May 1912: More Titanic news
One hundred and 19 registered letters, 14 letter bags and 10 sacks of newspapers bound for British Columbia went down with the Titanic. At least two Victoria residents were known to be among the missing passengers.
The U.S. Senate in May of 1912 passed the Hitchcock Bill, which required all ocean-going vessels leaving American ports and carrying more than 100 passengers to have two wireless telegraphy operators on board. The wireless must be in continuous operation for 24 hours per day and have a transmission and reception range of more than 100 miles.
British subjects in Western Canada were required to pay $1 per year for a fishing permit.
Under the new regulations, alien licenses cost $5. No one can legally catch and retain more than 10 lake trout in a day. However, there is no limit on suckers, squaw fish, whales, sharks and alligators.
Sidney Ghale, who crashed into Percy Winch’s car on the Malahat, had his driver’s licence taken away in Provincial Court.
This was the first time that a licence was cancelled in the Province of British Columbia.
May 1937: George VI Coronation
On Tues., May 4, several special events were held to mark the coronation of His Majesty King George the VI.
In the schools that morning, every student was presented with a bronze medallion to celebrate the occasion.
At 11 a.m., a small row of trees were planted at what became Coronation Square on lower Roberts Street [next to the old Post Office building. NOTE: The five trees — two maple, two mountain ash and one hawthorn — have now disappeared.]
Wigwam proprietor Cliff Jones announced he was selling a wide variety of “Coronation Specials,” including “flags, streamers, picture post cards with portraits of their majesties and decorated cups and saucers for the children.”
A letter to the Chronicle from Mr. W.W. Southin expressed his concern over possible “vote splitting” in the next provincial election. Southin warned that the CCF would likely win the election if the Conservatives, Liberals and Independents all had a candidate in the riding.
May 1962: Jones for Jones
Wilfred C. Jones, principal of Ladysmith Elementary School for 27 years, retired in 1962 and was replaced by Ron Jones, who was previously principal of Mount Brenton School in Saltair. Both of the Jones boys grew up and attended school in the Ladysmith area.
A lady telephoned Knight’s Hardware on Monday morning and asked Clarence Knight to send out a TV repairman.
“I gave my daughter a good licking,” the lady explained. “I have continually told her not to monkey with the set.”
A few minutes later, the lady phoned back and told Mr. Knight rather sheepishly, “Don’t bother sending out the repairman. The power was off.”
Apparently, a tree had fallen across lines on Nanaimo Lakes Road.
There is no indication that either the mother or BC Hydro were taken to court by the daughter.
Compiled by Ed Nicholson, Ladysmith Historical Society