SOUTH BRIGHTON GALA

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

SOUTH BRIGHTON GALA

SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL EVENT FUNCTION IN PLEASANT POINT DOMAIN Ideal weather attracted many visitors to the annual South Brighton gala held yesterday at the Pleasant Point Domain, and the brisk business done at the various stalls and sideshows will enable the committee to show a very creditable balance. The gala was organised by a committee representing the South Brighton Croquet Club, tho South Brighton Surf Life-Sav-ing Club, the Pleasant Point Yacht Club, and the New Brighton Power-Boat Club. The Mayor oi New Brighton (Mr E. L. Smith), in declaring the gala open, expressed pleasure at the large attendance, and said he hoped the function would be very successful financially. The gala was organised by the people of South Brighton, and the proceeds would assist the sports bodies of South Brighton and the improvements to the domain. The New Brighton Borough Council had only a small sum to spend on the upkeep of Its reserves. When amalgamation with Christchurch took place more money would be available for tills purpose, and many improvements would be made to the reserves and the beaches.

In addition to side-shows, produce, cake, and ice-cream stalls and tearooms, amusements provided Included wood-chopping contests, wrestling bouts, sports, and races for the children. Members of the Power-Boat Club arranged trips on the estuary. The baby show attracted a large number of entries.

The principal stall-holders were:— Afternoon tea, Medames W. L. Langley (convener), R. Day, A. E. Cockle; sott drinks and Ice-cream, Mr J. Bates (convener), Mrs H. Robinson; produce, Mrs F. Pope (convener), Mr A. Pope; chocolate wheel, Messrs R. Comfort (convener). P. Olds, C. Lambert; wood-chop-ping. Mr B. Avery; sideshows, Messrs G. Greig, H. Field, J. Boyd, F. Mawson, J. Marks, H. Robinson, E. W. Rountree, R. Aitken, I. Mclntosh, L. Alexander. The St. John Ambulance Association was represented by Mesdames A. H. Burt and C. Watkins.

The New Brighton Power-Boat Club had the following boats running excursions in the estuary:—Skippy (H. Russell). Shooting Star (L. Nixon), Electra (E. Marsh), Walhemo (J. Wilson), Nancy (H. Macintsoh). A baby show was conducted under the direction of the Mayor, Mr E. J. Cooksley, and Mrs L. Sharp. Judges were the Mayoress, Mesdames M. Blackie (Invercargill), and Mrs J. H, C. Robertson. The awards were:—

Girls—Junice Nute 1, Barbara Peddle 2, Brenda Bailey special. Boys—Murray Le Compte 1, Bruce Laurenson 2. Lance Greig special. Twins—Margaret and Lillian Curline 1, Errol and Sandra Austin 2.

WAIKUKU BEACH GALA

MORE THAN 5000 IN RECORD CROWD

DOMAIN PACKED WITH HOLIDAY-MAKERS

A record crowd of between 5000 and 6000 attended the Waikuku Beach gala yesterday. Officials of the Waikuku Beach Improvement Association, members of which were in charge of the gala, consider that it was the most successful yet to have been held. The gate takings amounted to more than £ll2, the highest figure reached, and the takings from the whole gala—gate, entries, stall and dances receipts—are expected to be well in excess of last year’s total of £294. At the peak of the day about 500 cars were parked in the domain, and scores of cars which had brought families to the beach for the holiday were parked nearby. Many took advantage of the facilities of the beach and domain for the holiday. <For picnicking alone, about 300 families spent the week-end at the beach. Others played cricket, rounders, spent many hours swimming, or enjoyed tennis at the courts near the domain. There were outstanding entries for the races this year, and as many as 50 entries had to be judged in the baby show. The dance held on Boxing Day evening brought £2O, and substantial amounts have been raised on other dances held in conjunction with the Improvement Association’s annual carnival. An inquiry during the afternoon showed that about £IOO had been raised on the various stalls. Results of the races were,; — 75 Yards Women’s Championship—Miss R. Thomas 1, Miss M. McConchie 2. 100 Yards, Single Men—L. Paklowskl 1, P. G. Kissell 2. 75 Yards. Married Women—Mrs B. J. Mahon 1, Mrs Bowyer 2. 75 Yards, Married Men —R. D. Thompson 1, J. Clark 2. 75 Yards, Single Women —Miss M. McConchie 1, Miss H. Mitchell 2.

Thread-the-Needle Race—R. Thompson 1, W. Steele 2. Sack Race, Men.—Alan Smith 1, W. Coey 2. Sack Race. Women—Miss R. Thomas 1, Miss E, Roberts 2.

Stepping Competition—G. Mantill, 64ft 9ln (three-quarters of an inch from the actual distance). Baby Show

Results, of the baby show, for which a very large entry was received, were:— Girl under 18 months—Mrs Palmer’s Kay 1, Mrs E. Graham's Evelyn 2. Boy under 18 month—Mrs Nixon’s Gary 1, Mrs Cox’s Malcolm- 2. Girl under nine months—Mrs Marston’s Barbara 1, Mrs Dyer’s Helen 2. Boy under nine months—Mrs Miles’s Bryan 1, Mrs R. Brown’s Owen 2. The winner of the lucky ticket competition was Mrs M. Rudd, and Mrs N. Haslett was second.