Squad comparable to Originals

London, September 29: The rugby critic of The Times still cautiously compares the New Zealanders with the original All Blacks, but admits that, in Saturday’s game, they undoubtedly came nearer to comparison with their famous predecessors.

He says: "It is true that the opposition was appallingly weak. The New Zealanders had, in fact, no more than three or four first-class players against them; but even so they admittedly demonstrated their all-round ability. Moreover, even the most cautious critic must admit that it proved one important thing — namely, that if the forwards can beat the opposition fairly and squarely the backs can score tries in abundance, and score them brilliantly, too. The opening play scarcely suggested the runaway victory that followed, but the New Zealanders’ ascendancy quickly came, after which it was hardly any match at all, the Swansea players looked more and more like small boys chasing a team of masters."

Agreement to submerge Waipori

The Empowering Bill, which is to give the City Corporation power to raise the dam in the Waipori River from 38 feet to 110ft, has now practically passed all its stages in the House, and it should become embodied in the Statutes in due course. The Mayor, Cr Shacklock, the town clerk and the city electrical engineer particularly have had an anxious time for many months now in clearing the way for the introduction of the Bill to the House, and they have carried out a vast amount of work. The chief difficulty was in completing lengthy negotiations with runholders on the subject of compensation payable to them.

Two substantial homes will ultimately be submerged. Attached to one of these homes is the woolshed, sheepyards and dip and all other appurtenances for the handling of a flock of some 16,000 sheep. The second home is a new and substantial building filled with all modern conveniences. 

Then, again, the area to be flooded, consisting of both freehold and leasehold lands, is made up of the low ground and the deep gullies upon which the hill farmer sets such a great store for carrying his ewes through the winter and which the corporation’s proposed work, when completed, would, of course, deprive the owner for all time. Another question involving considerable outlay was the new system of fencing that the altered conditions of the whole area would demand. 

Much of the freehold land that was to be submerged is regarded as payable gold-bearing areas.

Finally the subcommittee made Messrs Cotton and Son the following offer:

1. The sum of £26,000 on January 1, 1925;

2. Not to increase the dam above 60 feet within the period of four years;

3. The mining privileges and plant owned by the firm to be transferred to the corporation;

4. The purchase of mining rights and freehold property to be subject to acceptance by Cotton and Son;

5. The City Council to erect a stock bridge.

Shortly after 10pm on Saturday the town clerk was informed by telephone that the offer had been accepted. The erection of a wall 110ft high providing a lake with a holding capacity of 210,000 acre-feet marks the limit of the  future development of Waipori as a hydroelectric station, and all the doubts regarding the limits of development that have controlled the corporation policy in the past should now be entirely removed, and the corporation will be free to extend the undertaking as the demand for electrical energy increases.

Daffodil Day appeal

The society which has given to New Zeland that invaluable asset, the Plunket nurse, will have stalls in the streets on Friday laden with daffodils and other flowers, as well as produce, fruit, jams, etc. The proceeds from the sale of which will go towards the promotion of that excellent service. Donations of saleable goods will be welcomed.

— ODT, 1.10.1924  (Compiled by Peter Dowden)