EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago Bail? Gtmes DUNEDIN, NOVEMBER 27, 1862. The twenty-sixth session of the Provincial Council of Otago was opened at Dunedin yesterday in the school attached to Dr Barns's Church by his Honor the Superintendent, Major J. L. C. Richardson. The members present were: A. Rennie, Esq., Speaker, in the chair, Messrs T. Dick (secretary and treasurer)John McGlashan (solicitor), W. H. Reynolds, James Paterson and James Kilgour, members of the Executive Council, Messrs W. H Cutten, T. Taylor, W. Martin, F. Walker, G. Hepburn, E. B. Cargill, J. Howorth. A. Todd, J. L. Gillies, J. Hardy, D. P. Steel and A. F. Oswin. "Died—At his residence, at the Forbury, on Tuesday, 25th inst., the Rev. Charles Jeffreys; aged 61 years.’!

“The rain which has fallen during the past few days has had the effect of greatly stimulating the growth of all kinds of green crops. The meadows and pastures are clothed with an abundance of rich grass, and the growth of every description of garden produce has been something astonishing. The potatoes particularly show remarkably well, and in fact, vegetables of all kinds ought soon to be plentiful.”

“According to the annual report of Mr Wm. Logie, chief inspector of sheep for Otago, there are about 772,500 sheep in this province, of whicn some 163,000 have been imported and introduced into Otago since November. 1861. By the return it appears that the sheep runs occupy 5,244.280 acres and that there are about. 34.000 diseased sheep in the province.”

Says the Daily Times, in a leading article: “The Superintendent’s opening address to the Provincial Council was about as satisfactory as such productions generally are. Abounding in platitudes, debatable points are skilfully avoided, and seeing that the highest merit of an opening address is not leaving a peg whereon to hang a vote of disapproval, the one before us claims a considerable amount of merit.”

The following is the list of ships cleared from London, Liverpool and the Clyde from August 14 to September 14, 1862, for New Zealand:—lda Ziegler, Golconda, Chile, Echunga, Derwent Water, Wild Duck, Cairngorm- and Empress of Mora. Each of these vessels was carrying large quantities of wine, brandy, gin and rum. The fourth ship chartered by the promoters of the Albert Land, (New Zealand) Christian Colonisation' Movement is expected to leave the East India Docks on October 30, with the first instalment of the second thousand emigrants.

“It will be remembered,” says the Daily Times, “that the discoverers of gold at Cardrona Creek were in search of a 1 Fox and Party ’ who were supposed to be making a pile somewhere in that neighbourhood. The Government geologist. Dr Hector, described the circumstances under which he discovered Fox at work. Fox arrived in town yesterday. We are told that he brought down over 500 oz of gold as the result of three weeks’ work of himself and mate.”