Wednesday 27 May 2020

Durban becomes a City

THE STAR Johannesburg - 1935, August 2
There was a distinguished gathering at the Durban City Hall when an extraordinary meeting of the City Council was held to mark the attainment of the status of a city by the Borough of Durban. The right was conferred on Durban to call itself a city by a recent ordinance of the Provincial Council after an application by the Town Council.
At this morning’s ceremony the Mayor, Dr. S. Copley, described the rapid growth of Durban from a few shacks on a sandy waste 100 years ago to the flourishing industrial and commercial centre of today. He declared that the strongest foundation the city could be built on was that of diversified industrial interests.
A resolution to the King was passed.

Durban Yachting and Boating
CAPE TIMES - 1924, May 29
Not the least of Durban’s many attractions is the Bay which at all times affords delightful diversion and upon which many happy hours can be spent. Whether one’s fancy inclines to yachting, rowing, motorboat cruising or fishing, all are ready at hand.

Durban has an incomparable stretch of sheltered and almost land-locked water of some eight square miles for the indulgence of these sports. The Bay’s surface is gay with the white wings of yachts, motorboats moving swiftly to and fro, the contests of oarsmen, in pairs, fours and eights, the rowing or motorboats of fishermen scouting from one favourite spot to another in great expectation of landing a “bender” before the day is done or the recreation of those, less professional, who are content with a quiet sail or row on its sunny waters.
Read more about the Bluff, Victoria Embankment (Esplanade), Congella where a large area of swampy ground has been reclaimed for many industries and manufactories, Salisbury Island, Motor launches between the Esplanade and the Island, the Bay for surfing, rock fishing or yachting competitions between the Royal Natal Yacht Club, the Point Yacht Club and the other leading Clubs of the Union.

Durban Paper Mill Project
CAPE TIMES - 1933, September 27
The proposal to erect a £300 000 paper mill on the banks of the Umgeni River is still the subject of keen controversy in Durban.
The site is on the south bank of the Umgeni in the same area as the Country Club and the aerodrome, and although there are industries on both sides of the railway line, the Town Council has contemplated the development of the area as a recreation ground.
Durban is keen on having the factory which will use bagasse, a waste product from the sugar mills, but there is a strong body of opinion against the Council allowing it to interfere with its policy of zoning.
In a statement today, Mr. Graham MacKeurtan, who is chairman of the Natal Estates, Ltd., the company responsible for the proposed industry, emphasized that the Umgeni site was the only suitable site within economic distance of Mount Edgecombe, whence the bagasse will come, and with the necessary quantity of water.
“I can say definitely that our expert advice compels us to the view that if we cannot get this site, we shall not be able to establish the industry in Natal,” said Mr. MacKeurtan.
He disclosed that the company had been experimenting on papermaking for four years, and had spent thousands of pounds on the project.









Crowd at Greyville for the July Handicap
THE STAR Johannesburg - 1935, July 8

An impression of the crowd at the Greyville racecourse on Saturday during the parade of horses before the running of the Durban July Handicap. The sky was overcast and the day was cold, but luckily the rain held off until after the big race. It is estimated that the attendance was in the neighbourhood of 30 000.



Durban Airport
THE STAR Johannesburg - 1935, August 2
Durban Airport at the time of the July Handicap, with a host of aerial visitors. Though it has been abandoned by the South African Airways headquarters staff,   Stamford Hill is still one of the great termini of the air.





Durban The Point
THE STAR Johannesburg - 1935, August 3
The new club-house of the Point Yacht Club, Durban, opened today, is an ultra-modern building, as may be seen from the photograph, taken at low tide in the Bay. The Durban Rowing Club headquarters are shown in the right background.





Stormy Seas at Durban
THE STAR Johannesburg - 1935, August 19
A high wind, blustering along the coast caused heavy seas at Durban over the week-end, and the port authorities had an anxious time. On the right of this photograph is the Baron Maclay, whose mooring chain broke, causing her to drift on to the Manila, shown on the left. The anchor cable of the Baron Maclay is seen on the right, and beyond that is the stern of a tug, one of four shich tried unsuccessfully to haul off the Baron Maclay. Next to the mast of the Manila can be seen the jib of a floating crane which, with a barge, were lodged between the two boats, a move which prevented damage.

Stormy seas at Durban
CAPE ARGUS - 1939, January 5
Pounded by heavy seas during the Christmas and New Year holidays, a great deal of Durban’s beach has again disappeared into the Indian ocean. This picture shows how the sea has battered the promenade and made of the sand a miniature cliff.


Hotter in Durban
CAPE ARGUS - 1939, February 6
It’s hotter in Durban than it is in Cape Town, with the result that these children are allowed to attend classes dressed merely in bathing trunks or short trousers. “They work better like this,” their teacher declares.




Keeping fit on Durban beach
CAPE ARGUS - 1939, December 20
Keeping fit on Durban Beach: Scenes like this take place on the beach at Durban every morning now that physical culture classes have been started under the auspices of the Municipal Entertainments Department.

Monday 25 May 2020

What should go in a Medicine Cupboard?


CAPE ARGUS - 1939, February 11
The other day a colleague showed me a pamphlet issued by the Department of Labour (USA), presided over by the woman member of the Cabinet, Miss Parkins, and entitled “The Home Medicine Cabinet,” which is sold to the millions of the public at 3d. a copy. A thoughtful womanly act this!

But I think her pamphlet would not satisfy the majority of housewives and, believing so, I am going to supplement it considerably.
At the outset I state two essential precautions:
The cupboard must have a lock which will snap fast of itself and of which mother alone has the key, so that the youngsters cannot open it.

All poisons must be in bottles coloured green or blue and bear a label “Poison” or “Gif” in red letters so that mother herself shall not err. First, I give the main heading, and later my suggestions for them on which, of course, you may improve if you know something else which suits you better.
* Antiseptics for cuts, wounds or scratches and dressing for burns.
Medicine for headaches, and aches or pains.
Medicines for dyspepsia, constipation or the opposite.
Medicines for coughs, colds or mild feverish attacks.
Medicines for fainting or collapse.
Medicine for aches in eye, ear and tooth.
Thermometer, measure-glass, atomizer or spray, throat-brush (curved), syringes, one of glass or vulcanite (2oz.), the other for enemas, and a douche-can (2 pints) of glass in frame and tubing, etc.


Have a look at the article for more suggestions regarding Antiseptics, Pain-Killers, Digestive System, Catarrhs, Rheumatism, Eyes, Teeth, Nose, Toothache, Nose-Bleeding, Earache, Boils, Debility, Malnutrition, Surgical Dressings and Emetics for Poisoning.

Monday 18 May 2020

SKI-ING at FONTEINTJESBERG near Worcester


CAPE TIMES - 1933, July 8

When I saw pictures of people skiing at FONTEINTJESBERG in the Hex River Mountains, I wondered if this "ski resort" still exists.
THOMAS HUT at Disa Dell on the north-eastern flanks of Brandwacht Peak of the Hex River Mountains forms part of the ‘classic’ Hex Traverse to Ceres, the Hex River Valley or Waaihoek. The Hut was built in 1930 thanks to the combined efforts of the founding members of the Ski Club of South Africa and the Worcester Section of the Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA), who realised that the slopes of the FONTEINTJESBERG were good for skiing after a heavy snowfall. 

Hugo Myburgh and Miss Beatrice MacLachlan – though less skilled – had both been to “real” winter sports in Switzerland. 

The hut was officially opened after the first snowfalls in the area on 7 August 1931 and was used mostly by skiers, but in 1934 the municipality feared contamination of the stream supplying water to Worcester so they closed access. The MCSA later managed to convince the municipality to allow them access once again. Since then, many improvements have been made to the hut, including the addition of an outside toilet, a stoep and a pergola.






Miss Molly Brown was a very daring novice, and quickly acquired a mastery of the impediments on her feet, while Mr. William Harnett struggled manfully to maintain an upright position. 
















The view from the top of Fonteintjesberg is unforgettable, as was the fire we found at the Bain’s Kloof Hotel on our return journey – where we heard of the arrival of Miss Molly Brown’s nephew, Mrs. Frank Dunckley’s baby.



CAPE TIMES - 1933, September 12
Read more about THOMAS HUT and FONTEINTJESBERG at 

Sunday 17 May 2020

Well-known Passes in South Africa: 1928 - 1939


SIR LOWRY’S PASS
CAPE TIMES - 1928, August 18
It may be of interest to note that SIR LOWRY’S PASS was called GANTOUW by the Hottentots, which comes from “kani” (an Eland) and “daos” – i.e., the Eland’s Paths. This would be very appropriate, for it showed that the natives followed the tracks of the eland to get over the other side of the mountain.
In the year 1710 a Junior Merchant in the service of the Dutch East India Company, named Van Putten, climbed the Old Hottentots Holland Pass; near the summit he sat upon a small mound of sandstone which he called his Castle of Rypermonde, and which you may with ease identify. As he idly watched the ascending wagons he was struck by the resemblance of the surrounding rocks to lions, griffins, cats and baboons, even kings crowned and on horseback. One little pile of rocks – which lies just north of the wheel-worn track and slightly above his Castle – he thought like “Erasmus Desiderius (1536 – 1622) with his square cap and long coat as he is depicted in Rotterdam in metal on the Market-square.” (Read more about Erasmus Desiderius, Groote Markt of Rotterdam, blue-bloused peasants in clogs selling cheese in the article on the left.)

CAPE TIMES - 1928, July 11





In July 1928, the Metropolitan Motor Cycle Club held a reliability trial to SIRLOWRY'S PASS, starting from the Pier in Cape Town.

CAPE ARGUS - 1939, February 26





GYDOO PASS  
On the newly constructed GYDOO PASS, a few miles beyond Ceres and Prince Alfred Hamlet. Near the summit are extensive apple and pear orchards.


CAPE TIMES - 1933, July 28



FRANSCH HOEK PASS
Overlooking Fransch Hoek, with the Drakenstein Mountains in the back – the long-wheelbase Dodge Six climbing the new Pass.


















CAPE TIMES - 1933, July 29

BAIN’S KLOOF PASS
Over the Re-constructed Road through Bain’s Kloof: More motorists than ever are expected to use this road leading to the Union’s finest touring area – the Southern Cape – now that the surface is in such good condition.




CAPE TIMES - 1933, August 30





SEVEN WEEKS POORT PASS, Ladismith
Seven Weeks Poort near Ladismith (Cape), is attracting more and more tourists. This picture gives a glimpse of the unusual mountain scenery in the Poort.











CAPE ARGUS - 1939, February 15










MICHELL’S PASS

Michell’s Pass approaches the town of Ceres from the south-west, connecting it to Tulbagh, Worcester and the Breede River Valley. The road pass was planes by Charles Collier Michell and constructed in 1848 by Andrew Geddes Bain.












CAPE ARGUS - 1939, December 12





VILJOEN’S PASS
Glory of the Cape
Looking back on the fertile valley of Elgin from Viljoen’s Pass.

Saturday 16 May 2020

The Bee-Keeper


CAPE ARGUS - 1906, August 27
In the Weekly Argus, Bij-Vanger wrote:
In the British Bee Journal there are some letters by South African bee-keepers. Mr. Muhbaurer, of Bulawayo, writes:
“The question is frequently put as to whether the domestication of the wild bee is feasible. The Matabele variety is too fond of swarming at frequent intervals, and I know of one individual swarm that sent out sixteen smaller swarms within five weeks. The residue was a handful of bees which were quite incapable of amassing honey. Moreover, the wild bees, even if kept in a modern hive, are easily irritated, and very dangerous to any living thing within a hundred yards, showing a distinct partiality for horses and cattle.” He strongly advocates the importation of Italian bees.
W.H.E. thinks: “The native bees here are quite good enough without importing others. I often see accounts of their viciousness, stating that without cause they come out and sting everything within reach. I do not believe it. They do at times, give trouble by attacking animals, but certainly not without cause at all, as some state. One thing, you cannot combine fowls and bees in this country. They are certainly more vicious than the English bee, but I find them greater cowards and more easily subdued. On warm sunny days they are easily handled, but in cloudy weather and towards evening they are most vicious.”
Inyosi says: “South African bees can be made docile by frequent handling. I think bees are intensely sensitive to sound, and it is certain that anyone using a hoe near a hive will bring the bees out screaming ‘Whaffor.’
I have noticed this with even my most docile colonies. It can hardly be the odour of the newly turned soil that irritates the bees, because there is no trouble when it is done sixty or eighty yards away. At that distance they take little notice in their flight. Moreover, I have stood within a few yards of a hive and kept on the best terms with the bees, but as soon as I started pulling up weeds about the hive entrance, they came ‘for me’ pell-mell, and sting wherever they got a chance. It therefore seems clear that our bees here do not resent one’s working seventy yards away. The inference is that the commotion is due to sound or vibration. Moreover, they are more vicious when the ground is damp.”
Bees are more liable to become irritable in wet weather, because the rain washes the honey out of the flowers and leaves them with nothing to do. When bees are gathering honey from unstinted supplies, they are too busy to lose their temper; but when there is little for them to do, and no rations coming in, then they are ready for the war-path. Don’t meddle with bees after a rain – and when you have to handle them, do so about noon n a quiet, warm day.
I was writing the other day about bees and Lucerne. Where there is Lucerne there should be bees as a by-product. In California the bee colony is an adjunct to the alfalfa patch, and in five square miles of Lucerne country there will be from 2 000 to 7 000 colonies of bees. For a given acreage there is no plant or tree that will support as many colonies.
Buckwheat makes another good crop for bees, and a good farm crop in itself.

Tuesday 5 May 2020

It does not take much to signify a changed world.

CAPE ARGUS – 1939, February 20
It may be only a steadier footstep 
that tells of a hitherto drunken husband coming soberly down the street. 
It may only be a change in the voice, only a kiss. 
It was a mere olive leaf that told Noah a new world was waiting for him. 
It was only floating driftwood that told Columbus his long, dreary voyage 
was coming to an end. 
A wedding ring may not be of much value compared with other jewels, 
but its meaning is much more: 
it can tell a story of love and trust richer in its telling 
than any other of earth’s stories.” 
Lines from Sunday’s sermon
by 
Colonel Edward H. Joy, Congregational Church, Rondebosch.



Cape Town’s new £22 000 Broadcasting Station at Milnerton

 CAPE TIMES - 1933, July 18 The Cape and Peninsula Broadcasting Association started Cape Town’s first Broadcasting Station on September 15, ...