EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago ©ail? Himes DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 2, 1862.

“By the official record of the past month’s passenger traffic, we, learn,'’ says the Daily Times, “ that 7343 souls have arrived at Port Otago, and 2413 have departed thence, leaving in favour of Otago a balance of 4930 for the month.”

The special correspondent of the Daily Times on the Dunstan goldfields writes: “ From a colonial career commencing in the year 1847, the wildest dreams that have passed through my imagination are eclipsed by the realities and prospects I now see tangibly and plainly before me. Fortune has more than once favoured me on tbe Victorian goldfields, but never anything like the - scene now before me was presented.’ ”

“An extraordinary revelation was made yesterday at the Resident Magistrate’s Court,” says the Daily Times. “A man was brought up on the charge of being a prisoner of the Crown, illegally at large from Tasmania. It was admitted by the prisoner’s counsel that he was under sentence for life, but it was .argued that he had received a pardon conditional on his leaving Tasmania and not being found, again in that colony or in Great Britain.” The magistrate said that he felt it his duty to dismiss the charge, but he did not fail to comment strongly upon the procedure of the Tasmanian Government.

In a critique of the farce “ Who Stole the Pocket Book? ’’, staged at the Theatre Royal, the Daily Times says- “ We must censure the bad taste which dictated the indulgence of the vulgar expletives of which Mr Haygarth so freely availed himself. They were unnecessary to the piece and insulting to the audience.”

Dunedin having been divided into four wards, each ward to have three representatives on the new Town Board, qn election was necessary. It resulted:—No. 1, or South Ward, Cargill 78 votes, Griffin 59, Webb 63; No. 2, or High Ward, McLeod 112 votes, Switzar 102: Jenkinson 79; No. 3. or Bell Ward. Henderson 115 votes, Fenwick 76, Mil-fca 71; No. 4. or Leith Ward, Duncan 84 votes, Turner 75. Redmayne 65.

“The iron barque Witch of the Tees, previously reported as having arrived from the Mauritius, reached port to-day, having discharged the portion of her freight intended for Canterbury, she brings upwards of 4000 bags of sugar.”

“ The Dunedin Debating Club held its usual meeting last evening. Mr Macassey opened a discussion on the question ‘ Ought Capital Punishment to ■ be Abolished? ’ He pointed out the . inefficiency of capital punishment to ■< prevent crime, and its destructive effects on the eternal welfare of the . criminal. On the question being put, the members prfesent. by a majority of : one, decided in the affirmative.”