The "Good Old Days."

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 December 1932, Page 3

The "Good Old Days."

Mr. J. P. Belcher, of Wanganui, has extraeted much interesting information from a copy of the newspaper Nelson Examiner dated March 6, 1847, the sixth year of that publieation's existenee. Mechanics' wages in those days ranged about 3s Gd to 4s a day and labourers 2s. Bread was retailed at lOd a 41b loaf, flour at £15 a ton, potatoes were £3 a ton, milk a penny per pdnt, mutton 7d per 1b, oats and wheat 3s 6d p'er bushel. Ale could be purchased for 9d a bottle, hrandy for 6s Gd per gallon, and whisky for 8s a gallon. ( Oyster Fleef. More than usual attention is heing given to the overhaul of the Bluff oyster steamers Despatch and Rita hy their owners, writes the Bluff correspondent of the Southland Daily Times. Both vessels have bean long engaged in the oyster industry, and when repairs and alterations are completed will enter the 1933 season "as good as new." The Despatch was built in Sydney ini 1883, and was brought to Bluff by the late Captain Mm. Anglem in 1889. She was frequently used by the Bluff Harbour Board for pilotage service and during the days of, the Wilson's River gold rush, carried : passengers and stores to the West | Coast. Later she entered into the j oyster indusUy. The Rita was1 built ' by John Brown, of Auckland," in 1889 for lightering purposes! at Napier. Later she was brought to Bluff, and for many years has been engaged in the fishing and oyster industries. J True Economy. 1 "Economy does not rnean buttoning up money and sitting on it. It means spending wisely," said Mr. A. Bogle at a public. meeting called recently hy the Wanganui and District Developmenf; League to discuss the afforestation of sand dunes (says the, Chroncile.