Plant has purple flower and war story
A bright purple blooming in Max Muldrew’s Timaru garden has been piquing the interest of passers-by for its stunning display and its link to World War I.
The scabius purple flower has been growing in abundance outside Muldrew’s Rhodes St home and this year celebrates its 100th birthday, he said.
It was brought back to New Zealand by a soldier following World War I.
‘‘It flowers every year and is a bit like a daisy,’’ Muldrew said.
‘‘It’s outside the sliding doors at my home and I like going out there sometimes and sitting and admiring it.’’
Scabious, better known scabiosa, is a member of honeysuckle family, originates from Europe.
The flower’s war link goes back 100 years, he said.
‘‘A plant was brought back from Europe in 1918 from the First World War by a soldier fighting in Europe.
‘‘It was planted in a garden in Five Forks [about 20km south-west of Oamaru] from a Mrs Ellis’s garden,’’ Muldrew said.
Mrs Ellis gave Muldrew’s mother, Eunice, a root of the plant as a gift 68 years ago and since then the plant’s roots have con- as the and tinued to grow.
‘‘Mrs Ellis gave Mum a root from the plant on her marriage in 1949,’’ Muldrew said.
‘‘It grew at their home and then in the 1990s when they retired off of the farm, Mum took a root to their new home in Oamaru.’’
When Muldrew moved to a new home in Timaru, his mother con- tinued the tradition of passing on a part of the plant.
‘‘So the plant has grown in North Otago, where my mother lives, and in 2014 my mother gave me a plant root and it is now growing in my garden at Rhodes St in Timaru.
‘‘So this year the plant will be 100 years old,’’ he said.
Muldrew said the plant had flowered every year since he had placed it in his garden.
He said the flowers normally appeared at the end of summer, something he looks forward to each year.
‘‘There are a lot of flowers on it this year.
‘‘I pruned it before I left to go overseas and came back and it’s done well.’’
Muldrew said the plant was ‘‘different’’ from others in his garden.
‘‘It’s different. It’s a spindly, weedy sort of plant.’’
Muldrew said he enjoys its link to World War I and Anzac Day often made him think of the flower and its connection to the battle. 9am, Geraldine Library 10.15am, Woodbury War Memorial 11.30am, Peel Forest Hall 2.15pm, Rangitata Island Aerodrome 6.20am, Hakataramea Cenotaph 7am, Victoria Park Memorial Gates 8am, Southburn War Memorial 8.45am, St Andrews War Memorial 10am, Waimate Event Centre 1.30pm, Waihao Forks Hotel 10am, Mackenzie Community Centre 6am, Twizel RSA 10.30am, Cave Hall 8.15am, Kurow Cemetery 6am, War Memorial, Queen St 7am, Cemetery, Domain Ave 10am, Soundshell, Caroline Bay 8am, Victor Wilson School Hall, Horton St 6am, Temuka Domain Cenotaph 7.30am, Arowhenua Cemetery 9am, Winchester School 10.30am, Cenotaph at Domain
Twizel water system failure
Mackenzie District Council asset manager Bernie Haar said an electronic control system at the Twizel water treatment plant failed on Sunday, resulting in it over dosing chlorine into the water. Council staff located the areas within the village where the level of chlorine in the water was high, and flushed the pipes to remove the water. Haar said Twizel residents should no longer be able to smell chlorine in their water, that it had always been safe to drink, and that contractors were working to determine what had caused the system to fail.
Boatie sentenced
A boatie caught sailing a decrepit, weed-encrusted yacht from Wellington to Westport has been sentenced to community detention. At the Westport District Court on Thursday, Judge Anthony Walsh told John Whatuira he had put his female passenger and rescuers in danger, and that his conduct was ‘‘highly reckless’’. Maritime NZ central regional compliance manager Michael-Paul Abbott said the conviction was a reminder to all skippers that they must ensure their vessels are properly maintained and fit for a sea journey, and that they must comply with any conditions imposed. The yacht – the Coriolanus – did not have a working radio, any approved lifejackets, charts or other means to navigate. ‘‘This boatie put his own life and that of others in danger when he ignored Maritime NZ’s directions and sailed from Wellington without making the necessary improvements to the old wooden yacht he bought for $500 online. The engine was not working when conditions were put on this vessel, and the limited equipment on board, such as the sails and rigging, were old and in poor repair.’’ Abbott said police were notified in December 2015 about the yacht struggling in Wellington Harbour. Whatuira told the police launch master he had bought the yacht on Trade Me for $500 and had travelled to Wellington to take ownership of it.
Police notebook
Recent incidents reported to police include:
About 6.30am on Monday a 20-year-old Timaru man was stopped by police while driving along Otipua Rd. Police served him with a demerit points letter for three months loss of drivers licence.
On Sunday about 6.30pm, police attended a family harm incident on Church St, Timaru, where a police safety order was issued.
About 9.30pm on Sunday, police received a complaint of assault in the Scenic Reserve. Senior Sergeant Dylan Murray, of Timaru, said inquiries were continuing.