100 YEARS AGO
FROM OUR ARCHIEVES
‘Columbia River’ arrives
THE American fivemasted wooden schooner Columbia River berthed at Port Chalmers yesterday evening to discharge 1776 tons of Newcastle coal for the city gasworks. The Columbia River, which has made several voyages to Australian ports, came from Port Elizabeth this trip to load at Newcastle for Port Chalmers. The trip across the Tasman Sea was made trying by gales and heavy seas being interspersed with calms and baffling moderate winds. She left Newcastle on March 22 with a high barometer and a fair wind, which enabled the
schooner to log 105 miles for the day’s run. This promising start lasted only until the evening, however, when the wind went down and a nasty, confused sea further hindered headway.
Nevertheless the vessel reached her destination yesterday. Captain Neil Murchison has commanded the Columbia River since she was launched five years ago. Alter discharging she will probably dock at Port Chalmers before returning to Newcastle.
Which sport for redblooded men?
To the editor: Sir, I attended the opening meeting of the Otago Hunt at Woodeaton on Saturday. There were present a fair sprinkling of riders who took the fences in a very dashing style. The members of the club deserve prayers for their efforts to keep alive the king of all sports. Out of curiosity I asked a bystander who all the followers were, and I was greatly surprised to find that nearly all the male riders were married men. Of
course, I naturally asked why all the young fellows were conspicuous by their absence. One must only come to the conclusion that they have lost their dash. Why is it that the sport of live men, the sport that thrills, the sport that proves a man’s heart is in the right place, the sport that sets the red blood racing through the veins, is left alone and games like tennis, billiards, golf, etc, find keen enthusiasts? I felt quite disgusted, on looking over the paddock, to see the large number of fellows banging away at a golf ball. What a pity that fine body of men — the Otago Hussars — had to disband. Nearly every man owned a horse that could jump; but that seems all shoved behind us — the young men seem to have lost the desire to ride a horse over a fence. I would advise every young man that cares for a horse to get one and go to the hunt. Jumpers are to be got for looking for. It does not cost much to keep a hunter. Chaff is cheap, and besides, quite a big sum of money is to be picked up at the shows
in prizes with a good horse. — I am, etc, Old Hunter
Not the best hiding places
Where do householders who have money in their homes and who fear a visit from thieves secrete their wealth? In a robbery recently reported it was stated that notes had been hidden under the mattress of the bed (says the Melbourne Age). This, however, is too obvious a hiding place and is seldom resorted to nowadays. Judging by the experience of the Commonwealth Treasury it is quite a common practice to put notes and valuables for safekeeping under the copper. That this is not a plan to be recommended is proved by the fact that in recent months numerous applications have been made to the Treasury by distracted housewives, who have lighted a fire under the copper on Monday mornings, and remembered, frequently too late, that they have ignited the storedup wealth. — ODT, 13.4.1921.