Looking back on South Coast history: May 28 to June 1
Roads were a prominent topic, with light relief from pineapples and the price of brandy.
Local registration numbers came in for some comment.
May 28
1937
“Shepstone motor registration plates – NPS – have, of course, become the butt of visiting motorists. The best I have heard to date being ‘Nice People – Sometimes’.”
BUT if you were really upset about what people said, you could always console yourself with “Frost’s Very Old Special Reserve Brandy, 6/6 bottle; 30/- gallon.”
1957
South Coast pineapples earned praise from UK buyers. “Indications are that at long last our coastal belt has discovered a crop for which our soil and climatic conditions are ideally suited.” (RS Howe, Port Shepstone Chamber of Commerce)
1971
THE Port Shepstone Republic festival dispute over the Jaycees’ beer garden blew up into a major issue.
AND it was reported that there was no likelihood of a speeding up of the Port Shepstone-Durban railway service before 1973.
1976
“THE Prime Minister has given his personal assurance that the government has no intention of considering the incorporation of the coastal strip between Port Edward and Port Shepstone and the towns of Kokstad and Matatiele into the Transkei.”
1982
“THE proposed direct air flight from Johannesburg to Margate is now a matter of extreme urgency.”
May 29
1959
SEVERE flooding caused a total disruption of communications. “The inability of road and rail bridge approaches to withstand the strain during last week’s floods in southern Natal merited far greater attention than was possibly thought necessary, Mr RB Archibald MPC said in the Provincial Council last week.”
BUT… “All available engineers and machines, diverted from other work, are concentrated on the National Road on the South Coast to have it ready for the July holiday traffic.”
1987
“THE Group Areas Board investigation to reproclaim part of Albersville as coloured is being opposed by the Fynn family, whose ancestors owned the land.”
May 30
1958
“DAVID Mann, the Port Shepstone hydroplane pilot who recently won two South African championships at Bethlehem, took both the major hydroplane trophies at the Natal Outboard Boating Club’s regatta on the Mzimkhulu river on Sunday.”
1975
“MARBURG does not want to go into the proposed amalgamation with Port Shepstone and Umtentweni – instead it would prefer to become a multi-racial town.”
1986
“THE executive of the Bendigo Ratepayers’ Association wants the chairman of the town board to resign.”
May 31
1935
“MARGATE is now to have a weekly talkie. Mr Sinclair has acquired one of the latest portable talkie outfits and, on Friday nights, will show the whole programme in the Margate hall and on the Saturday night as usual in Shepstone.”
June 1
1951
“AFTER the final trial match, Robin Blamey of Port Shepstone Secondary School, who has been performing so well in the school’s league XI this year, was chosen as centre half and captain of the Natal team.”
1956
This is the Lepel unsinkable water scooter. Sixteen of the little craft will be arriving in Durban on the Nigeria on June 18 and are to be put into commission on the lagoon at Margate.
1984
“ANY further delay in the improvement of this road, which is nothing more than a main street through a series of towns, can only result in chaos and tragedy.” (Peter Miller MPC)
1990
WORK on the Port Shepstone to Kokstad road will continue and the toll road will open but work on other provincial roads has been halted through lack of money.
BUT record crowds attended the 10th air show.
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