Today in History

1633 - Bananas go on sale in England for the first time.

1912 - The Titanic sets sail from Southampton on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

1916 - The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) holds its first championship tournament.

1919 - NZ votes for prohibition by a majority of 13,000. But when soldiers’ votes are counted, continuance wins by 264,189 votes to 253,827.

1925 - The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald, is published.

1968 - Wahine ferry sinks in severe weather in Wellington harbour, killing 51 people.

1970 - Paul McCartney officially announces the breakup of the Beatles.

1973 - Norman Kirk-led Labour government cancels Springbok rugby tour, after police warnings of civil strife.

1984 - Susan Devoy becomes first Kiwi to win the women’s title at British squash Open; rally to demand free presidential elections in Brazil after 20 years of dictatorship draws a million people in Rio de Janeiro.

1996 - Fastest wind speed ever recorded (not a tornado) - 408 kph during tropical cyclone Olivia on Barrow Island, Australia.

1998 - The Good Friday Agreement for

Northern Ireland is signed by the British and Irish governments.

2003 - British Airways and Air France announce they will mothball their Concorde fleets, ending 27 years of supersonic commercial air travel after a deadly crash.

Birthdays

William Booth, UK founder of Salvation Army (1829-1912); Joseph Pulitzer, US publisher (1847-1911); Omar Sharif, Egyptian actor (1932-2015); Paul Theroux, US writer (1941-); Ricki Herbert, NZ football coach (1961-); Hayley Westenra, NZ singer (1987-); Daisy Ridley, UK actor (1992-).