Page 23 - Bulletin 18 2014

20

 Kalk Bay Men’s Pavilion 1912. William Delbridge successfully tendered to build a

new pavilion at Kalk Bay station in 1911. There was a major extension in 1913.
Again, John would have presided over an opening ceremony. (Fig. 1.18.)

 Muizenberg High School c 1913. This was completed and an opening ceremony was

held. (Fig. 1.19.)
 Muizenberg Station 1913. The 9th of June 1913 must have been an exhausting day. At

2.30 p.m. John made a speech when the Hon. H. Burton, Minister of Transport, laid

the foundation stone at the new Kalk Bay harbour. John then went by train with Mr.
Burton and other dignitaries to Muizenberg station where at 3.30 p.m. the builder of

the new station (William Delbridge) handed the keys over to Mr. Burton. John then
conducted the party down to the Pavilion where toasts and speeches were made by

local and visiting dignitaries. (Fig. 1.20.)

On the face of it, it may be thought that there was a degree of nepotism in the awarding of

some of these building contracts. But the fact is the tender process was open and public, and
as shown by Wynberg, local municipalities liked to keep it in the family – in this case

literally.

In addition to these projects John and his Councillors were busy on other matters as well:

 Tenders were called for and the Main Road macadamized in 1912.

 Celebrations were held to mark the double railway line reaching Muizenberg in
November 1912

 There was a sharp increase in the processing of plans for alterations and new

buildings. A revaluation of all properties was completed.
 In January 1913 the electricity scheme with Wynberg was agreed and work on the line

from Muizenberg started.

The Municipality of Kalk Bay - Muizenberg voted for unification with Cape Town in 1913.

From John’s personal perspective the game was thus lost and it must have been a bitter pill to
swallow. He attended his last meeting as Mayor on the 25th July 1913 and the final meeting

of the Council was on the 29th August.