EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26617, 13 November 1947, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago Ball? Clines DUNEDIN, NOVEMBER 13, 1862 Of the new steamer Golden Age, intended for the Dunedin and Port Chalmers trade, the Melbourne Herald says that,on her trial run she averaged 10] mile's an hour and that when everything was in working order she should be able to steam 12 miles an hour. At the half-yearly meeting in Sydney of shareholders in the Bank of New South Wales it was reported that the net profit for that period was £75,514, to which had to be added two sums to bring the total to £78,253. It was proposed to pay a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent, per annum and to pay a bonus of 2] per cent, on the paid-up capital of £750,000. The balance was £3253. “We find from the Customs returns for the first three quarters of this year,” says the Daily Times, “ that the imports and exports are as follows: North Island: Imports,,, £621,174. Middle Island: Imports, £1,670,043. North Island: Exports, £189,811. Middle Island: Exports, £1,522,890. We think we are justified in saying that no other colony with the same area and population can show more cheering evidence of a state of prosperity.”

“The Town Board agreed yesterday to invite the Gas Company to tender for the supply and lighting of 150 lamps for the town. It also adopted a call for plans and specifications for the bell tower and a new building lor the fire engine, the cost not to exceed £SOO. . . . Premiums of £7 10s

for the best and £5 for the second best design were agreed to be offered.”

The Gazette announces that Mr Alexander W. iLogie has been appointed sub-collector of Customs at the Port of Taieri.

An Order-in-Council in the Provincial Gazette contains a number of regulations concerning convict prisons in Otago. Prisoners in solitary confinement are to receive l]lb of bread per day with water ad libidum. Prisoners of the first class, as regards conduct, “ will be allowed to smoke for 15 minutes during the time set apart for breakfast and dinner, but at no other time. Prisoners of the second class will not be allowed to smoke at any time.”

At a meeting of the Town Board, attended by Messrs Cargill (in the chair). Hulme. Shand, Switzer, Jenkinson, Morrison, and Hardy,” a letter from his Honor the superintendent was read complaining of a. ford being made on the Water of Leith without due sanction, and recommending another site for the proposed ford. The board unanimously agreed to stop the workmen at once and have nothing to do with the superintendent’s suggestion.”

“ Notice: The partnership hitherto existing between the undersigned and carried on under the style and title of Browne, Reid, and Co., coffee merchants, Dunedin, is this day dissolved by mutual consent. The business will in future be carried on as usual by William Gregg- under the title of W. Gregg and Co. —E. E. Browne, Chas. Reid.”

Barwon, the well-known Victorian horse, was nominated for the Champion Three-mile Race to be run next year by the Otago Jockey Club, but the nomination turned out tp be informal and could not be received.

“An attempt was made by two soldiers on Monday night to raise the foundation stone of the new Supreme Court house with the view of stealing the money that had been deposited there when the stone was laid by his Excellency the Governor,” wrote the Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times. “The men were taken into custody by the police.”