50 years ago
❚ Daylight saving could create a farm labour problem, increase production costs and produce hardship, members said at a meeting in Eltham of the Taranaki executive of Federated Farmers.
❚ Children attending lessons by Mrs K Wharehoka in the Taranaki Museum at New Plymouth in 1967 had totalled 5597 from 40 different schools, the museum director, Mr R Allan, reported to the museum committee.
❚ An Inglewood Lions Club appeal for treadle sewing machines for families in Sarawak drew 22 replies and the president, Mr P Julian, said Government aid would be sought to cover the cost of transport.
❚ Under Officer Murray E Wackrow (17) of the Francis Douglas Memorial College, New Plymouth, cadet corps, won the William Robert Friar memorial prize for being the best cadet in the Central Military District, and he was the fourth pupil of the school to win the award in the previous five years.
❚ Thoroughbred mare Bonny Defoe, owned by Mr B Fleming of Rahotu, foaled her 17th foal at the ripe old age – for a horse – of 27, the new colt being to the Stratford-based stallion Aberconway.
❚ When 14 sections at Bell Block bounded by Wynyard, Murray and Chesney Sts, part of the estate of the late Mr J E Shewry, New Plymouth, sold at auction for a total of $21,850, individual prices ranging from $1100 to $1850, the proceeds went to the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust.
❚ The best schools in the New Zealand educational system were the small country primary schools with two, three or four teachers, the Minister of Education, Mr A E Kinsella, said in opening a $24,000 two-classroom school at Oeo.
❚ Plans for a community centre incorporating a swimming pool and a hall to accommodate more than 450 children were formulated at a public meeting in Bell Block called by the Bell Block School Committee and a committee elected to begin negotiations for the project was elected, comprising Messrs D Hall, C Colson, P Clough, L Stonnell, P Powell and A Tosland and Mrs G Seccombe.
❚ Okaiawa-born Mr Edward Te Tangihiwinui Tauroa, superintendent of the TaranakiWanganui area for the Maori Methodist Mission, was appointed principal of Wesley College, Auckland.
❚ Entries for the New Zealand Women’s Bowling Association’s Dominion tournament at New Plymouth in February comprised a record 269 teams, the tournament secretary, Mrs N G M MacKay announced.
❚ Increased costs had forced the Taranaki Harbours Board to cancel additional dredging and sheet piling to provide a third wharf at Port Taranaki, the board chairman, Mr H E Blyde, said.
❚ The first 22 sections of a huge 50-acre sub-division scheme at Bell Block were offered for sale by Parklands Development at prices ranging from $2050 to $2950, the company’s New Plymouth representative, Mr N G Wright, explaining that the area involved was from Nugent St to Mangati Rd.
❚ Sold to the Government for $150,000 by Mr A E Horsfall of New Plymouth, Mansion House on Kawau Is was opened by the Minister of Lands, Mr MacIntyre, after being fully renovated.
❚ Movies: Out Of Sight (Stratford Plaza), Gerry Lewis, the Playboys and Freddie and The Dreamers;
Cleopatra (State), Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison;
Tobruk (Mayfair), Rock Hudson, George Peppard, Gary Stockwell and Nigel Green; Tickled Me (Inglewood Civic), Elvis Presley.
❚ Because he feared someone might be killed at the mouth of the Waitara River, a retired commercial fisherman at Waitara, Mr L C Young, offered to build a river wall at a cost of $1200.
❚ 35 Years Ago: Appeal against appointment sees Mr Brian Sly, district commissioner of Crown Lands at New Plymouth, lose position; NPBHS wins first Taranaki fourth form science quiz at Hawera; Urenui school wins $1000 prize for recycling of glass; Rev John Peill becomes Manaia Union Parish’s new minister.
❚ 25 Years Ago: Golfer Grant Moorhead turns professional; Dynochem opens multi-million dollar resin plant extension at Bell Block; Taranaki Arthritis Foundation opens new New Plymouth office; Ratapiko volunteers flatten dangerous stretch of road.