Jubilee gathering of settlers at Waikaka Valley. — Otago Witness, 24.6.1924
The weather was bright and fine, if a little cold, and large numbers gathered to do honour to the pioneers of the district and to pay their tribute to its progress and prosperity. The results of the energetic work of a strong committee of the present-day settlers were seen in the elaborate arrangements made for all the ceremonies of the day. The first gathering was a religious service in the Waikaka Valley Presbyterian Church. At the close of the morning service tea was served in the church, and the opportunity for social intercourse and the revival of old memories were freely availed of. Mr D. L. Poppelwell (the Mayor of Gore) asked them to go back with him over a period of 50 years and try to picture conditions to which the pioneers came. The pioneers were men who said to themselves that this was a country capable of great development, that would become a most important part of the dominion. At the same time they were not blind to the difficulties that were inevitably ahead of them. The wives of the pioneers, like their husbands, showed great courage. They had no up-to-date appliances for saving labour about the house, no Plunket nurses to assist, no weekly pictures, no bridge clubs, and very few holidays, but they went on. Without them a great part of the dominion would never have been settled. They were there to do equal honour to the wives of the pioneers. On the motion of Mr Poppelwell, very hearty thanks were accorded the Jubilee Committee.
Larnach elected OHB chair
The statutory meeting of the Otago Harbour Board for the purpose of electing a chairman for the ensuing year was held yesterday afternoon, the retiring chairman (Mr T. H. Russell) occupying the chair. Mr Russell called for nominations for the position of chairman for the ensuing year, and Mr J.A. Roberts was nominated by Mr Wilkinson and Mr D. Larnach by Mr Moller. On the vote being taken Mr Larnach was declared elected by a majority of one vote. (Applause.) Mr Larnach, in returning thanks for his election, said that he esteemed it a very great honour to be elected to a position of that kind, and he hoped that he would still have the confidence of the members when his term as chairman had expired. He would do his utmost in the interests
of the board, and he hoped that he would carry out his duties to the satisfaction of the members.
To squeeze aboard or to walk?
Crowding on the trams takes place at "rush hours" and special occasions. At such times the cars carry a number of passengers greatly in excess of capacity. The conditions make for discomfort, certainly, but what is the alternative? Which is preferable — to be a jostled straphanger or to be obliged to walk or to have to seek some relatively expensive means of conveyance? It is difficult to reach any other conclusion than that a certain amount of overcrowding on the tramcars at times is unavoidable, and as long as this is not suffered to an extent that is incompatible with public safety interference would not necessarily be to the public advantage. — editorial. — ODT, 31.5.1924
