An elegant, up-to-date building, designed by Mr Dunning, architect of Dunedin, has been erected by Mr Robert Mitchell.
On Thursday last a number of ladies and gentlemen of Owaka and the country districts assembled at the rest-house to view the premises and unveil an enlarged photograph of the late Mr Chalmers, and also to discuss the future control and management of the institution.
There is a most up-to-date kitchenette, with ample cupboard accommodation and a hot water service. A bath room and wash-hand basin are also provided, and there are in addition a wash-house, coalhouse and three lavatories. A matron and a provisional committee of management have been appointed, and it is intended that the building shall be used for the purposes of a rest-house only. A suggestion that a room should be set apart for the Plunket Nurse did not find favour with the trustee.
Waiting for summer
Well, we have got over the shortest day. It was heralded by a week of the best bracing weather. “When winter comes, can spring be far behind?” As yet we have had no winter to speak of, but July may play traitor in accordance with its traditions. August is not always trustworthy, but it carries the promising glow of spring with the green on the hedges and the vernal clearness in the air. When the shortest day is past, the longest day is in view. We previsage the return of the good old summer time, and think of basking on the sunny sands at St. Clair. — by ‘Wayfarer’
Sweeping suspect
It is the practice at some restaurants — as we can attest from our own observation — of setting an assistant to sweep the floor among tables at which persons are actually seated and partaking of food. Under such circumstances the contamination of the food by dust is absolutely unavoidable.
What profits it if the principles of hygiene are applied in one direction only to be crudely neglected in another? — editorial
More than a legend
An interesting bit of Maori tradition appears in a circular issued by the directors of the Taranaki Oilfields Ltd. Referring to the numerous escapes of natural gas on the East Coast district the report continues: “Another group of gas vents, one mile north-west of Jerusalem, is famous in Maori legend under the name of ‘Ahi-o-te Atua,’ meaning Fire of the Gods. This group of gas vents is scattered over several acres and maintained a set of steady fires for many years. An invading tribe mistook it at night for an encampment of a lot of hostile Maoris, but after charging the place decided that spirits had taken the enemy away.” The report makes it quite clear these escapes of natural gas contain “ethane,” an indication of the presence of oil in the rocks. — ODT, 23 June 1926.
