About 12 months ago the chimney was struck by lightning, and was damaged to such an extent that it split from top to bottom, and a very considerable portion fell away.
The portion remaining swayed playfully in the wind, and as it threatened to fall on the adjoining buildings it was decided to pull it down. The chimney was, however, so insecure that no workmen could be induced to carry out the task of affixing the tackle.
It was therefore decided to drill through the base of what remained of the chimney with rifle fire, and a .303 rifle and a stock of ammunition were procured.
At a safe distance a rifleman set about pumping bullets into the base of the chimney, and after a good deal of chipping the structure tottered and fell to the ground. It is stated that the amount of ammunition used was about 200 rounds.
• The early days in Central Otago were wild days, remarked the Hon. W. Fraser at Eltham last week. Sunday was the chief day for business, and one would find thousands of miners congregated in the main street on a Sunday morning, and numerous boxing, wrestling, and other matches would be in progress.
But it was a very great credit of the district that there were only three policemen stationed there, and yet there were no serious crimes beyond one or two hold-ups. The men could not stop bushranging, but they put down petty crimes with a heavy hand.
• Two golfers played a novel match at Lincoln the other day as the result of a wager (says the Christchurch Star). The contest was played across country from Ashley Dere Farm, Ellesmere, to Lincoln Agricultural College, a distance of eight miles by road.
A rather zig-zag course was taken in order to avoid ploughed ground and turnip patches. Four and a-quarter hours elapsed before the contestants skied the ball over the college plantation on to an improvised green.
It was found then that one of the players had holed out in 148 strokes and the other in 174. One of the competitors lost one ball, and the other three.
• In the march of progress - the hurly-burly of this competitive age - there is an under-lying current which makes for indifference. The swing of the pendulum thus decrees rather an inclination to suspicion and harshness in the treatment of the downcast and unfortunate.
However, that irrepressible trait of human nature, charity to the afflicted, still reigns in the superlative degree. A typical instance was afforded in Christchurch a few days ago, when the usual severity of a creditors' meeting was relieved by an atmosphere congenial to all present.
Not only did the gathering accord its whole-hearted and practical sympathy by presenting the bankrupt with his furniture, but personal tribute was paid to the man.
One creditor said he had known the bankrupt for 23 years as a man who stuck to his business through thick and thin, another recalling his boyhood association with the man.
Even the Official Assignee temporarily cast aside the yoke of sternness, and gracefully added eulogy. So unusual and warmly appreciated were the proceedings that the bankrupt, at the close, returned his thanks.
- ODT 16.6.1914.
