December 30, 1920
What was happening a century ago this week from the front page of the Cowichan Leader.
December 30, 1920
Falling between Christmas and New Year’s, this issue of The Leader was light on hard news.
First up was North Cowichan Council which had met on the 27th for their last time of the year. Clrs. Hilton and Smith announced that they weren’t going to run for re-election.
The B.C. Telephone Co. Informed Council that, by federal statute, it could no longer provide free service to the Municipal office. Reeve Herd said the Municipality had a longstanding agreement for gratis telephone service and suggested that Council check it out before paying.
The Soldiers Settlement Board had learned there was no public access to the land they’d purchased near the mount Sicker sawmill and “His Majesty” faced serious financial loss if Council didn’t provide a road. Council, already in extended and expensive litigation on a previous roadway expropriation, agreed they weren’t up to another legal go-round.
Another landowner was objecting to the proposed loss of 1/20th of an acre to allow the re-alignment of a curve in the Chemainus-Crofton road. Only Reeve Herd supported the provincial district engineer’s suggestion but Council remained gun-shy on the matter of public roads vs. Private property.
On the War Trophies front Council had been notified that a German 77mm field gun was en route by rail.
Council did endorse an appeal to take up with Ottawa the sale of cattle which had been condemned for having tuberculosis being butchered for sale to the public. An appeal by the Canadian Council for the Blind was laid over.
A plea for work by 20 returned soldiers received the response that it was the wrong time of year for “spade work” and the suggestion that they cut cord wood instead. Short of destitution, Reeve Herd and Clr. Smith felt there was no real urgency. It was agreed, however, that he and Clr. Hilton would meet with some of the most needy the next day.
As of December 31st the Municipality was into its bank line of credit to the tune of $5000.
Back to the Mainguy Island road expropriation fiasco: Clr. Paitson said that he and the Reeve had gone through Council minutes and could find no record to show that the Municipality had ever intended to participate in or agreed to arbitration. “Nor was there any record as to who gave the authority to do so.” Herd agreed with him that “no one cold get an intelligent grasp of the situation by the records of the then council”.
Final results of the provincial election showed that incumbent Independent candidate Kenneth Duncan had defeated Conservative candidate George Cheeke by 113 votes.
The ladies of the Methodist Church at Cowichan Station had held a successful sale of useful and fancy articles and cooking, the Sunday School class provided musical entertainment and then joined their parents in a fancy tea, followed by a visit from Santa Claus who handed out presents to all the children. The remaining cakes and candy were disposed of by auction. When the event’s proceeds were tallied up it was found that the church funds had gained $25 over expenses.
At Cowichan Lake well-known logger Matt Hemmingsen hoped to have the Empire Lumber Co. camps back and running in two weeks’ time. Harry Evans Sr. was staying with the J.H. Castleys, his first visit to the lake in 16 years, and Mrs. H.T. Hardinge entertained friends at a card party.
The S.S. Hayden had loaded 1,600,000 feet of railway ties and 2.900,000 feet of lumber for the United Kingdom. The mill was closed for the holidays.
Mrs. George R. Elliott, with the Misses Glady and Phylis and Mr. Fred Elliott spent Christmas with Mrs. And Mrs. George A. Page.
200 “Shakers” from far as far away as Oregon attended their annual convention at the Shaker church near the Koksilah reserve. Acting Bishop Peter Joe officiated. The meetings were described as being “very active,” with an emphasis on generosity, temperance and morality.
The annual report of top milk production by 38 Valley Jerseys and Holsteins owned by seven farmers was also front-page news. Four of the cows, all related, averaged 13,962 pounds of milk and 487 pounds of butterfat.
Lastly, it was reported that Santa Claus had made something of a stir when he arrived in Cowichan Bay—by automobile and bearing a new street sign for the four-cornered intersection of Cowichan Bay, Cherry Point and Koksilah Roads.
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