She was accompanied by Adelina Callaghan, teacher of Dart View Household School. The deceased was returning from Glenorchy, and the river was high and running swiftly, but, being accustomed to fording it, deceased essayed driving through. When halfway across the water started to come into the gig and the horse reared, breaking the shafts clean off. Mrs Scurr held on to the reins and was pulled into the river, Miss Callaghan also being precipitated from the gig. The latter was carried down the river, and eventually felt bottom in a shallow part. On gaining a footing she looked up and down the river and called out, but could see no sign of Mrs Scurr. She waded across and went to meet two settlers. Messrs T. Kennett and Woodly, who were hurrying to the scene of the accident.
On her relating what had happened, they made a search in the vicinity of the gig, but found no trace of the unfortunate woman. Continuing their search, the body was discovered about 600 yards down the river lying on its side in about 18 inches of water, with the head under the surface. Life was quite extinct. The horse was quietly grazing on the far side of the river. The body was brought to the Earnslaw Hotel, Glenorchy, and an inquest held by the coroner Mr D.E. Sutherland JP last night, Constable Dunn representing the police. A verdict was returned of accidental drowning in attempt to ford the Rees River, at the head of Lake Wakatipu in a gig. Deceased was born London, and had been out in the dominion 11 years. She leaves a family of four young children.
Board to offer up Logan land
At the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last night the question of the disposal of the Lake Logan reclaimed area to the city council was again discussed.
The business was taken in committee, and the following resolution was finally adopted: "That the board make an offer to the City Council to lease the whole area of Lake Logan (subject to the rights already agreed to with the University and the Education Board) for a term of 50 years, at a rental of £1000 per annum, the City Council to carry out and to be responsible for the whole of the drainage over the whole area, the same to be carried to a point to be arranged, and in addition to be responsible for any claims that may be made in connection with any properties adjoining the area."
Protecting native fowl
The danger of the paradise duck and the pukeko being exterminated in the South Island, as they had been in the North, was stressed by Sir Thomas Mackenzie in introducing the Animals Protection and Game Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday. He said that some 17 years ago these birds had very nearly been exterminated in the south, through needless slaughter in thousands by so-called sportsmen.
There was a tendency to import game and to neglect the native fauna; yet this country had one of the most interesting fauna in the world. The isolated position of New Zealand prevented restocking from adjacent lands where similar types occurred, and it was most important that the destruction of native birds should cease.
A prickly issue
Perhaps the aesthetic qualities of some of the settlers in the Waikouaiti County are responsible for their not clearing away "spring’s golden fire of furze" from where it is obstructing traffic on the public road lines. When the inspector reported that a number of those given the statutory two months to remove the weed from the road line opposite their properties had taken no action. Others had done very little. The council took a time to decide as to whether it should put men on to clear the gorse or give them another chance of brief duration to get busy. Eventually the latter course was agreed upon. If no action is then taken by the transgressors, men will be employed at their expense to do the work.
— ODT, 28.10.1922 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
