Fifty Years Ago To-day

Southland Times, Issue 22994, 14 September 1936, Page 6

Fifty Years Ago To-day

(From The Southland Times.) SEPTEMBER 14, 1886. Our Volunteers.—There was a good muster of the Rifles, the G Battery and the Garrison Band at the Government inspection yesterday evening. The men were marched through some of the principal streets, the band leading the way melodiously. Southland Hospital.—At the monthly meeting of the trustees of the Southland Hospital a letter addressed to the secretary by Mr 'MacPherson (the treasurer) was read in which the writer stated that he could not sit on the ByLaw Committee with Mr Bain unless and until that gentleman withdrew an observation made by him to the effect that he (Mr MacPherson) had surreptitiously obtained a statement forwarded by Mr Wolfe to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. After a long discussion in which several motions were negatived, Messrs Bain, Hast, Waterston and McFarlane left the room and the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum.

Musketry Instructor.— Major J. J. Atkinson has been appointed district assistant musketry instructor for Otago. Bluff Harbour Board— At the monthly meeting of the Bluff Harbour Board the chairman, Mr J. G. Ward, in accordance with notice given, moved: “That ocean-going steamers making a second call at Bluff before leaving the New Zealand coast, be exempted from all pilotage and port dues, and that the same be published in the general tariff.” It seemed, he said, to be a sweeping motion, but as a matter of fact it would not affect the revenue to the extent of one penny. It would be the first step towards getting the direct steamers to call at Bluff and would have a good effect on the owners of vessels who would see that the board was trying to do its best foi' the port. The motion was carried.