The scrub fence which was constructed by the board on the edge of the beach, and which runs from opposite Moreau street to well on towards Lawyers Head, is now completely covered in most places with sand. On the Dunedin side of the fence the marram grass is growing apace, and further back still the lupins are spreading both on the flats and the sandhills.
On the sandhills overlooking Tahuna Park the many varieties of trees all bear a healthy appearance, the muricata especially having taken a firm roothold and having reached to a considerable height. The muricata, in fact, appears to be giving the best results of any of the trees planted, and the small shrubs on each side of the road leading to the beach from the St. Kilda tram terminus are commencing to make headway amongst the marram grass, and show promise of developing into good-sized trees.
The cabbage trees on the side of this road are, however, making sow progress only, though when they have reached a certain height their rate of growth may increase. In years to come this road should be bordered by trees, and the whole of the beach hereabouts be quite a forest of trees.
Mr Hancock and the members of his board can certainly look with much satisfaction on the results which have been achieved at the St. Kilda beach under their farseeing supervision.
Foundling at Henderson
An abandoned infant, about six days old, was found in the left luggage-room of the Henderson railway station about 11 a.m. on Sunday (says the New Zealand Herald). Unusual sounds attracted the attention of the stationmaster.
On making a search he discovered that the sounds were the cries of a baby, and that issued from a dress basket, which, it is thought, arrived at Henderson from Auckland at 5.5 p.m. on Saturday. On removing the lid of the basket the stationmaster discovered a very young female baby, almost suffocated.
He summoned Mrs Curtis, a nurse, who pronounced the infant to be about six days old. At first it was feared that it was too late to succour the child, but Mrs Curtis's efforts were eventually successful. On a piece pinned to the little one's clothing was written: Catherine Vale, Church of England, Rotorua.
Inquiries are being made as to the parentage of the foundling. The dress basket was fastened with a piece of rope, and a bottle of milk was left inside. The little one was warmly clad.
Human jackdaw
An old woman, who resided in a little cottage at the corner of Richmond terrace, Christchurch, had to be removed a few days ago to a hospital. An investigation, by the Mayor and the Rev. F. Rule, of the cottage, brought to light the fact that the poor old woman was a regular human jackdaw.
The cottage, which was in an indescribable state of filth, was literally stuffed with useless and valueless odds and ends. Among the rubbish his Worship found the sum of 4½d. The police, who made a more careful search on Monday, however, found the sum of 82 in sovereigns scattered about the place, just apparently thrown here and there in the debris.
The state of the property is so bad that the Mayor considers that it would not be fair thing to ask anyone to clean it out, and it is possible that the place may be condemned and destroyed by fire.
Erosion at Oamaru
The directors of the Oamaru Woollen Factory Company have purchased a property on the west side of the railway line, close to the present site of their factory, and it is their purpose (says the North Otago Times) to transfer their establishment to this new situation.
The steady encroachment of the sea for a period of many years has eaten into the foreshore until now only a few feet of ground remain in the margin of safety, and the company has decided to move its premises before disaster overtakes the factory.
The new site affords all the advantages enjoyed by the present establishment, while suffering from none of its drawbacks. The undertaking will be a big one, but the concern is in a position to face it.
- ODT, 29.6.1917.
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