THE WELLS OF TIMARU.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18008, 13 July 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE WELLS OF TIMARU.

ROMANCE AND TRAGEDY. People have heard in a general way that in the early days there were public wells about the town, but few people know where they were located. One was on the road in front of Chalmers Church, the site being now fenced in and planted in flowers. Another, which is now fenced and planted in shrubs, was on the side of the hill leading from Arthur Street into Butler Street, opposite the Gas Works. One was at the junction of Dee Street and Grey Road. - One was in Theodosia (now spelled Theodocia) Street, close to its junction with Church Street, on the southern side. One was in George Street on the sea side of the old Borough Council Chambers; and tli© sixth was in Woollcombe Street in front of the old stone building now used as a Chinese laundry. It might be supposed that a well is an inanimate and colourless sort of thing, intended only for utilitarian purposes; but at the Avells of Timaru there was many a romantic happening when man.and maid met for the purpose of drawing water for household use. There are descendants of families in Timaru to-day whose church was decided as the result of a chance meeting at one of the Timaru wells. It will he gathered from this that there were some weighty discussions at the wells. On one occasion there was a happening of an entirely different nature. Soma boys were going home from school one day when they saw an iron spanner on the road at the side of a well. Without intending anything more than to hear the spanner strike the water they dropped it down the well, to discover later that it had struck the head of a man Who happened to be working down the well at the time! What their punishment was is not recorded. PRESSING WOOL. The lever wool-presses of to-day on farm and station were preceded by “pressers,” heavy men who trod the fleeces into the bale, and used a spade to drive the wool down close lo the bale. “Wool-pressing” was as regular an occupation of certain big men, as shearing was of slimmer and more active men.