August 5, 1920
What was happening a century ago this week from the front page of the Cowichan Leader.
August 5, 1920
After the excitement of a fire, a cougar and the harsh exchange of words at the meting of the Duncan Consolidated School Board the previous week, the August 5th edition of The Leader is definitely a come-down. Fully one-quarter of the front page is a list of purebred Holstein and Jersey milk cows sold at auction by G.T. Corfield’s Eureka Farm on the Cowichan Bay estuary. The Corfield house had been destroyed by fire, prompting the sell-off of stock that otherwise wouldn’t have come on the market. Buyers came from as far as the U.S. for the sale of 86 animals said to be “the offering of the very best stock which had yet come under the hammer,” and that the best prices had been realized. A locally sired three-year-old Holstein drew the highest price, $600.00.
The new Napier Lumber Co. which had acquired 5-6 million feet of standing timber from J. Boal, Koksilah, was about to start a mill with a daily cutting capacity of 20,000 feet. Both company principals were from Vancouver. This mill, a tie mill at Glenora and a third sawmill in the same area were all made viable by the new CNR line.
The Leader noted with undisguised glee that the North Cowichan Council meeting had been very quiet thanks to the absence of Clr. Paitson.
Also absent was the provincial minister of public works who was supposed to have attended to discuss the Municipality assuming responsibility for the Maple Bay wharf which had cost the province $1916 in upkeep since 1906. The province’s reluctance to further maintain the structure in a satisfactory condition had motivated Council’s considering doing the job themselves.
As for I.W. Sherman’s $25 bounty for shooting a cougar on Municipal land the previous week, which the province had split, $15.00-$10.00, between Sherman and North Cowichan, Council expressed surprise and confusion. After some discussion it was decided to post a Municipal bounty of $5.00 for each cougar killed within the Municipality but it’s not clear whether this was above and beyond the provincial bounty or whether they were splitting the difference between the province and the hunter.
Road Superintendent A.E. Lemon tendered his resignation because he couldn’t attend to both his “ranch” and his road duties. Council agreed to refund $369.75 he’d spent on his car while performing his duties. Council also resolved to sell the maligned road tractor for $2500 with no buyers in sight.
The Workman’s Compensation Board had declined to compensate D. Imrie because his injuries weren’t sustained in the course of his employment. Council asked the secretary to try again. Chemainus residents were upset with the state of their sidewalk (note the singular). Clr. Carmac was tasked with trying to “ameliorate affairs as best he could”.
When R.H. Williams complained of the state of Chemainus River Road which he said could be graded for just $2-300, Council could only reply they didn’t know where the money would come from.
At least the campaign to eradicate Canadian thistle on Municipal and private lands was coming along.
An invitation from the Red Cross to attend a conference with a senior provincial bureaucrat was received but unacknowledged.
In Duncan a new public campsite had attracted numerous visitors, including some from out of province. Situated behind the Mound by the Agricultural Hall in “a lovely grove of trees” it included a brick fireplace, firewood and clean water. The tourist attraction was being promoted by three large signs beside the Island Highway north and south of town. Other signs newly posted directed visitors to the wonders of Cowichan Lake.
At a well attended meeting at the Cowichan Health Centre it was decided to have two nurses cover the whole district once a scale of fees was decided upon. Present at the meeting was Margaret Moss whose name today graces the Health Centre on Canada Ave.
The King's Daughters Hospital (which looks like it was designed by a committee) wanted the City to erect three signs showing its location.
Duncan Council had their own fish to fry—bad water pipes—Ald. H.W. Dickie urging that the matter be thoroughly and speedily dealt with. There had been a complete washout at the dam, he said, and permanent repairs had to be made before the winter rains. It was only August and already the waterworks had gone over budget because the pipeline was continually giving way: “No sooner were leaks stopped in one place than others broke open elsewhere.” The wire-bound wooden pipes appeared to be rotting at their joints.
Council agreed to discuss the problem with A.G. Dalzell, former assistant of city works, Vancouver.
Ald. Whidden reported it was too early to know the value of an experimental stretch of “Tarvia” laid down on Station Street. It had cost more than expected labour-wise and was “dirty and injurious to clothing”. Oil sprayed on gravel roads appeared to be working well and he thought crude oil would be cheaper than the fuel oil which had been used to date.
Ald. Prevost reported that a complaint of store refuse being burned behind the Grassie blacksmith shop was justified: “It appeared that rubbish was being burned for the purpose of heating tires, but the smell was most offensive and, at this season, it was dangerous to have such a mass of inflammable material stored in the centre of town.” In short, Mr. Grassie was to desist.
The Beverage License Bylaw for “near beer” was still in the works with Council leaning towards allowing it to be served in restaurants but penalizing sales for consumption off-premises.
The King’s Daughters hospital wanted three signs erected directing people to the hospital. Ald. Whidden said one was being placed “on top of Cairnsmore Street”.
R. Whittington’s application for an additional street light on Marchmont Road was put over as was the Rideau Lumber Co.’s request for a water connection for fire protection purposes. The City’s donation of $100 to the War Memorial Fund was recognized.
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