The state mine robbery

 

I've been wanting to check out this memorial ever since we moved to Greymouth so last week I finally got a chance. It's located on the side of the road on a slight hill on the way out to Runanga (a suburb here) and I was expecting it to be something to do with the 1st and 2nd world wars but it looks like I learned something new.

When I read the words a bit closer I was surprised to see it was dedicated to a robbery that happened in this spot on 9th November 1917. The plaque reads:

"A car carrying the state mine payroll of 3,600 pounds (that's about $7000 nzd in today's world) was held up and robbed by Frederick William Eggers alias William Eggers McMahon. The 2 officers William Hall and John Coulthard were shot and killed but the 3rd officer Isaac James was wounded so he escaped. Eggers was caught, tried and convicted in Christchurch. Executed at Lyttleton Goal on March 5th 1918 he was the last person hanged in the South Island."

Linking up with Skywatch Friday and Tom's Signs.

Empty

 

Yesterday I was driving around with my daughter and I spotted this empty derelict house on the outskirts of town. Looks like a typical 1930s property and I'm not sure if it had a fire or whether it's just empty and neglected. 

Speaking of fire, we were woken up at 6am this morning by the loudest crack of thunder I've ever heard in my life, we thought something had exploded out in the street. Turned out we'd had a couple of lightning strikes that had struck something, we weren't sure what but as it happened one of the buildings in town had been hit and was on fire. Our neighbour across the road had called the fire department who turned up for about half an hour so no idea what happened there.  

Linking up with Weekend Reflections, All Seasons and the Weekend Roundup.

Runanga Workingman's Club

I found a new mural on the outskirts of Greymouth. In nearby Runanga on the side of the Workingman's Club is this one which depicts the historic sports wall of fame featuring rugby league, basketball, tennis, boxing, cross-country running and marathon running.

Linking up with Mural Monday.