100 YEARS AGO
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Cuming’s drapery store razed
A DISASTROUS fire in Cuming’s drapery store in George Street last evening completely wrecked the fine establishment and consumed £18,000 worth of drapery and other soft goods in one fierce blaze that swept through the shop from end to end, vomiting flames and smoke from the roof in a triumphant roar to the sky. Mr Cuming, sought out amid the burning ruin of his business, told a Times reporter later that he stood to lose £6,000 on the stock, which is insured in the New Zealand Office for £12,000. The scene inside the shop at eight was
indescribable. A few paces from the door it was as black as night. The smoke was thick and persistent and hung like a dense fog shrouding the records of a onceproud establishment in a haze through which one saw strange shapes and forms, the smouldering remains of furniture and fittings and a bent and twisted entanglement of ironwork and wooden frames. The fire started in the showroom at the back of the shop (how it is not known) among some new winter fashions just about to be opened, and other goods displayed for sale.
Studying seaweed
The fortnightly outing of the Naturalists’ Field Club on Saturday last to Black Head attracted an attendance of 25 members. The subject of study for the afternoon was the marine flora. Under the guidance of Mr Scarfe, who acted as leader for the day, the party proceeded to the eastern side of Black Head where an
abundance of material for study is to be found. The leader occupied about an hour in explaining the characteristics of the different classes of seaweeds. The algal vegetation is that of temperate seas. Of the 160 species found about Dunedin about oneeighth belong to the green group, about onefifth to the brown group, and the balance to the red group. These three groups are usually spoken of as occupying three different zones, the green seaweeds being found in the highest belt, the brown seaweeds in the middle and the red in the lowest. The plants forming the lowest belt just at low tide mark occupy the most favourable position, and are the most luxuriant. Seaweeds of the emerging belt are naturally exposed to danger of drying up, as well as the violence of the surf when the tide returns. Apart from the large amount of interesting knowledge of the vegetation acquired during the afternoon, the outing proved very enjoyable, the scenery on this part of the coast being exceptionally fine.
Gabriel’s Gully reunion plans
A well attended and very representative meeting of Lawrence citizens, at which much enthusiasm was shown, was held on Monday evening, when final arrangements for the celebration of the diamond jubilee of the discovery of gold in Gabriel’s Gully were made, the celebrations to take the form of a reunion of the pioneer miners. The secretary read a number of communications that had been received from old pioneers in different parts of the dominion. These left no doubt as to the pleasure that would be experienced by the men of the golden days who may be able to visit the old historic spot. — ODT, 5.5.1921.