THEN AND NOW.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 6

THEN AND NOW.

On April 4, 1849— the first year's residence of the tilgrim Fathers in the Province of Otago— the editor of the Otayo Neivs, which had then reached its ninth number, considered the world had a " right to demand the benefit of that year's experience of the pioneers and founders of a new Colony," and we avail ourselves of tbe observations he then made, and other information contained in his journal, to contrast Dunedin as it then

was with what it now is. Describing the ! appearance of the place the writer says : — The town of Dunedin is situate at the hend of the bay, extending along the whole of the water frontage, and for a considerable distance inland. A low range of sandy formation, to to tlie etu-tward of file bay, shuts out the sea, which must at one time have flowed through what is now the harbor. The principal part of the hou.-'Od at present, are built between two small hills in Princes street, which runs in a continuous line from north to south through the town. Theunevenncssof the ground, though it may render it more picturesque, \infitit insome measure for business — (our readers know what harbor reclamation and Millar, F.S.A., have since done) —and we have little doubt that, as the number of inhabitants increases, the main body of the town will be more towards the N.E. Valley and Pelichet Bay, on what, at the present time, presents the idea of a swamp ; a few good drains, however, would carry off all the surface water, and leave fine, level sites for building purposes. The small hills at the back would form delightful spots for crescents and detached villas, offering a prospect of the bay anil the town, with a peep at the ocean beyond A little to the* left of this a gradual "swelling hill" rises with a line commanding view of the ocean, the whole of the town, and the wood-covered heights on each side of the harbor. Here [the old cemetery at the head of HaUray, street] rest the mortal lemains of some of our fellow-settlers— away from the noise and confusion of a town — taking their " long and silent sleep" in the midst of, " nature's life and loveliness." Below may be seen the edifice set apart for a church — a plain wooden building with a public ■library- attached — the manse, and Captain CargiU's Tesidence, neat mansions (the italics are ours) of wood, towards tbe sonth end of the town, with gardens attached ; Mr Valpy's house /orming a conspicuous object, but not a very pleasahg one in point of architecture ; the principal surveyor's house, on a small rising ground, with its fanciful verandah ; a confused cluster of buildings around the Commercial Inn ; and the Koyal Hotel — these are some of the prominent objects in the picture of the town. Here and there the' pointed tops of gipsyike tents, and the more rustic dwellings of clay and grass, " peeping from amid, a bower of trees," complete the picture of the primitive days of Dunedin. The number of houses in the town was 110— now, they are not countable ; the inhabitants of town and country about 760 — now, there -.are over 70,000. In 1848, the town population could be enumerated with the greatest ease. It comprised a police magistrate (the gentleman who so worthily fills the office of Resident Magi-trate now), two physicians, one solicitor, three merchants, two butchers, two bakers, five shoemakers, one tailor, several storekeepers, carpenters, and sawyers ; besides which there were two hotels, one newspaper, a gaol, a jetty, two good barracks comfortably fitted for the reception of immigrants, a brickfield, and a stone quarry. In 1849 the population of Port Chalmers was 150 souls ; in 1871 it was 1,406. Equally instructive as the comparison of population is that of rates of provisions, labor, &c, which are given below as nearly aj possible :—: — 1849. 1873. Beef, fresh, per 1b... 7d to Sd 3d to 4d Bread, per 41b 10af . . . lOd Gel Butter, fresh, per lb ' ... 2/ lOd Butter, salt, per *lb ... 1/6 to 1/8 lOd to lid Cheese, per lb ... 1/6 to 1/8 9d Coffee, roasted ... 1/4 to 1/8 1/9 Eggs, per dozen ... 1/6 to 2/ 1/6 Flour, per lOOlbs ... 16/ to 18/ 11/ to 11/3 Potatoes, per ton . . .£4 los to £6 10s £2 15/ Sugar, loaf ... 7id to Sid OAd raw ... 3d to 6cl 5d Tea, per lb ... 2/ to 2/6 2/6 to 3/6 Mechanics, a day ... 5/ to 7/ 10/ to 13/ Laborers, do ... 3/ to 4/ 6/ to 8/ Shepherds, a year, and found ... £30 to £40 £44 to £ss Farm servants, a year and found... £20 to £30 £30 to £40 Female servants, very scarce ••• £12 to £20 £20 to £35 N. B. In the early ditys there was no duty on the necessaries of life. In those days, we are- told, poultry and e £g s were scarce ; tea very inferior ; while rice, sugar, currants, raisius,, and spice, for supplies of which the settlement was dependent on Sydney, were very high in price, and frequently unobtainable. Clothing was generally about 50 or 60 per cent, above the Home price. Glass, earthenware, kitchen utensils and household furniture about 100 per cent, more than the English markets. The rent of land from the New Zealand Co. was L 4 a year, for a quarter of an acre of town land for three years ; and L 4 a year for a ten acre suburban section for a similar period. Town sections, belonging to private individuals, were rented at prices varying from L 4 to Ll2 a year. Many will read with surprise the observation of the primitive editor that " Inuiedin harbor is navigable within two miles of the town for vessels of sixty to seventy tons," and the announcement made by Mr A. Mercer that " his fine fast-sailing schooner Scotch 1 assie will ply regularly betwixt Dunedin and Port Chalmers," the length of time occupied in her passage depending on wind and tide, suggests a smile in these days of railways and fast river boats. What was written in 1849 on the climate and the natives can be said of both in 1873. Then, as now, the prevailing winds were the cool sou- wester, sweeping from the ocean, across the bay and over the town, and, the strong nor'wester — "the former blowing directly out, and the latter directly into the harbor." The principal complaints were of a rheumatic character, resulting from the sudden changes of the weather; the salubrity of the climate was beyond question, the rosy faces of the young children being proof positive that the climate was much superior to the one they had left behind them. There is seldom snow or frost in the wintee season for more than one or .two days ; thr mornings and evenings are cool ; but it is generally fine and worm in the middle of the day. In the summer season the thetmometer seldom reaches more than SOdeg in the shade, accompanied with a pleasant breeze. The natives in the early days served as hewers of wood and carriers of water for the settlers. They were inconsiderable in numbers, and resided for the most part on the Native Reserve, near the entrance to the harbo-, and cultivated potatoes for the supply of the town, which, with flshiug, formed their principal occupation ; but , on high days and holidays 1 some of , the females deck themselves out with large and gaudy patterned dresses, straw, bonnets, white veils, and colored caps with gay ribbons ; whilst many of the males appear in blue shirts, blouses, frock coats, cloth caps ftnd trousers. " Before concluding with a notice of the first anniversary, we will briefly compare Otago in IS4S-9 with what it is in 1873. In 1848 there were 84 married men and 192 single ; total, 276. Married women, 78 ; single do, 131 ; total, 2'J9— grand total, 485. Of these 16S belonged to the Church of England, 19 were Weßleyan, 275 Free Church, 19 Rwnan Catholic, and 4 non-sectarian. When, the census was last taken in 1871, the population consisted of 41,691 men and 27,800 women, making a total of 62,401. Regarding the religious denominations, it will be sufficient to state that there are about forty different congregations in connection with the Presbyterian Church, about a dozen in connection with the Church of England, and about the same number of Roman Catholics ; some six or seven Wesleyan, three Congregational charges, one Baptist, one Jewish bynagogue, and several nondescripts. In 1849 there was one Sunday School, having a total attend ance of 34 boys and girls, aud one public day school with an

attendance of 36 boyn and 34 girls. At the end of 1871, according to Mr Hislop's last published report, there were 116 elementary schools, in which 175 teachers were employed. To these 116 schools have to be added five grammar schools, a High school, sl "University, a.ucL several private teachiup; establishments. The average attendance during 1871 at the public educational establishments was about 7,000 children. In 1 848 the Customs revenue was returned at L 824, and in 1849 at L 1.159; while for last financial year it yielded no less a sum than L 233.785, the exports being valued at something over two millions of money. In 1849, the agricultural statistics showed that the land then under crop amounted to 284 acres ; the number of horses in the Province to be 110; horned cattle, 880; and sheep, 17,597. Corresponding returns for 1873 show that the number of holdings were 3,705, comprising 305, 141 1 acres in wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes. When the census returns were taken in 1871, there were — horses, 25,704 ; mules and asses, 30 ; cattle, 143,609 ; and sheep, 3,731,445. On March 16, 1849, a public meeting was held in what is now the Club Hotel, High street, "to take into consideration the best mode of celebrating tbe first anniversary of the Province." The meeting was numerously and respectably attended, amd the chair was occupied by Mr M. Evans of Port Chalmers, who, in opening the proceedings, is reported f in the News to have said : — It was a custom', which' had been established m all the other settlements in New Zealand, to have a day or two set apart on the return of each anniversary, for -the purpose of promoting hilarity and concord, and the enjoyment of all classes of. the community. He, could not see why this settlement should not be as proud of its progress, and more so, than any other settlement, for it was acknowledged on all sides that no other Colony had prospered or progressed in the same degree within so short a time. The Chairman only echoed the sentiments of the persons present, who at once appointed a committee, which included Messrs Strode, W. Et. Valpy, John Cargill, Watson, Anderson, Cutten, George Smith, Mansford, Mercer, Sanderson, and J. Beale, to make the necessary arrangements. On Friday, the 23rd, and Saturday, the 24th, the anni*versary was celebrated according to the programme that committee issued. On the first day, we are told, the early part of the morning was showery, but the clouds cleared away, and the holiday-loving folk were rewarded with two fine sunny days. There were horse races, a regatta in the Bay, and trials of strength in the cricket ground, and, in concluding his notice, the News' reporter remarked :—: — We are happy to have it in our power to state that no accident of a serious kind occurred during the two days' sports, and that each and all seemed highly gratified with the endeavors of the committee for their amusement. Some few, it is true, were in a state "to remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly," transforming themselves with "joy, revel, pleasure, and npplause, into beasts," but we have never seen a greater feeling of unanimity pervading ' so large a mass congregated for the same purpose. A ball was held in the evening at Watson's large room, High street, which was decorated for the occasion. Between forty and fifty ladies and gentlemen met to enjoy the "festive j dance," and "morning's grey light was beaming" when the majority of the party separated. In such manner was celebrated the Province's first anniversary. [Nearly every one of the early settlers was present at it ; but very few, we fear, have lived to see the land of their adoption reach the age of a quarter of a century. The majority of those who have no doubt assembled in the Kaikorai Valley, to-day, and, while watching the innocent amusement of the hundreds of young people who were congregated there, had their thoughts carried back over that long range of years, during which they have seen a wilderness grow into a thriving and populous city ; and while the recollections of some might have been dimmed by painful, even mournful, reminiscences of the " happy past," there was in the heart of hearts of all a feeling of deep thankfulness that they had been spared to see the work of colonisation, so nobly begun by them, being carried on in a way that bids fair to attain for New Zealand the proud distinction of being the Britain of the South.