As a result of these meetings, and other information which has been obtained by Mr G. A. Lamb (secretary of the South Island Dairy Association), it has been decided to form a company and at once proceed with the erection of cool stores at Dunedin. It is understood that a suitable site, adjacent to the Victoria wharf, can be secured from the Harbour Board. The store will be capable of holding some 15,000 to 18,000 crates of cheese. It will most likely be built of brick, with insulated walls, concrete foundations, and electric fans to control the temperature. Mr L. D. Coombs has been instructed to draw up plans and specifications, and the building, which it is estimated will cost about £4000, should be ready in time for the incoming season’s cheese. At the meeting of delegates from dairy factories which met at Balclutha last week Mr Ross (the Government grader) pointed out that the handling of cheese prior to shipment at Dunedin and Port Chalmers had for a number of years past been most unsatisfactory for want of a proper store. He referred to particular instances where unfavourable reports had been received on the condition in which the cheese from Otago had arrived on the London market, and said with a cool store at either Dunedin or Port Chalmers the Otago factories would be able to put their cheese on board the steamers at a cool temperature, and thus complaints of over-heated cheese would be very largely obviated. It may be added that many of the promoters of the company favoured Port Chalmers as the place where the store should be erected, but several factors, notably the lack of a suitable site at Port Chalmers and the fact that the Dunedin merchandise traders preferred the store in Dunedin, finally decided the promoters to favour the city. In the financial statement which was presented to the meetings of delegates it was proved that the cool stores should easily return the interest on the capital expenditure.
Brave action
One day last week two horses attached to a rabbit wagon at Waipiata took fright and bolted. They had gone about two miles when a young man, Mr R. Paterson, saw the situation, and, mounting a horse he was working, pursued them, but as they had a big start he was unable to overtake them At this time another man came along with a car. Mr Paterson here left his horse and joined the car, which set off at full speed, soon overtaking the runaways. Mr Paterson left the car and jumped on to the back of the wagon while the horses were still galloping fast. He found that the reins were hanging down by the horses’ feet, and, as it was dark, he got down on to the pole at great risk to his life, and recovered the reins, bringing the horses to a standstill a few yards in front of an approaching car. It was a very daring feat, and Mr Paterson deserves every credit for his act of bravery. Mr Paterson is about to leave for the front.
Mean theft
There are degrees of meanness even in thieving, but it would surely be difficult to get much lower down the scale of meanness than to thieve from a send-off social to soldiers. No fewer than 31 cups, saucers, and basins were stolen at a send-off to the soldiers in Timaru on Wednesday night. — ODT, 20.8.1917.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
