November 11, 1921
What was happening a century ago this week from the front page of the Cowichan Leader.
November 11, 1921
It was Remembrance Day, 100 years ago, too.
It was also the day of publication for the Leader--meaning that a report on the unveiling of the new Duncan Cenotaph would have to await the next issue, a full week after the fact...
There was a very short report on Duncan Council, just four inches deep; Mayor Pitt presided. With "the court of revision on the special assessment roll in connection with the Duncan street paving [having] passed off successfully," Council turned to the matter of rejigging the Island Highway.
Nothing like today's TCH corridor, the Island Highway of that day came through downtown Duncan via Allenby Road and newly-paved Craig Street, left onto Government and up the hill as it wended its way to Somenos Road.
After discussions with the province Council hoped that Station Street would be the left turn for Somenos Road and points beyond. By which we can measure the amount of traffic in those days. Can you imagine TCH traffic and the rush-hour 'crawls' using Craig and Station today?
John Weismiller's contract to oversee maintenance of the waterworks was extended for another year at $100 per as before and another fire hydrant would be installed on Relinfurg Road (Jubilee Street).
The McKinnon Waterwheel Co. had wired from Vancouver that they were sending a man to examine the Cowichan River for a potential hydro power station.
The Leader gave a rousing endorsement to a talk given by Nanaimo socialist Parker Williams to local farmers, terming him "undoubtedly the right man in the right place on the Workmen's Compensation Board.
"His lucidity of speech and painstaking explanation of the working of the act, and the possibilities of it being amended so that benefits similar to those enjoyed by other industries might be extended to farmers, were greatly appreciated by a good attendance at the Agricultural Hall..."
The newspaper hoped to publish his talk in full in the next issue.
Business was so slack that North Cowichan Council met for only a few hours. They noted that F.N. Parker, Westholme, had purchased a 112-acre property at the recent sale for unpaid municipal taxes.
Council stood fast on charging the Board of Trade a dollar for each meeting it held in the Somenos School and Police Constable Beard and Roads Superintendent Punnett both wanted increased allowances for auto expenses. Clr. Menzies thought there was too much "travelling" and a more efficient foreman could be more efficient; he didn't think "roadmen" were as conscientious as in older days!
The Duncan Board of Trade had finally resolved the matter of a name change, two-thirds of the membership having voted to retain Duncan rather than switching to Cowichan. Members were also opposed to a personal property tax proposed by the provincial government.
There was a tacky discussion of women (white, of course) having to share train passenger cars with "Orientals." It was agreed that the matter be taken up with E&N Manager H.E. Beasley.
Newspaper publisher Hugh Savage and Co. F.T. Oldham gave reports on the BofT's activities and accomplishments over the previous quarter and it was agree to make yet another approach to "the proper authorities" to repair the pilings at the Shawnigan Lake outlet.
Improvements to the Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Road also needed completing.
School trustees wanted to know more about the Women's League plan to have mobile school dental clinics. There was a curious mention that "Sympathy [had been] expressed with the movement to perpetuate the best of relations between Canada and the U.S.A. as outlined by the superintendent of education." Teachers were to be notified accordingly.
Principals had received their instructions as to how to escort their students to town for the unveiling of the Cenotaph, Remembrance Day morning.
A public fund to help victims of the Britannia Beach flood had had little support although the Red Cross, the Vancouver Board of Trade had put up $5000 between them.
Dr. Norman Black had given a "most interesting address" on non-English speaking Canadians at the Thanksgiving service of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Having created a report for government and written a book on the subject, Dr. Black was, in "chairman" Mrs. A.F. Munro's opinion, an authority worth listening to.
Let Chronicles readers be the judge of that. Here's what he had to say, among other things: "...If the yellow peril ever becomes a reality the [British] navy could not prevent the hordes of the east becoming the masters..." His solution? To support foreign Christian missions--"the peace of nations can be preserved by teaching that all men are brethren. The church is necessary for international security.
"What little godliness, brotherliness, and good citizenship people possess they owe to the church," he concluded.
The Cowichan Women's Institute had had their own well attended meeting at Cowichan Bay with little business to discuss other than a report on a recent convention in Victoria. Miss Cossley-Bott spoke on character development. Among the points she made, "...It is a fact that women and children are more susceptible to environment than are men. They more readily form impressions, whether for good or evil."
The best way for Canada as a nation was to develop children's minds; in so doing, adults would build up their own characters. And the principle instrument for so doing? Women, of course.
She concluded with a few words on the "Oriental menace" which, the ladies agreed, was a "vexing question".
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