First deputy mayor appointed

BY CHERIE HOWIE

Exotic animals, dramas over mixed bathing and a big decision facing the borough's elected representatives kept things interesting in Blenheim in 1904.

It was never a dull moment in turn of the century Blenheim, it seems.

The year certainly got off to a dramatic start with the stunning sight of a camel and an elephant in High St causing one excitable horse to bolt.

The frightened horse ran into a lamp post and then a fruiterer's stall, scattering cases and fruit in all directions.

However, the horse was not the only one in for a shock in 1904.

The sight of mixed bathing lead one woman to publicly state that the "indescribable shock" she received as a result had convinced her that "this evil was responsible for girls with painted faces".

The Chamber of Commerce also got itself wound up, complaining to the (New Zealand) Railways about the need for a new train station in Blenheim.

However, it was a good year for the mayor, with the council agreeing to an increased honorarium of 70 as well as a telephone.

A deputy mayor, Edward Penny, was appointed for the first time.

The council also kept busy with new bylaws over heavy traffic, ruling that the maximum load on streets and bridges be 5 miles per hour, while their engineer was reprimanded for unauthorised trimming of the Seymour Square hedge.

A major decision faced the council in December, when it considered borrowing a massive 4000 for a town hall and concert chambers.

The Marlborough Express was also moving ahead, making history on May 14 when the first photograph – of former colonial secretary Joseph Chamberlain – was printed in the newspaper.

Another major event during the year was the opening of the Marlborough Exhibition by the Governor, Lord Plunket, on September 17.

The two-week exhibition showed off machinery, displays and historic objects from Marlborough and beyond, while those attending were entertained by competitions, concerts and sideshows.

1904 

Mayor: Mr W Macey

Councillors: E James, W Ching, G Patchett, J White, W Carr, R Priddle, J Scott, F Shaw, E Penny, J Conolly, W Green, C Patchett, Captain T Eckford

Source: The First Hundred 1869-1969 by A. (Sandy) Beverley

NEW ZEALAND

Born: Sir Keith Holyoake, Prime Minister for a short time in 1957 and again from 1960 to 1972

Died: Thomas Ellison, New Zealand rugby player and lawyer who led the first New Zealand representative rugby team on their 1893 tour of Australia

Won: The Ranfurly Shield, by Wellington when they beat Auckland 6-3. The victory sealed Wellington's place in history as the first challenger to win the shield

Debuted: New Zealand's national soccer team during two matches against a New South Wales representative team. New Zealand lost the first match 0-1, but drew the second 3-3

Run: The inaugural New Zealand Trotting Cup, won by Monte Carlo

Opened: Portobello Marine Laboratory opens, initially as a fish hatchery. The lab, near Dunedin, is New Zealand's oldest established marine research facility

THE WORLD

Born: Cary Grant, English actor; Dr. Seuss, American children's author; Glenn Miller, big band musician who disappeared without a trace over the English Channel while flying to entertain troops during World War 2

Invented: The ice cream cone, during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis

Elected: Republican incumbent Theodore Roosevelt to the United States presidency after defeating Democrat Alton Parker

Began: The Russo-Japanese War after the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Port Arthur (Lushun, China)

Held: The third modern Olympic Games, in St Louis, as part of the World's Fair

Celebrated: The first New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, New York

Established: The distress signal CQD. It is replaced two years later by SOS

- The Marlborough Express