Born in 1838 in Fifeshire, William Adam left in 1857 by the ship Robert Henderson. After his arrival at Dunedin, the newcomer worked about Mosgiel and was then successful in obtaining work on the Otapiri run, which had been selected by Mr James Macandrew, the well-known Superintendent of Otago. This run is on the northern slopes of the Hokonui Hills, facing what is now the Balfour district, and in 1858 was reputed to be the furthest-back run in Otago. Leaving Dunedin the bullock driver laughingly told Mr Adam to take a good look at the small town, as it would be his last glimpse of civilisation for many a day. For five long weeks this primitive vehicle creaked and lurched its way over roadless wilds before the party arrived at its destination. The express trains now do the same journey in five hours. After a year at Otapiri, Mr Adam worked for a time at Invercargill, which in 1859 was an insignificant bush settlement, and thereafter his activities were transferred to the rugged regions at the headwaters of the Waitaki River. In 1860 his father built “Glenallen,” the once well-known accommodation house advertised as “halfway between Dunedin and Tokomairiro’’ and Mr Adam subsequently made this his home and died in the house he had assisted to build 63 years ago. In 1861, Mr Adam, like most of the able-bodied young men of the day, joined the army of diggers. Later, when the Westland rushes took place, he walked from the Taieri to Christchurch and overland to Hokitika. Like most Scotsmen he was very patriotic, but his innate courtesy and genuine friendliness of disposition made him act charitably toward individuals of all races whom he met in life’s journey. A good indication of his kindly nature is afforded by the fact that he usually carried a bag of fruit or sweets, not to eat himself but of which to make a small donation to every child he met. A keen judge of the motives that impel man to act, his counsel was worth having, and was sought by many. He was also a keen observer of Nature, and his observations and anecdotes of birds and animals were always highly valued by those who were privileged to hear them. The late Mr Adam sought no public positions. He came of a long-lived race and is survived by two brothers and two sisters whose ages range from 79 to 58 years. He was predeceased by his wife and one son, but leaves another son and two daughters.
Finding time for safety
The chief value of the report of the Board of Inquiry which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the recent railway disaster at Ongarue will consist in the recommendations that will be made for the protection of the travelling public against the risk of the future occurrence of tragedies of the kind. It is not improbable that the fall of the boulder into which the train crashed at Ongarue was due to the vibration caused by the approach of the train itself. If that be so, the disaster was one that could not humanly have been averted. “Safety first” is a maxim the importance of which may perhaps be more fully appreciated by the Railways Department than by the public itself, seeing how it is apt to be disregarded in the bustle and hurry that is associated with the present mode of life. There is an ever-growing tendency to demand that distance shall be more and more annihilated, and that time shall be more and more economised. Of even greater moment, however, than the consideration of convenience is that of public safety, and the railway officials are pursuing a prudent and wise course in placing special stress on the principle of “safety first.” — editorial
Constables on point duty
The system whereby the control of street traffic in the vicinity of the Stock Exchange is undertaken by the police has now been in operation for three days. The people negotiating this busy thoroughfare are now becoming accustomed to the new conditions, which promise to lead to a very satisfactory state of affairs. The constables on duty are stationed in the middle of the road, and they direct the traffic by means of hand and arm signals in a manner that appears to meet with the approval of all concerned. — ODT, 9.8.1923
Compiled by Peter Dowden
