OLD AND NEW DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 48, 28 November 1891, Page 628

OLD AND NEW DUNEDIN.

(SEE lI.LCSTIIATIONS. CAGE 625,i Two years ago Dunedin was the centre of attraction to those in New Zealand who were bent upon spending a holiday in the pleasurable excitement of sight-seeing such as is peculiar to places where an exhibition is progressing. Twice at an interval of a quarter of a century Dunedin has been the scene of a celebration of this order, but if among the many thousands who resorted to the last in 1889, there were any who were present at the previous one of 1865, they could not fail to be struck with the altered aspect presented bv the city. J Princes-street may without doubt be awarded the palm as being the most imposing thoroughfare of New Zealand, as well in length as in the size and solidity of its buildings. No one, however, who beheld it in 1861, as it appears depicted in the earlier of the accompanying illustrations, could have anticipated the change which w r as destined to creep oyer its, face. Those were the days of the gold rush and of Gabriel’s Gully, and Dunedin was beginning to experience the first real impetus in her progress which, combined with the noble and commodious nature of her unequalled situation, promises to make her the most imposing commercial port of the Southern Britain. Lying as she does partly on the spurs of enormous dark green hills of more than one thousand feet in height, and partly upon a very extensive flat, Dunedin has united in herself the capacity tor the creation of picturesque residences and a business quarter suited to the needs of a city of half a million inhabitants. In 1861, as may be noticed here, the appearance of what is now a striking-looking thoroughfare, was of that sort peculiar to primitive communities where the wholesome inlluence of the much abused city fathers has not begun to exercise itself upon the roads. No doubt in those days the sun shone as brightly and the mornings were as beautifully bracing and treacherous as they are now in early spring ; but when the showers descended they wrought inconveniences no longer felt in this generation. Nowhere in this colony are there better shops in which ladies bent upon doing the block can take welcome shelter when surprised by the deceitful elements than in Princesstreet, Dunedin, which thirty years ago could not boast the modest dignity of a good country road. " e have to record our obligations to Mr Morris, photographer, of Princes-street, Dunedin, for the views of Dr. Stuart and Knox Church, Dunedin, which appeared in our issue of November 14 ; also for the views on page 625 in this issue. The view of the Town Hall, Dunedin, on page 624, is from a photo, taken by Mr. F. Cox head, Princesstreet, Dunedin.