Looking back on South Coast history: June 16 to 18
A 500th anniversary was something to celebrate.
MODERN amenities were about to come to Margate
THE contract was awarded for Margate’s sewerage scheme. “Work will proceed with all speed.”1961
“MR RB Archibald MPC told the annual general meeting of the Southern Natal Public Bodies’ Association at Port Shepstone last week that the province had earmarked just on a million Rand for capital works on the South Coast during the coming year.”
1967
“THE Umzumbe farm competition to judge the best conserved farm in the area was held last week. The lack of conservation works on the farms alarmed the judges.”
1972
THE South Coast has seen some strange pastimes over the years. “A band of South Coast men are looking for a building to punch down – with their bare hands. They are members of the Budokan Karate Club at St Michael’s and they want to tackle demolition to raise funds to build a club house.”
1976
THE ill-fated experiment reached another stage. “Hundreds of spectators lined Margate beach to watch preparations for the lifting of the experimental anti-shark cable. The cable, which was laid about four years ago by the CSIR and is believed to have cost in the region of R70 000 to install, has proved faulty.”
June 17
1955
“HARDLY a South Coast resort, from Port Edward to Isipingo, has escaped ‘sardine fever’ this week. Lorry loads of sardines and literally thousands of game fish have been hauled ashore by the throngs of seasoned anglers and enthusiastic amateurs who have raced to every cove where the migrant shoals have been reported.”
MEANWHILE something was eating the South Coast vegetation. “This beetle, which attacks hibiscus plants, has been identified. It is one of the buprestid beetles, small and green in colour. There is no doubt that it is commencing to become serious.”
AND the state of the road was a constant gripe. “There is a consensus of opinion that Port Shepstone’s terrible mile of National Road along Colley Street is getting beyond a joke.”
1977
“THE Port Shepstone Country Club has set a precedent by being the first club in Natal to officially allow non-white golfers to use its course.”
1988
“SEVERE congestion on all the main South Coast roads is predicted in the next few years unless major road works are started now.”
AND SAP opened a child protection unit in Sheppie.
“LAST Friday was a historic day for Port Edward as hundreds of spectators and invited guests celebrated the 500th anniversary of Bartholomeu Dias’s voyage of discovery.”
Local schoolchildren represented the march of the 500 survivors of the wreck of the São João. pic: Herald archives
June 18
1937
“LIGHT has been reduced twopence a unit and domestic power increased by a halfpenny a unit.”
1954
THERE was a problem with discharge of effluent onto the beach, traced to a Margate laundry.
AND Margate’s town clerk was instructed to contact the Meat Control Board concerning the possibility of the establishment of a regional abattoir.
1965
“Considerable progress has been made in the extensions to the Umzimkulu Sugar Mill which, when completed, will enable the mill this year to deal with 100 tons of cane per hour and next year with 140 tons per hour.”
1971
“THE first steps have been taken towards the establishment of a Lower South Coast Publicity Association.”
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