He was one of Port Chalmers’s genial links with the old pioneering days. Born in London, Mr King was attracted by the shipping at an early age and, as a lad, started seafaring on a Thames barge. Coasters followed, and then voyages across the stormy Atlantic preceded longer voyages to the southern seas. A voyage to Auckland ended seafaring for a while, participation in the Maori War as a member of a naval volunteer company proving more attractive. The life was rough but exhilarating. In later years, when asked about his winning of the Maori War medal, he would emphasise his liking for the Maoris, invariably describing them as fine fellows. For a number of years before retiring from active service, Mr King was engineer on the Government launches in Otago Harbour. He was well known and well liked, especially at Port Chalmers, where he lived for many years.
Central’s dotterels observed
Master J. Haigh, a young observer who attends the Ophir School, Central Otago, has sent a short note on birds he describes as ‘sandpipers’. He states that they are found between Ophir and Omakau, that they arrive in the spring, lay their eggs in small holes in the sand and leave again, usually in the autumn. The birds are not sandpipers, but probably dotterels, which migrate from one part of New Zealand to another and nest in both the North and South Islands. Their eggs are brownish-yellow, spotted and blotched with black, about three-quarters of an inch long. — by J. Drummond FLS FZS
‘Witness’ special sells out
The demand for copies of the Otago Witness published this morning has exceeded anticipations. An extra number of copies had been printed and, up till last evening, the number on order had exceeded this. To meet the inquiry on the part of the public additional copies are being printed and will be ready almost immediately. Evidently the keenest interest is taken in the seventy-fifth anniversary of the settlement of the Otago province.
The tall . . .
The exhibition of what is termed the smallest pony on earth, and the trotting ostrich, will be continued at the old Post Office, Princes street, until 9 o’clock this evening. A small charge is made for admission, and the proceeds will be devoted to the orphanages’ fund.
. . . and short of it
When Dunedin is to have a new post office was a matter which came before the meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last night. Mr A.H. Allen said that he thought it a regrettable thing that a building like their old post office should be let for the purpose of showing a miniature pony and an ostrich. He had no fault to find with the cause for which the exhibition was being held, but the letting of the post office, under the circumstances, was altogether wrong. The building should be restored to its rightful purpose as quickly as possible.
St Paul’s too small
Following last year’s precedent, the Church of England will hold a Procession of Witness on Good Friday, followed by a lantern service in the Princess Theatre. Evensong will be said in the Cathedral at 7.45. In reply to suggestions to hold the lantern service in the Cathedral, it may be pointed out that that building could not possibly accommodate the number of people who desire to be present.
Quake shakes capital
Wellington, March 19: The earthquake felt here on Friday was followed by another, and a more severe one, last evening. At the new St Andrew’s ferro-concrete church on The Terrace the Rev S. Robertson Orr was just commencing the first prayer when the building commenced to creak. Mr Orr reassured the congregation and commenced the Doxology. From the coat-of-arms on the facade of the Justice Department building the plaster unicorn parted company with the plaster lion and crashed on to the footpath. He carried with him a bit of the lion’s tail. Today the lion reigns supreme, looking out across the city over the very appropriate Latin motto "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
— ODT, 20.3.1923 (Compiled by Peter Dowden)
