Some 60,000ft of timber and joinery has already been landed by the Hinemoa at Puysegur, and another 30,000ft is to be taken on in the next few weeks. About 10 men will be required for the construction work. The Hinemoa then steamed north, calling at Dusky Sound, where a portion of the ill-fated Waikare is still showing above water, and at Milford Sound.
Here the vessel spent the Sunday, and a party went ashore and called on Mr and Mrs Sutherland, of Milford. Messrs Orchiston and Gibbs, of the Telegraph Department, set out from Milford to walk the overland track, rowing from the head of Lake Te Anau.
They have safely arrived in Dunedin. The Hinemoa then called at Martin's Bay, and landed stores, but the Messrs M'Kenzie, the two settlers in this locality did not come down to the landing. Presumably they were away from home at the time.
At Bruce Bay, further north, two Hereford cattle were swum ashore, and at Jackson's Bay four more. At Jackson's Bay, south of Hokitika, a big slip some years ago came down on the small township, and practically wrecked the place. The cattle-raisers at Bruce Bay are reported to have had a very successful season.
The rent of the leases is very light, but the farmers have to drive their stock a long distance over rough tracks to reach the market at Hokitika. A lighthouse-keeper, his wife, and four children were taken on board at Westport to be landed at the Kahurangi Point lighthouse, but the weather set in so rough that they had to be carried on.
Shelter was taken under the lee of Cape Farewell. The Hinemoa called at Stephen's Island, in Cook Strait, where a lighthouse-keeper, his wife and seven children were taken off, the parents having decided to go in for farming.
There is a school teacher on this island, and the departure of the five sturdy little boys and girls, three of whom were of school age, would seriously affect the school attendance. On August 24 the Hinemoa steamed into Wellington Harbour.
Awards presented
Oamaru, August 30. His Excellency the Governor-General made a short stay here to-day for the purpose of officially presenting to the next-of-kin military awards made to Oamaru boys for specially meritorious service at the front.
There was, however, no demonstration of enthusiasm, and feeling in that direction being probably repulsed by the remembrance that the three recipients of distinction had made the supreme sacrifice.
His Excellency said the people of North Otago should realise that it was a great honour that a Victoria Cross should come into their district, and it was especially an honour to the Waitaki High School, of which Sergeant Brown was an ex-pupil.
The records of the deeds for which the awards were made having been read by his A.D.C., his Excellency made the presentations as follows:
Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown, Victoria Cross, to Mr Robert Brown, sen, father.
Lieutenant Edward H. Kibblewhite, Military Cross, to Mrs Kibblewhite, wife.
Private Alexander Kennedy, the Russian Order of St. George, to Mr Donald Kennedy, father.
- ODT, 31.8.1917.
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