Fifty Years Ago To-day

Southland Times, Issue 23024, 19 October 1936, Page 6

Fifty Years Ago To-day

(From The Southland Times.)

OCTOBER 19, 1886.

Shaky.—The traffic and railway bridge at Riverton is found to be unsafe for railway traffic. On Thursday evening passengers proceeding towards Orepuki had to walk across the bridge

and enter a train which was waiting on the other-side. The defect is supposed to be in the upper timbers, as the piles do not give way in the least. No Feah!—Mr Won Kee, Chinese

merchant in Cromwell, has done a generous act which might well be followed by Europeans in similar circumstances—but so far never has to our knowledge. Mr Won Kee was one of the fortunate investors on Colleen Dhas for the trot at Friday’s races, and out of his substantial dividend of £7O he next day spontaneously handed to the Treasurer of the Cromwell Hospital the handsome donation of 20 guineas. Dermatine. —A new substance has been patented under the name of dermatine. It is intended to be a substitute for leather and indiarubber, and is claimed to stand more friction than either.

Steam Trawler Launched.—Messrs Barker and Jones, Bluff, have just completed the building of a small vessel which will be a decided acquisition to the growing fleet of Stewart Island fishing crafts, now numbering about 20 cutters and ketches. The vessel under notice has been built to sail or steam.