Cambridge 100 Years Ago - July 1909
John August Hjorth died 22 June 1909 aged 91 years. He was a native of Westerwick, Sweden and was by profession a Master Mariner. He also spoke five languages and left a wife and seven grown up children.
Mr McKee who had been the senior clerk at the Post Office for the last ten years, was promoted to Postmaster at Whakatane.
The new Roman Catholic School, occupying a commanding position overlooking the town in Alpha Street, was opened. The cost was about £400, J W Warren the architect and McKinnon & Patterson the contractors. A concert and dance was held to celebrate.
The Waikato Farmers' Club held their twentieth annual meeting with Robert Fisher in the chair. The club was a mouthpiece of the farmers and they should band together to protect their interests. The young men were encouraged to take up the work.
A smart Lad was wanted at once by the Waikato Independent to deliver papers around town.
Mrs W F Buckland was looking for a Good General.
John W Warren was asking for tenders for a Church at Matamata.
J Cooke the milkman put the price of a quart of milk up to 4 pence.
Alf Hicks was working on Mr J Anderson's farm at Pukerimu and while trimming a post with his axe, it slipped and cut an artery in his left arm. Dr Roberts dressed the wound.
Between 50 and 60 members turned out for the half yearly meeting of the Loyal Duke of Cambridge Lodge of Oddfellows when Bro W J White was elected noble Grand.
The ladies of the local Gleaners' Union were busy dressing dolls and making gaily coloured bags for the Zenana Mission. Songs were contributed by Misses Willis, Heron and Davys and Mr T Heron and Rev A H Heron.
Vital statistics for Cambridge for the previous quarter were 4 marriages, 24 births and 14 deaths.
Adding to the statistics was Miss Florence Mullins who married David Baxter at her parents' home in Chapel Street . She wore a smart navy blue tailor-made costume with Merry Widow hat to match. [Perhaps not a good omen!]
The Cambridge Town Band was engaged to supply the music on Saturday afternoon and evening at the Hamilton Winter Show.
Geo Watt toured around the Manawatu district and found the Waikato stock was in much better condition.
As a result of a heavy gale in Cambridge the shelter sheds at the sale yards were blown down and moved about 18 feet.
Mr William McKee, senior officer of the Post and Telegraph office for the past ten years, was farewelled at the Masonic hotel by 30 or 40 gentlemen. He was presented with a Gold Albert chain with gold sovereign case and inscribed medal. He was promoted to postmaster at Whakatane.
Madame Isherwood's fortnightly dance, which was held in the Alexandra Hall, had to be postponed at the last moment, owing to the carelessness of a travelling picture show company, who appeared to have emptied the water tank, in connection with their kinematograph apparatus, on the floor.
The return of the Operascope Company took place with a selection of new moving pictures including the life of Samson, from his birth to the destruction of the Temple of Dagon. The pictures were depicted at their best, being entirely flickerless.
The death of Anselm Plescher, aged 24 years, was felt throughout the town. He was born in Cambridge and travelled to Australia and contracted influenza from which he never recovered. His pallbearers were members of the Cambridge Fire Brigade.
Forty couples attended a very enjoyable long night social at the Alexandra Hall when the floor was in perfect order. A bounteous supper was provided by the ladies.
During the quarter ended 30th June 1909, 36 civil cases were disposed of at the local court. The total amount sued for was £364 3s 8d, and the amount recovered £187 4s. On the criminal side the number of cases totalled 22:- 2 assaults, 1 theft, 4 drunkenness (including a female), 2 breaches of prohibition orders, 1 obscene language, 7 breaches of various bylaws, 3 prohibition orders and 2 furious driving.
John Patch was fined 5 shillings and 13 shillings costs for trotting his horse over the Victoria Bridge.
The way in which application forms for insurance are filled in are often more amusing than enlightening:- Mother died in infancy. Father went to bed feeling well, and the next morning woke up dead. Applicant does not know cause of mother's death, but states that she fully recovered from her last illness. Applicant has never been fatally sick. Father died suddenly; nothing serious. Grandfather died from gunshot wound, caused by an arrow, shot by an Indian.
An astronomer great, he was sitting out late, with his telescope turned to the stars, when to his surprise, there flashed down from the skies, a most palpable message from Mars. He did not understand, but a codebook at hand, which he hastened at once to procure, made the message quite plain – 'influenza again, Can you send us Woods' Peppermint Cure?'. ( Advertisement )
While Mr C Waterhouse, of Cambridge, was preparing his lantern for his lecture one evening recently, something went wrong with the tube connecting the burner with the methylated spirits tank, with the result that a somewhat alarming blaze occurred. As soon as matters began to look serious the lecturer asked his audience to retire, which they did safely and in order. In a few minutes Mr Waterhouse got the fire under, and delivered an interesting lecture to an attentive, if somewhat depleted, audience.
Sir, during last week your columns have reported convictions in the S.M. Courts at Hamilton and Cambridge, of persons violating bylaws, by cycling on footpaths. Notwithstanding that caution, it is stated that one clerical gentleman in Cambridge is observed riding a horse and another a bicycle on footpaths, also that several other persons, ladies as well as gentlemen, continue to use the footpaths for cycling. I, therefore, write to give all such a friendly caution. Amicus.
