EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26636, 5 December 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago Bail'? Lillies DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 5, 1862. “ The Dutch barque, Commissaris des Konigs van der Heyne, was towed up to-day by the steamer Samson, having arrived at the Heads in the forenoon. She sailed from Melbourne on the 22nd ultimo with a freight of 2500 sheep of which number she lost about 60 during the passage.” “ There was no ‘ police sheet ’ laid before the resident magistrate yesterday, there being, in fact,” says the Daily Times, “ no accused whose case called for investigation. Such a state of matters had not previously existed for more than two years.”

Messrs Miller and Cohen report prices at Dunstan as: —Sugar, Is 2d to Is 7d per lb; candles, Belmont Sperm, 2s 6d per lb; Wellington butter, 3s 9d per lb; coffee, 2s 6d; salt, Is 3d; soap, Is 9d; tobacco, best brands, 8s to 10s 6d: hanis and bacon. 2s 3d to 2s 9d per lb. '

The immigration officer of Otago, Mr Allen, in a report to the superintendent, says that he can now confidently assert that the only class of females suitable for the colony is hard-working domestic servants. There was no room for needlewomen and governesses "as they are wholly unsuitable from their previous habits to engage as servants.”

Referring to the proposal for the establishment of a Water Company in Dunedin, the Daily Times states that water companies are among the most profitable of commercial undertakings. In London alone, seven millions have been expended by water supply companies, says the paper/ and yet so profitable are the undertakings that a £SOO share in one of these has been sold for £16,000. . . . “We heartily

commend the proposed undertaking to the consideration of our readers.”

The Dunstan correspondent of the Daily Times gives particulars of a boating accident at Kawarau Junction, on the Molyneux. Six men were in a boat, which got into difficulties after leaving the shore, and then filled and sank. Five men .out of six were drowned. '"The boat was totally unsuited to the purpose.”