Looking back on South Coast history: August 30 to September 1

WHILE a new road was being considered, the old ones were falling to pieces, along with other parts of the infrastructure.

August 30

1935
“THE first round of the national road campaign has resulted in the coastal road being one of the seven roads to be considered by the Roads Board. Actually, it is hard to visualise exactly what a real tip-top road from Durban to Cape Town really means.”

BUT Marine Drive was not going to be tarred. “I was decided that the mayor interview Mr DE Mitchell, pointing out the injustice of the entire provincial roads in the town being ignored in the new scheme.”

AND the Beach Tea Room was in danger of collapsing as a result of stormwater damage.

THE hospital, however, came in for some favourable comment. “How pleasant to be able to give the Port Shepstone Hospital a real word of praise and this from patients who have recently been sheltered in its walls and cannot say enough about the fine wards and the splendid treatment received, especially the food, which is daintily served and most appetising.”

1957
“YESTERDAY, August 29, was a day full of historic associations for the Norwegian community of Marburg. It marked the 75th anniversary of the landing at the Mzimkhulu mouth of the original 230-odd settlers. Of these, 20 are still alive today.”

AND the new bank in Margate was much admired. “Spacious, lofty, airy, dignified, utilitarian – these are all adjectives that may be fairly applied to the £55 000 building which is to be the new home of the Standard Bank in Margate.”

1963
A PLAN, which had been some time in the making, seemed to be about to come to fruition. “S at the well-attended first annual general meeting of the Good Samaritan Society, Mr Ronnie Baker, its chairman, said that he was convinced that tangible evidence of the Village of Happiness would be seen in bricks and mortar by this time next year.”

1974
“THE Department of Transport is prepared to take full responsibility for all costs of clearing oil pollution from the wrecks of the Produce, Oranjeland and Oriental Pioneer.”

1985
“A MAJOR row is brewing between ratepayers in Palm Beach over whether the area should be declared an Indian group area.”

1982
THE descendants of the 1882 Norwegian Settlers celebrated the 100th anniversary of the historic landing.

1984
“IT’S all systems go for Port Shepstone’s first service centre for the over-60s, to be situated in the Mbango River Valley.”

1990
IN an ironic twist, police in pursuit of a thief finally ran him to ground in the crime section of the library.

September 1
1972
THE telephone system was to be upgraded to allow direct dialling from the South Coast; a group of karateka smashed down a house in St Michael’s in just five hours and the Lower South Coast branch of the SPCA said it totally opposed the ‘bullfights for Margate’ plan, announced in a Sunday newspaper.

1978
“IF the Administrator is prepared to consider the de-amalgamation of the Borough of Margate, Ramsgate would be happy to support such action.”

AND the long wait for the establishment of the coloured area adjoining Marburg appeared to be at an end.

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