50 years ago
EARLY estimates this week of damage caused by the freak storm in Hamilton last week put damage at the $20,000 mark. When all estimates are completed, including damage done to street works around the city, the final cost will undoubtedly soar beyond the present figure. Constituting a large part of this is the $10,000 worth of new carpet and paint needed for the George Hotel-Motel. Carpet ruined by the water was only just installed at a cost of $8,000 and now there is the problem of covering water stains in some of the upstairs rooms. The cost of damage to the house which had its roof blown off and the shed hit by a gum tree is estimated at $1500 each. The crane which was blown over at the SVC concrete works in Lodge R. was only slightly damaged and can be used again.
A woman in black collected a bag full of money from bookmakers after Foolish had won the Spectator Intermediate at Hamilton trots on Monday. The woman went through the betting ring placing small amounts of $10 and $20 on Foolish with each bookmaker. She was still placing wagers on the horse when the field was despatched. The woman was later identified as Mrs L. Blamey, whose husband races Foolish on lease. The good collect on Foolish may have been a little lucky to have been brought off as earlier in the day stewards had stated the horse was to be scratched from the race. This was because Foolish had been taken to New South Wales a week ago where it won. Under the rules of trotting every horse which crosses a State border must be inspected an hour before the first race, even when returning to its home State.
25 years ago
GLENELG Shire Council is facing a bill of between $750,000 and $800,000 to install a new computing system – much of it to meet the threat of the “millennium bug”. The shire expects to spend most of this money before the end of the year, according to the shire’s governance and special projects manager Trevor Hornby. There’s no room for error on this because basically the business will stop (on January 1, 2000),” Mr Hornby said on Thursday. Fears are widespread that the so-called millennium bug will cause widespread chaos when the year 2000 starts – if computer systems haven’t been adjusted. It’s estimated the problem will cost $600 billion worldwide to fix, and the effects of improper date calculations could result in another several hundred billion dollars in litigation.
GLENELG coaches have predicted a successful weekend for their two country cup netball sides in the final round of preliminary matches, to be played in Hamilton. The open side must win its last two 1998 SmokeFree Country Cup matches to stay in the top four, but could face relegation if it finishes in the bottom two. The 19 and under side, unbeaten from its first five matches, will clash against North Central, also undefeated, tomorrow morning at Hamilton Leisure Centre, the venue for all matches. The 19 and under side is guaranteed a finals berth, but its ladder position will not be decided until after matches against Benambra and North Central.
