SOUTH Africa got closer to Europe.
May 23
1952
“A NEW era of passenger flying has just opened and South Africa has now been brought within 24 hours’ travel of the United Kingdom. (The De Havilland Comet made its first flight to South Africa on May 3.)”
AND local holidays were also set to change. “Among the numerous development plans revealed at last Monday night’s May ordinary meeting of the Port Shepstone Borough Council was a determined bid to encourage camping by the provision of attractive facilities at the newly-cleared beach site south of Princess Elizabeth Avenue.”
1986
“DAGGA valued at nearly R1-million was seized on the Lower South Coast this week.”
May 24
1957
THE council appointed a select committee to consider the acquisition of a site for an airport at Margate.
AND pilots of a different kind were very happy. “The new mile circuit, above the bridge, was voted ‘the best venue we have ever operated on’ by officials and pilots of the Natal Outboard Boating Club.”
1968
“ONE year ago the Village of Happiness at Margate opened its doors to receive the first of its residents.”
1974
“PLANS are being made to revive Margate’s Hibiscus festival.”
1985
FIREFIGHTERS fought a three-hour battle to save Post Office depot in Marburg.
“DESPITE the fact that Province has ended the financial year with a R36-million surplus, seven posts at Port Shepstone Hospital are to be scrapped.”
WHILE, on the good news side, Willem Mante of Port Shepstone scooped top prize for the best home-built on show at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual convention.
May 25
1951
“AFTER a week packed with fun and games for young and old, the Hibiscus Ball came as a great finale with the choosing and crowning of the queen and two princesses and so great was the interest aroused by this event that sums up to £1 were being offered for a single ticket to those who had been prudent enough to book early.”
MEANWHILE, small shad were being taken in great numbers all along the coast and sardine shoals were expected soon.
1956
“TOMORROW will be a historic day in the lives of many who know and love Uvongo when, at 3pm, Rev Peter K Woolston opens the new Methodist Church in the borough.”
THE coast had a sporting hero. “Brian Pfaff of North Shepstone, the South Coast’s first rugby Springbok, has been chosen for the first test against Australia tomorrow.”
AND attention was brought to a problem that has still not been adequately solved. “At Monday night’s council meeting, the mayor of Port Shepstone made an earnest appeal to business owners and employees not to cramp trade by monopolising all the central parking space in the town.”
1962
“REPLYING TO a question put to him by Mr DE Mitchell, MP for Natal South Coast, The Minister of Water Affairs said that considerable research has been carried out and more research will have to be undertaken with regard to the problem of factory effluents on the whole of the Natal South Coast.”
THE Herald offered locals a geography lesson. “Just beyond Port Edward and the Umtamvuna river begin the perennial rivered coastline and rolling uplands of the first and biggest Bantustan planned by the present government, the Transkei. Many on the Lower South Coast neither realise that this land is on their doorstep nor do they appear to know much of or take interest in this, their neighbouring land.
1973
THE Post Office promised: “Direct dialling by 1976.”
AND Port Shepstone Town Council agreed to support Bendigo’s campaign to be left out of the amalgamation with Port Shepstone.
1979
“ACCORDING to the provincial estimates, R2,5-million has been set aside for roads south of Scottburgh.”
1984
“R175-MILLION clinker factory officially opened.”
BUT disgruntled residents living in Marburg and Albersville signed a petition condemning the shocking condition of the roads in the area after two students apparently fell over a low level bridge in Andreasen Street because it had no railings.
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