Page 8 - Bulletin 5 2001
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Two of the main streams from which Muizenberg obtained its water ran through his property, but
he would not allow anyone within his boundary. A lesser stream ran through the military camp
(still there at the corner of Camp Road) and the public had access to this until the military
prohibited this. Thereafter Professor Gill very reluctantly allowed the Council to pipe water from
his property to tanks on the Main Road.
He was always quarrelling and complaining and was a real thorn in the flesh of the young
Municipality. He had his other persona, however, as a renowned public speaker. He belonged to
many erudite societies and was the editor of the Cape Illustrated Magazine. He took part in local
affairs and donated the stone for the building of All Saints Church from the quarry on his
property. He died in 1904.
Dr Bolger
One of my favourite stories is about a certain Dr. Bolger who applied in January 1896 for the
post of Medial Officer of Health to the new Municipality at a salary of £25 per annum. The
Mayor was incensed by his cupidity, and is reported in the Wynberg Times to have proclaimed
in Council, “I think the amount is extravagant. Rondebosch only pays that amount to their
officer and for a small place like this it is too much.” Dr. Bolger was offered 10 guineas for his
services as Medical Officer to the Municipality, and one of the main duties was to report
immediately any contagious disease as a matter of urgency. Nothing further was reported until an
item in the minutes of September of that year recorded that “Dr. Bolger was appointed M.O.H. at
a salary of £25 per annum!”
Grace Tozer
Another interesting character was Grace Agnes Blanche Tozer who was born in Cape Town circa
1870. In 1890 she married a Mr. King who was a magistrate in Kimberley. In the following few
years she established a flourishing market-garden from which she amassed a considerable
amount of money. She would drive in a mule cart to the various diamond diggings in the area to
sell vegetables to the miners.
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