EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26631, 29 November 1947, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago ©ail? {Ernies DUNEDIN, NOVEMBER 29, 1862. The Daily Times reports that a contract was “ about being signed ” for ,a mail service between Otago and Melbourne. For this service £13,000 a year was to be, paid to the owners of the steamer Aldinga. “Recovery of the steamer Victory is hopeless ” reports the Daily Times. “ She is now lying only two feet above water at full tide at Wickliffe Bay, and at low water daylight can. be seen through her. She has broken in two near the main gangway, and has burst her decks.” The Invercargill correspondent of the Daily Times states that “it was reported yesterday morning that one of Fox’s party had come to town for provisions, and had stated that the party had got some 300 pounds weight of gold from the Arrow River.” The statement caused great excitement until it was corrected to 210 ounces of gold. The Victorian correspondent of the Daily Times writes as follows: — “About the middle of next month Mr Howitt, with the mortal remains of the ill-fated Australian explorers, Burke and Wills, is expected to arrive in Melbourne. It is intended to make the public funeral solemn and imposing. . . . But after all would it •not have been better to have let them sleep on in the grave where their would-be succourers laid them? I think so.” Nine entries have been received for the three-mile championship race to be run in Dunedin next year. The only local entry is Mr David Corson’s b c Autonelli. The Daily Times gives an accoynt of a narrow escape from drowning of a party which braved the Molyne.ux ferry. The river was high and the current strong; the main cable parted and the punt at once drifted down the stream. “ The ferry men immediately sprang intq> their boat, leaving the , passengers and horses in the punt to care for themselves.” The punt drifted down the river for over a mile and was then with some difficulty secured. The conduct of the ferrymen, says the paper, ought to be made the subject of further inquiry.

The Daily Times special correspondent at Hartley township writes under date November 25: “ The exodus has been so steadily kept up that the main street almost looks deserted in’ comparison with the past few days. It is now possible to walk down it in comparative comfort and without being jostled at every step. Pack-horses are in immense demand, and bringing most extravagant prices. One possessing three legs and a swinger was sold for £6O less than an hour-ago.”