Looking back on South Coast history: September 23 to 25
A new industry, a new library and an exciting feat of exploration were in the news, but electricity was a problem again.
PORT Shepstone’s much-maligned Beach Tea Room got a reprieve.
September 23
1938
“THE steady progress of Port Shepstone was admirably reflected in the town clerk’s report. Councillor Claasens’ notice of motion to rescind the council’s previous resolution to demolish the Beach Tea Room was adopted after a lively debate. It was decided to put the tea room up to public tender for a period of three years.”
1949
“POINTING out that the report for August indicated that 68 sheep had been slaughtered at the municipal abattoir, Councillor FJ Sheffield asked for information as to ‘where the mutton is going?’ He said it was a well-known fact that ordinary householders had the utmost difficulty in obtaining mutton in Margate. “These sheep are obviously going somewhere and I consider it is the council’s duty to unravel the anomaly.” The Herald has no record of the answer.
AT the same meeting the Margate Borough Council turned down, on the grounds of excessive cost, a proposal to install electrically controlled bells in place of the resort’s notorious curfew siren. “As an experiment, the siren will be sounded in short blasts, instead of the former continuous wail which, residents contend, makes the night hideous.”
1955
“THIS Sunday, September 25, all roads will lead to the Mzimkhulu estuary at Port Shepstone, where a spectacular speedboat regatta is to be staged.”
AND, five years later, the port idea was on the agenda again.
1960
“THE question of developing the smaller ports of the Union, such as Port Shepstone and Port St Johns, has for some time now been receiving the attention of public-spirited and far-seeing individuals.”
1977
“INADEQUATE lighting on the runway at Margate Airport prevented a light aircraft on a mercy flight from landing on Tuesday night.”
AND a slide show was cut short by a power cut. “The slides of the Drakensberg were superb. Unfortunately, halfway through the show, the ESC let us down and, as usual, the lights went out.”
1983
“SOUTH Coast game park to close. Poachers prompt owners to close gates.”
1988
“THE first experimental ethanol plant in South Africa was officially opened in Oribi last Friday.”
September 24
1954
“AT midday on Saturday four intrepid canoeists completed an epic 117-mile river trip from Mzimkhulu village to Port Shepstone. The journey, which occupied just under eight days, was fraught with danger as the four frail craft negotiated the hitherto unexplored rapids of the Mzimkhulu river where it courses through the precipitous and inaccessible gorges of its middle reaches.”
1965
“FOR the last 20 years or more the Port Shepstone Borough Council has explored every avenue possible in an effort to provide housing for the Bantu employed in its area. On each occasion when finality appeared to be in sight, some new regulation had been promulgated and, like a game of snakes and ladders, it was back to base again and a new start had to be made.”
1976
THE new Port Edward library was opened on September 15.
September 25
1964
“MR Howe said many approaches have been made to him as mayor recently as to what has happened to the Port Shepstone Chamber of Commerce. The time has come for this body to be reorganised. Just one or two businessmen have tried hard to keep it going but, without the support and active participation of a majority, how can the Chamber of Commerce function?”
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