin Football Ground, for merly the Caledonian Ground, the oresent Caledonian Ground, and 3* small ricKet patch on the Oval, which was then about 6ft lower than its present level, with many open ditches trying to carry off tbe swamp waters, and dozens of tall gum trees sough ing in. the wind, when it. blew, which was frequently. There wa s no Dunedin Drainage arid Sewerage Board then. There were only two football clubs—the Dunedin and the Union. There were no newspaper boys in the streets—only Donald,” a wee, elderlv Scotchman, whose famous call of “ still lingered in the memery of those who bad heard it.

About six cabs, of the fore and aft type, provided casual transport for visitors —the inhabitants could not afford such a luxury Cable and electric cars had not arrived. Bicycles were not, nor were rubber tyres for anything Housewives did good work with Nixey’s stove polish and whiting. Day and Martin’s blacking was the old boot polish. Radium has since arrived. Kerosene lamps were used in every house as stand-bys. as gas was expensive and unreliable. Scented soap was represented by old Brown Windsor, and face powders were not numerous. Typewritera had not been invented, but good writing was as common in offices as bad writing was today. Picture theatres were not, but they had the legitimate drama and tragedy played by world-famed actors and actresses, for whom it.was not necessary to carry supers, as the town supported a

stock company, which always supplied the necessary number to make up the required list of players. Prices were remarkable compared with those ruling to-day. Dress circle 4s, stalls 2s 6d, pit Is. Trades and clerks’ unions had not come into being. Eight hours a day and 8s pay governed the employment of outside works, and clerks accepted with gratefulness the scantv salaries that were grudgingly paid for their services. The average of night work in offices was three nigntg weekly, with no overtime, and office conditions not favourable for health. The longest holiday in the year was three days at Easter. Direct steam communication with England had not come. Letters addressed via Suez or Panama cost 6d per |oz and 6d for each extra £oz, and the poetage c rge on newspapers was 4d for 4oz. There was no cable communication, no votes for women at elections, no land and income tax. Also, the voice of the Crohibitionist was not heard in the land, ut there were the Rechabites and the Good Templars. The population of the city at this time was about 25,000. It has since grown to 82,000, and among the number might be some who remembered that the sight of a woman in Bond street or Jetty, street was unusual. Women’s dresses were'then in the transition stage—between crinoline days and the hobble-skirt period. A display of ankl e in the street was accidental and rare, but now fashion appeared to demand the exposure of silk-covered legs Worsted and cotton were the homely leg coverings in the old days. Hairdressers were few in numbers, as women did not bob. Men wore whiskers or moustaches, freely anointed with scented hair oil Their coats had tails, and their trousers were worn over their boots, and turned up only in wet weather to escape the mud of the streets, which, of course, were not then paved. Paper collars and “ dickies ” were commonly worn, and pluotobacco was smoked in clay pipes. Cigar ettes had not been introduced Painkiller was the chief specific used for all diseases incidental to humanity. Tea came from China, for Ceylon and India tea plants were just about being introduced to these particular countries Canned fruits, frozen meats, and safety .razors have since been made known to the world, also the professional politician. These, said Mr Moloney, had Been the changes in many things, but what of the changes in men Of all the bright hearts that were actively engaged in business pursuits in Bond and Jetty streets in the year 1878, the only survivors in Bond street were Messrs G. L. Sise, P. 0. Neill, and G. L Denniston, who looked in occasionally. Messrs W T. Monkman and. James Brown, who were going strong and in Jetty street, only one still working.