EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26639, 9 December 1947, Page 4

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE ©tago S)atl\> TTtmes DUNEDIN, DECEMBER 9, 1862. “ The provincial geologist has received a small specimen, of sulphuret mercury, also known as cinnabar, or native vermilion, from Mr Peter Glinchy, who found it along with the gold in the Umbrella Ranges, about 10 miles west of the Kawarau Junction.” The Daily Times says that if large loads of the mineral can be discovered it will form a valuable addition to the wealth of the province.

S. G. Isaacs writes to the Daily Times to ask if he had been nonsuited or not in an action before Mr Justice Gresson, Isaacs v. Luscombe. There was apparently considerable confusion whether the case had been concluded on the non-suit or not, but the judge ruled the following morning that the, case should go on. In a footnote to the letter, the Daily Times says: “ Our correspondent might as well ask us to square the circle as to explain the principles which his Honor Mr Justice Gresson acts. They are above oiir comprehension altogether. He certainly did not-suit the plaintiff in the teeth of the plaintiff’s lawyer’s 'refusal to be,non-suited. . . . We shall produce a dozen witnesses if necessary to prove to his Honor that he is mistaken in supposing that he did not dispose of the case on Thursday.”

“Contempt of Court.—lmmediate on taking his seat Mr Justice Gresson said that the attention of the court had been called to a letter which had appeared in the Daily Times of that morning purporting to be signed by S. G. Isaacs. . This letter or article was in direct contempt of court and his Honor instructed the registrar to serve an order of the court on Mr Isaacs, and the publisher of the newspaper, to show cause on Friday next why they should not be fined £SO each for contempt of court.”

“The new steamer Golden Age, intended for the Port Chalmers and Dunedin trade, and which was expected to have started about November 26, was detained at Melbourne in consequence, it is said, of the difficulty of procuring persons ready to undertake the work of bringing her down to Otago, the supposed fate of, the Copiet and Citizen having its effect in deterring seafaring men from undertaking the risk.”

The Daily Times severely criticises the people of Otago for not subscribing more liberally to the funds to assist the distressed workers in Lancashire. Says the Daily Times: “ Otago, the richest and most prosperous and the most thickly populated province of the colony, instead of heading the list is, in proportion to its abilities and population, almost at the bottom.”