Dunedin pair in cliff tragedy

Oamaru, April 22: A serious motor accident occurred at an early hour this morning on the road beyond Wharekuri, between Kurow and Omarama. Philip Hudson, aged about 20, a son of Mr Robert Hudson, biscuit manufacturer, of Dunedin, was driving in a two-seater Austin car to his brother's station at "Longslip." He was accompanied by Miss Olive Rutherford, aged about 17, a clerk in the employ of the Otago Farmers' Union, whose parents reside at Caversham. The car ran down an incline for about 100 yards and then fell over a cliff about 130 feet high and was dashed to pieces on the rocks below. A man who was proceeding to work at 7.30 discovered the car on the rocks and the young lady on a ledge 20ft above. She was later removed to the Kurow Hotel in a critical condition, but the nature of her injuries could not be ascertained. She was attended by Dr Watt. The road is unfenced where the accident occurred. The tracks of the car show that the brakes were applied 40 or 50 yards from the edge of the cliff. It is presumed that the car ran off the road in the fog. A search party was out all day, but no trace of Hudson could be discovered. It is possible that he is wandering about the country in a dazed condition. The young lady's watch, which was broken, stopped at 7.25.

Poppies help widows, orphans

To-morrow, Poppy Day will be held in Dunedin. It will be the fourth such day to be held. The poppy has been selected by the allied countries as a symbol of remembrance, and the poppies to be offered for sale were made by widows and orphans of the devastated areas of France. The net results, after deducting the cost of the poppies, have been used in the past for providing recreation facilities in the city and suburbs. Various waste places have been cleared and planted under the supervision of Mr Tannock, thus contributing to the scenic attractions of the city. A continuation of the work is proposed with the proceeds of this year’s Poppy Day, and, as in the past, it is hoped that the amount, so raised may be subsidised by the various bodies interested. The proceeds of Poppy Day serve a dual purpose in that, as well as improving the surroundings of the city, they provide work for unemployed ex-soldiers.

Broken rock replaces concrete

At the meeting of the City Council last night Cr Mitchell wanted to know why the concrete foundation had been removed from part of Rattray street and had been replaced with spauls, and also why macadam taken off the top had been carried away and other macadam brought back. Cr Wilson had stated that the Anderson's Bay road was to be put down in concrete and Trinidad. He (Cr Mitchell) questioned whether they were not spending too much money in foundations. He thought they should consider simple tar-sealing of the surface. He also wanted to know how much money had been spent on upkeep in Princes street from Shacklock's foundry to the foot of Cemetery Hill. That road had been down for 12 or 14 years, and it had stood well. Was Trinidad surface better than their own tar, if the tar was properly prepared?

Only one train a day for now

It must be disappointing to the public to learn that the full service provided on the South Island main trunk line during the summer and autumn is not to be continued throughout the year. It is to be hoped, however, that the board will see its way to reinstate the two expresses per diem after as short an interlude as possible, and that its winter time-table will not be protracted till after the winter is past. — editorial

Saturday school idea quashed

“It has come to my knowledge that there is a suggestion current to have the schools opened on a Saturday," said Mr J. Wallace, chairman of the Otago Education Board, at its monthly meeting yesterday. He said the board should quash such a suggestion, and inform the Education Department that it protested against such an innovation. The suggestion, he had heard, was that either the schools should be open on Saturdays or that there should be longer hours. The schools had not lost a considerable amount of time, and such a proposal should meet with strong objection. — (“Hear, hear.”) It was decided to follow the suggestion of the chairman. — ODT, 23.4.1925

Compiled by Peter Dowden