Sixty Years Ago

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21645, 4 May 1940, Page 8

Sixty Years Ago

“The Timaru Herald” May 4, 1880 Growth of Empire Few people are, we think, aware that the territories of the British Empire are about to be augmented by the acquisition of the island of Rotumah, in the South Pacific. It would appear that this island was occupied by two hostile tribes, whose sole business and pleasure was to kill one another. This killing business, however, became so monotonous, and so very disastrous to quiet and peaceable living, that a deputation from both of the quarrelsome parties waited on Sir Arthur Gordon at Levuka, begging him to annex their country to Great Britain.

“To the Cape” “To the Cape” is the all but universal cry just now, and in view of the inevitable scarcity of employment during the coming winter, we cannot wonder at the labouring population directing their attention to other fields. So far as South Africa is concerned, however, we are afraid those who go there just now will only be jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire. It Is true the Cape Government is entering into a large railway contract on the strength of an Imperial loan, but the wages paid are. according to latest advices, anything but tempting.

Football. A few years ago the Teniuka Football Club could turn out one of the strongest teams in this provincial district. Last year the Club existed, and but little more can be said of it. This year nothing has yet been heard of it. Has all the pluck and muscle of the neighbourhood migrated or degenerated? The Breakwater Yesterday at low tide some of the contractors’ hands were engaging in levelling the rocky bottom on the north side of the first monolith to form an extension of the storage ground for blocks, the space at command within reach of the crane being now too limited. A large number of blocks are now required for each section of the Breakwater, and as the blocks are required to be at least fourteen days old before being used, a considerable space is required for their storage.