THEN AND NOW.

Evening Star, Issue 3149, 24 March 1873, Page 3

THEN AND NOW.

On April 4, 1849—the first year’s residence of the Pilgrim Fathers in the Province of Otago—the editor of the Otago News, which had then reached its ninth number, considered the world had a “ right to demand the benefit of that year’s experience of the pioneers and founders of a new Colony, and we avail ourselves of the observations he then made, and other information contained in his journal, to contrast Dunedin as it then was with what it now is. Describing the appearance of the place the writer says : The town of Dunedin is situate at the head of tho bay, extending along the whole of the water frontage, and for a considerable distance inland. A low range of sandy formation, to to the eastward of the bay, shuts out the sea, which must at one time have flowed through what is now the harbor. The principal part of the houses at present, are built between two small hills in Princes street, which runs in a continuous line from north to south through the town. The unevenness of the ground, though it mayrender it more picturesque, unfit it in some measure for business —(our readers know what harbor reclamation and Millar, I.fe.A., have since done) —and we have little doubt that, as the number of inhabitants increases, the main body of the town will be more towards the N.E. Valley and Pelichet Bay, on what, at the present time, presents the idea of a swamp ; a few good drains, however, would carry off all the surface water, and leave fine, level sites for building purposes. The small hills at the back would form delightful spots for crescents and detached villas, offering a prospect of the bay and the town, with a peep at the ocean beyond. A little to the left of this a gradual “swelling hill” rises with a fine commanding view of the ocean, the whole of the town, and the wood-covered heights on each side of the harbor. Hero [the old cemetery at the head of Rattray street] rest the mortal remains of some of our fellow-settlers away from the noise and confusion of a town taking their “ long and silent sleep ” in the midst of “ nature’s life and loveliness.” Below may be seen the edifice set apart for a church—a plain wooden building with a public library attached —the manse, and Captain Cargill’s residence, neat mansions (the italics are ours) of wood, towards the south end of the town, with gardens attached; Mr Valpy’s house forming a conspicuous object, but not a very pleasang one in point of architecture; the principal surveyor’s house, on a small rising ground, with its fanciful verandah ; a confused cluster of buildings around the Commercial Inn ; and the Royal Hotel—these are some of the prominent objects in the picture of the town. Here and there the pointed tops of gipsylike tents, and the more rustic dwellings of clay and grass, “ peeping from amid a bower of trees,” complete the picture of the primitive days of Dunedin. The number of houses in the town was 110—now, they are not countable ; the inhabitants of town and country about 760—new, there are over 70,000. In 1848, the town population could be enumerated with the greatest ease. It comprised a police magistrate (the gentleman who so worthily fills the office of Resident Magistrate now), two physicians, one solicitor, three merchants, two butchers, two bakers, five shoemakers, one tailor, several storekeepers, carpenters, and sawyers ; besides which there were two hotels, one newspaper, a gaol, a jetty, two good barracks comfortably fitted for the reception of immigrants, a brickfield, and a stone quarry. In 1849 the population of Port Chalmers was 150 souls; in 1871 it was 1,406. Equally instructive as the comparison of population Is that of rates of provisions, labor, &c., which are given below as nearly

N.B. In the early days there was no duty on the necessaries of life.

In those days, we are told, poultry and eggs were scarce; tea very inferior; while rice, sugar, currants, raisins, and spice, for supplies of which the settlement was dependent on Sydney, were very high in price, and frequently unobtainable. Clothing was generally about 50 or 60 per cent, above the Home price. Glass, earthenware, kitchen utensils and household furniture about 100 per cent, more than the English markets. The rent of land from the New Zealand Co. was L 4 a year, for a quarter of an acre of town land for three years ; and L 4 a year for a ten-acre suburban section for a similar period. Town sections, belonging to private individuals, were rented at prices varying from L 4 to Ll2 a year. Many will read with surprise the observation of the primitive editor that “ Dunedin harbor is navigable within two miles of the town for vessels of sixty to seventy tons,” and the announcement made by Mr A. Mercer that “his fine fast-sailing schooner Scotch lassie will ply regularly betwixt Dunedin and Port Chalmers,” the length of time occupied in her passage depending on wind and tide, suggests a smile in these days of railways and fast river boats. What was written in 1849 on the climate and the natives can be said of both in 1873. Then, as now, the prevailing winds were the cool sou’-wester, sweeping from the ocean across the bay and over the town, and the strong nor’wester —“the former blowing directly out, and the latter directly into the harbor,” The principal complaints were of a rheumatic character, resulting from the sudden changes of the weather; the salubrity of the climate was beyond question, the rosy faces of the young children being proof positive that the climate was much superior to the one they had left behind them.

There is seldom snow or frost in the wintee seasbn fdr more than one" or two days ; thr mornings and evenings are cool; but it is generally fine and warm in the middle of the day. In the summer season the thermometer seldom reaches more than 80deg in the shade, accompanied with a pleasant breeze. The natives in the early days served as hewers of wood and carriers of water for the settlers. They were inconsiderable in numbers, and resided for the most part on the Native Reserve, near the entrance to the harbor, and cultivated potatoes for the supply of the town, which, with fishing, fqrmed their'principal occupation; but “on ‘high days and holidays’ some of the females deck themselves out with large and gaudy patterned dresses, straw bonnets, white veils, and colored cepe with gey

ribbons ; whilst many of the males appear in blue shirts, blouses, frock coats, cloth caps and trousers,”

Before concluding with a notice of the first anniversary, we will bri' flj' compare Otago in 1848-9 with what it is in 1873. In 1848 there were 84 married men and 192 single ; total, 276. Married women, 78 ; single do, 131 ; total, 209—grand total, 485. Of these 168 belonged to the Church of England, 19 were Wesleyan, 275 Free Church, 19 Roman Catholic, and 4 non-sectarian. When the census was last taken in 1871, the population consisted of 41,691 men and 27,800 women, making a total of 62,401. Regarding the religious denominations, it will be sufficient to state that there are about forty different congregations in connection with the Presbyterian Church, about a dozen in connection with the Church of England, and about the same numberof Roman Catholics; some six orseven Wesleyan, three Congregational charges, one Baptist, one Jewish Synagogue, and several nondescripts. In 1849 there was one Sunday School, having a total attendance of 34 boys and girls, and one public day school with an attendance of 36 boys and 34 girls. At the end of 1871, according to Mr Hislop’s last published report, there were 116 elementary schools, in which 175 teachers were employed. To these 116 schools have to be added five grammar schools, a High school, a University, and several private teaching establishments. The average attendance during 1871 at the public educational establishments was about 7,000 children. In 1848 the Customs revenue was returned at L 824, and in 1849 at LI, 159; while for last financial year it yielded no less a sum than L 233.785, the exports being valued at something over two millions of money. In 1849, the agricultural statistics showed that the land then under crop amounted to 284 acres ; the number of horses in the Province to be 110; horned cattle, 880; and sheep, 17,597. Corresponding returns for 1873 show that the number of holdings weie 3,705, comprising 305,1411 acres in wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes. When the census returns were taken in 1871, there were—horses, 25,704; mules and asses, 30 ; cattle, 143,609 ; and sheep, 3,731,445 On March 16, 1849, a public meeting was held in what is now the Club Hotel, High street, “to take into consideration the best mode of celebrating the first anniversary of the Province.” The meeting svas numerously and respectably attended, and the chair was occupied by Mr M. Evans of Port Chalmers, who, in opening the proceedings, is reported in the News to have said

It was a custom, which had been established in all the other settlements in New Zealand, to have a day or two set apart on the return of each anniversary, for the purpose of promoting Hilarity and concord, and the enjoyment of all classes of the community. He could not see why this settlement should not he as proud of its progress, and more so, than any other settlement, for it was acknowledged on all sides that no other Colony had prospered or progressed in the same degree within so short a time.

The Chairman only echoed the sentiments of the persons present, who at once appointed a committee, which included Messrs Strode, W. H. Valpy, John Cargill, Watson, Anderson, Cutten, George Smith, Mansford, Mercer, Sanderson, and J. Beale, to make the necessary arrangements. On Friday, the 23rd, and Saturday, the 24th, the anniversary was celebrated according to the programme that committee issued. On the first day, we are told, the early part of the morning was showery, but the clouds cleared away, and the holiday-loving folk were rewarded with two fine sunny days. There were horse races, a regatta in the Pay, and trials of strength in the cricket ground, and, in concluding his notice, the News ’ reporter remarked : We are happy to have it in onr power to state that no accident of a serious kind occurred during the two days’ sports, and that each and all seemed highly gratified with the endeavors of the committee for their amusement. Some few, it is true, were in a state “to remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly,” transforming themselves with “joy, revel, pleasure, and applause, into beasts,” but wo have never seen a greater feeling of unanimity pervading so large a mass congregated for the same purpose. A ball was held in the evening at Watson’s large room, High street, which was decorated for the occasion. Between forty and fifty ladies and gentlemen met to enjoy the “festive (lance,” and “ morning’s grey light was beaming” when the majority of the party separated.

In such manner was celebrated the Province’s first anniversary. .Nearly every one of the early settlers was present at it; but very few, we fear, have lived to see the land of their adoption reach the age of a quarter of a century. The majority of those who have no doubt assembled in the Kaikorai Valley, to-day, and, while watching the innocent amusement ©f the hundreds of young people who were congregated there, had their thoughts carried back over that long range of years, during which they have seen a wilderness grow into a thriving and populous city ; and while the recollections of some might have been dimmed by painful, even mournful, reminiscences of the “happy past,” there was in the heart of hearts of all a feeling of deep thankfulness that they had been spared to see the work of colonisation, so nobly begun by them, being carried on in a way that bids fair to attain for New Zealand the proud distinction of being the Britain of the South.

as possible : — 1873. 1849. Beef, fresh, per lb... 7cl to 8d Bread, per 41o loaf... lOd 3d to 4d 6d Butter, fresh, per lOd lb ... 2/ Butter, salt, per lOd to lid Jib ... 1/6 to 1/8 Cheese, per lb ... 1/6 to 1/8 9d Coffee, roasted ... 1/4 to 1/8 1/9 Eggs, per dozen ... 1/6 to 2/ 1/6 Flour, per lOOlba ... 16/ to 18/ 11/ to 11/3 Potatoes, per ton ...£410s to £6l0s £2 15/ Sugar, loaf ... to 8Ad ,, raw ... 4d to 6n 6yd 5d Tea, per lb ... 2/to 2/6 2/6 to 3/6 Mechanics, a day ... 5/ to 7/ 10/ to 13/ Laborers, do ... 3/to 4/ 6/ to 8/ Shepherds, a year, £44 to £55 and found ... £30 to £40 Farm servants, a £30 to £40 year and found.,, £20 to £30 Female servants, £20 to £35 very scarce ... £12 to £20