EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THI ©taso ©ail? {Times DUNEDIN, NOVEMBER 26, 1862 The official report from Mr Keddell for the week ended November 15 states that about 2000 miners have arrived at the Dunstan and have gone to the different diggings in the locality. “During the week rumours of extraordinary rich finds have been floating about, and many so well authenticated that I make no doubt that ere long some really important' finds will be made known;”

A long discussion took place at the meeting of the Town Board on the question whether th'e offer of the Gas Company for lighting the streets should be closed with or the matter be left over for the new board. The subject had been debated and settled at a previous meeting in favour of signing the contract for seven years immediately: To this it was objected that the decision was come to at a meeting of only four, that the members of the board had no notice that such an important subject was to be brought up, and that it was unfair to saddle their successors with a seven years’ contract, involving a total ex-> pense of above £40,000. It was decided by three votes to four to adhere to the first decision of the board and to sign the contract.

“Wanted the public to know that they can •be supplied with bricks of good quality, in any quantity, at £4 10s per thousand. Apply to F. J. Arlidge at the brick works, Great King street.”

“At the meeting of the Separation Committee yesterday it was determined to send copies of the petition to the. Queen, prepared by the subcommittee, to the different members. An adjournment for a week was then decided upon, when the petition will be taken into consideration.” •

A public meeting of the Dunedin Total Abstinence Society and its friends was held in .Dr Burns's Church when, according to the report in the Daily Times, Mr Halliwell, a schoolmaster, “ proceeded to state the effects of alcohol on the human frame. He held that a small quantity did as much harm mentally and physically as a larger dose, in proof of which he instanced the case of a Dr Holyoake, an American, who died at the advanced age of 110 years. He had been a moderate drinker all his life, never taking anything further than a teaspoon of brandy in a pint of cider after dinner. Yet this small dose was so injurious that a brother M.D. who examined the body after death affirmed that but for it there was nothing to indicate that the deceased might not have lived for 110 years more.”