Whanganui wreck sold bit by bit
The wreck of the Cyrena at Wanganui is disintegrating under the effect of heavy southerly seas.
Cabbage grower has a cow
The broken ends of the steamer now lie at even stranger angles than they did a week ago. The salvage sale attracted wide interest. Many things went at bargain rates. The ship's wheel realised a modest 3 shillings, but there was fair competition for the ship's bell, which the fire brigade eventually secured for 37s 6d.
A town clerk's position, especially in a suburban or a country borough, is usually considered a fairly peaceful one, the most exciting duties being the faithful recording of the minutes at council meetings, but the town clerk at Ravensbourne was lately called upon to discard his clerkly dignity for a few moments to shoot a wandering cow which objected vigorously to being deprived of a succulent repast consisting of 50 cabbages growing in the garden of a justly irate ratepayer.
The beast was so peeved about the whole business that it gave utterance to an angry snort, pawed a perfectly good cabbage to bits, and with lowered head made for the importunate clerk in a manner that boded no good. However, a bullet will stop oven an angry cow, and this particular cow has, it is hoped, gone where there is a surfeit of cabbages.
At the meeting of the West Harbour Borough Council last night a letter was received from the indignant ratepayer whose cabbages had been demolished. It read as follows: "I have a complaint to bring before your notice — that of a marauding black-and-white cow that has been around the corner of District Road and Manuka Street for a week past, and which I had to remove from my section on two occasions on a recent evening. I left the gates in my place secure, but it returned and, as a result, my place resembles a well-ploughed paddock, which state of affairs, as you may guess. I strongly resent, the cow having 'cleaned up' something like 40 or 50 cabbages that I had for use. I trust you will see that it is remedied at once, and could you let me have the name of the owner, as I would like to say something to him.'
The Mayor (Mr H.E. Moller): "What was the outcome of this affair?" The Town Clerk (Mr W. Connor): "I shot the cow and buried it!" The Mayor: "That was the end of the cow." (Laughter.) The Town Clerk went on to explain that he had gone down and found the cow in a paddock on to which it had trespassed. Nobody would own the animal, he said. It had a growth on its head. "The cow made a blackguard rush at me, but I dodged it. It made another rush, but again, I eluded it. As there was no doubt that the animal was dangerous, I got a rifle and shot it.' The Town Clerk further explained that before he destroyed the cow he had consulted the stock inspector, and a constable had been present when the animal was killed. On the instructions of the inspector all the vegetables in the property concerned had been destroyed in order to prevent any contamination. Earlier in the evening the Clerk reported that at present there were no complaints about wandering cattle at St Leonards. In one case a threatened prosecution had been withdrawn on condition that the owner of the wandering cow paid for the damage caused by his animal's meanderings. The town clerk had been on the watch for offenders, but no cattle had been found wandering lately. The subject was then dropped.
— ODT, 5.8.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
A fine undertaking
A new hearse for undertakers Hugh Gourley, built in Dunedin by A. Roberts and Son motor body builders. — Otago Witness, 4.8.1925 Johnnies teacher off to Oxford A very fine specimen of the motor body builder's art is to be seen in the new motor hearse which has recently been built to the order of Messrs Hugh Gourley Ltd by Messrs A. Roberts and Son, of Dunedin. This hearse, which is fitted with a Chandler chassis, is the most modern and up-to-date of its kind in the city. The John McGlashan College pupils and staff, and Mr James Begg, representing the Board of Governors, assembled in the dining hall after school yesterday afternoon to say good-bye to Mr J.A. Dunning, the 1925 Rhodes Scholar, who is leaving the staff to proceed to England. Mr Gilray, the head master, spoke of the great honour Mr Dunning had won and of the great experience he would have at Oxford. He recounted his successes in the Honours Degree Examination, and in cricket and hockey, in both of which he had represented Otago. On behalf of the pupils, P. McSkimming, the head prefect, presented Mr Dunning with a writing case, and Mr Gilray handed him a silver cigarette case, engraved with the college arms, the gift of the staff. Mr Begg spoke of the great honour the college had in having two Rhodes scholars on its staff, and said he looked forward to the time when it would boast of Rhodes scholars of its own. Dunedin's modern wharf Improvements have been made on the waterfront in several directions. A further 200 feet of the Rattray St wharf has been completed, thus providing another berth for oversea steamers with a low water depth of 25ft. The timber for the remaining 400ft is in hand. The total length of the wharf when finished will be 1630ft. The new concrete storage shed at Kitchener St wharf is nearing completion. The asbestos roofing is nearly all in place, and the doors are ready to be placed in position. The concrete floor is finished and provides an area of 156ft by 82ft. Taonga may be used for swaps The Otago Museum has been fortunate to receive as a presentation from Mr D. Teviotdale his whole collection from the Shag River mouth with the exception of his greenstone and stone shanks of composite fish hooks. This is the most valuable collection from a single locality, existing in New Zealand, many of the old Māori weapons and remains of weapons belonging to a very early period. The majority of the remainder probably belonged to the same period, but that is not quite certain. Much of the material is on display, but a great amount of duplicable material is stored in the basement and Mr Teviotdale has given his consent to the Museum authorities to use duplicates for exchange purposes. Already it has been possible to add material to the European bronze age collection through these exchanges. A handle of a schist patu, found at Waiau Forks, South Canterbury, has been presented to the Museum by Mr T. Thomas Pashby, of Morven. It is the handle of a weapon in stone, limited in distribution to Canterbury and Otago, but it is closely allied with patus found at the Chatham Islands. Mr I. De Beer has presented to the Otago Museum a fine collection consisting of classical vases, ethnographic articles (the larger part being from the Western Pacific), material from Santa Cruz, and valuable material of other descriptions. League cracks code in venue war At the Caledonian Society of Otago, two tenders were received for the use of the society's ground for the football season for the next five years — 1926 to 1930 (inclusive). The Otago Rugby League offered £525 per season for the five seasons, and the Otago Rugby Union £300 per season, plus 25% of the takings from First Grade flag matches. The committee decided to accept the Rugby League's tender. — ODT, 7.8.1925 Compiled by Peter Dowden
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Whanganui wreck sold bit by bit
Salvage work on the wreck of grounded steamship Cyrena at Castlecliff beach, near Whanganui. — Otago Witness, 21.7.1925 The wreck of the Cyrena at Wanganui is disintegrating under the effect of heavy southerly seas. Cabbage grower has a cow The broken ends of the steamer now lie at even stranger angles than they did a week ago. The salvage sale attracted wide interest. Many things went at bargain rates. The ship's wheel realised a modest 3 shillings, but there was fair competition for the ship's bell, which the fire brigade eventually secured for 37s 6d. A town clerk's position, especially in a suburban or a country borough, is usually considered a fairly peaceful one, the most exciting duties being the faithful recording of the minutes at council meetings, but the town clerk at Ravensbourne was lately called upon to discard his clerkly dignity for a few moments to shoot a wandering cow which objected vigorously to being deprived of a succulent repast consisting of 50 cabbages growing in the garden of a justly irate ratepayer. The beast was so peeved about the whole business that it gave utterance to an angry snort, pawed a perfectly good cabbage to bits, and with lowered head made for the importunate clerk in a manner that boded no good. However, a bullet will stop oven an angry cow, and this particular cow has, it is hoped, gone where there is a surfeit of cabbages. At the meeting of the West Harbour Borough Council last night a letter was received from the indignant ratepayer whose cabbages had been demolished. It read as follows: "I have a complaint to bring before your notice — that of a marauding black-and-white cow that has been around the corner of District Road and Manuka Street for a week past, and which I had to remove from my section on two occasions on a recent evening. I left the gates in my place secure, but it returned and, as a result, my place resembles a well-ploughed paddock, which state of affairs, as you may guess. I strongly resent, the cow having 'cleaned up' something like 40 or 50 cabbages that I had for use. I trust you will see that it is remedied at once, and could you let me have the name of the owner, as I would like to say something to him.' The Mayor (Mr H.E. Moller): "What was the outcome of this affair?" The Town Clerk (Mr W. Connor): "I shot the cow and buried it!" The Mayor: "That was the end of the cow." (Laughter.) The Town Clerk went on to explain that he had gone down and found the cow in a paddock on to which it had trespassed. Nobody would own the animal, he said. It had a growth on its head. "The cow made a blackguard rush at me, but I dodged it. It made another rush, but again, I eluded it. As there was no doubt that the animal was dangerous, I got a rifle and shot it.' The Town Clerk further explained that before he destroyed the cow he had consulted the stock inspector, and a constable had been present when the animal was killed. On the instructions of the inspector all the vegetables in the property concerned had been destroyed in order to prevent any contamination. Earlier in the evening the Clerk reported that at present there were no complaints about wandering cattle at St Leonards. In one case a threatened prosecution had been withdrawn on condition that the owner of the wandering cow paid for the damage caused by his animal's meanderings. The town clerk had been on the watch for offenders, but no cattle had been found wandering lately. The subject was then dropped. — ODT, 5.8.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
‘Port Dunedin' in Dunedin
Newly-built ship Port Dunedin arrives in Otago Harbour, attended by tug Dunedin. — Otago Witness, 11.8.1925 The new motor ship Port Dunedin, the first motor vessel to come to New Zealand from London direct, arrived off the Heads at 9am on Sunday and remained at an anchorage until yesterday morning off Port Chalmers, where she was boarded by the port health officer, the Customs authorities, and Captain MacLean (harbourmaster). Having been granted a clean bill of health the stately ship left the lower harbour shortly after 2pm. She was very deeply laden, but as advantage was taken of an exceptionally high spring tide, she negotiated the Victoria Channel without any difficulty, and at 3.20pm she was safely moored. The Port Dunedin has several features of outstanding interest. She has very graceful lines, all the latest improvements in the way of electric winches, boat davits, and accommodation. Her accommodation can, in fact, be classed as superior to anything seen on a ship which has visited this port for some time past. It is splendid, and everything connected with the vessel reflects credit on the owners and builders. A nasty bite The poison that has made the katipo notorious comes down the tube of a large gland near the spider's mouth. It enters a grooved, claw-shaped weapon that projects beyond the front of the head. When this weapon is thrust into an enemy's flesh, the poison from the gland flows into the wound and does the mischief. In the case of small creatures death is sure and instantaneous. Working for blind of Otago Since the inauguration of the Advisory Committee in Dunedin, in February 1924, over 40 different applications for assistance have been dealt with. They have varied in form. Masseurs have been set up in business, men assisted onto farms, into the piano tuning business, with purchase of equipment and homes, in several cases dire need was met with a grant for clothing, and for bedding, blankets etc. The pension for the blind, which came into operation on December 1 last, had been granted by June 1 to 136 blind persons. The Commissioner of Pensions is helping us considerably in our work by putting us in touch with all blind people whose names and addresses were not hitherto known to us. The local committee has assisted many in this direction. 67 blind persons are registered in Otago. Of this number 22 are in receipt of pensions. Eight applications for pensions have been declined for various reasons. Forty-two have received assistance from the fund. Amalgamation bid Another attempt is to be made to bring St Kilda into the city. A meeting of ratepayers will be held this week, when a committee will be set up to secure names to a petition asking that a vote should be taken on the question of amalgamation. That's $16.09 in 2025 There was a drop of three pence yesterday in the price of eggs. The wholesale price is 2 shillings 3 pence, and the retail 2s 6d. Missing link? In Poeloe Rimau, Sumatra, Dutch explorer J. van Herwaarden, reported a creature to De Tropische Natuur: "It was entirely covered with hair, lighter in front. The hair of the head was very dark, and fell down over the shoulders almost to the waist. The head appeared somewhat more pointed at the summit than is the human head. The face was brown and almost hairless; the forehead was high. The eyes were dark and lively, much like the eyes of a human being. The lips were normal; the mouth was very broad. The molar teeth, which I had an opportunity of observing, were larger than a man's; the incisors were of normal size. I had only a momentary glance at the right ear, but it looked exactly like a human ear. The backs of the hands were covered with thin hair, and the arms reached almost to the knees. It was about five feet in height." — ODT, 4.8.1925 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
