Combined with the display in the gardens and at Wetherstones was the exhibition show - the idea of giving prizes had not unwisely been dropped - of the Lawrence Horticultural Society, the result of which was a truly magnificent army of narcissi.
The special train which left Dunedin a few minutes before 9 a.m.
carried 250 odd persons, while from Milton and intervening stations came fully 100 more. The day was bright and warm, with an agreeable absence of wind, and proved thoroughly enjoyable to both visitors and local residents ... There were daffodils everywhere. In nearly every garden they stood in long files or ran in twos and threes across the lawn, and gathered in groups in the corners.
Some of them were positively demure, while others - big stalwart fellows, with broad peranths and deep trumpet cup, bore themselves with quite a military air.
• Complaint is made in the current issue of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Advocate of the long hours stationmasters, clerks, and cadets have to work on some of the Main Trunk stations. The Advocate urges that a reorganisation of the hours of station duty generally is urgently necessary, especially in the Auckland district. It is quoted that at Taumarunui the stationmaster is scheduled to work 72 hours a week, and the goods clerk 54. The shift clerks do 61 and 53 hours, and the No. 1 shift includes 7 hours' Sunday work, for which no payment is made.
One cadet works 51 hours weekly, hours from 3 p.m. till 12.15 a.m., with half an hour for tea. The average overtime of each member of the staff works out at between two and three hours daily throughout the year.
• The Roman Catholics of Gore intend to proceed immediately with the erection of a new church on their property in Ardwick Street (says the Mataura Ensign).
Plans have been prepared for an exceedingly handsome and commodious structure capable of seating 1000 people.
The cost of the church is estimated at between 8,000 and 9,000, and it is intended to erect the building by day labour under the charge of a foreman of works. - ODT, 10.10.1912.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR www.otagoimages.co.nz
