Barrel And Bed-Pushing Parties End Journeys

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 14

Barrel And Bed-Pushing Parties End Journeys

The barrel-pushers and the bed-pushers met in Christchurch shortly after noon yesterday after both had achieved their objectives. The barrel-pushers arrived from Timaru in time to compete in the annual bicycle race down the Avon river, and the bed-pushers completed 65 laps of North Hagley Park—a distance of 203.5 miles. Both parties of students are from Canterbury Agricultural College. They were joined by the capping band from the University of Otago and completed a final “lap of honour" after which they went to the start of the bicycle race at the Bridge of Remembrance. The barrel, in which a collection had been made while on the journey from Timaru, was then opened and £l7l 3s 5d taken from it. This money will go to the Cholmondeley Memorial Children’s Home. The hospital bed was not entered in the bicycle race, but left in the care of the police while the race was watched by the party. It will be entered in the procesh tomorrow.

The 10 members of the party were all very tired, said Mr D. Manson, the leader of the bed-pushers. Three members of the party had not been available for the closing stages of the

attempt because of injuries. They had. however, managed the last lap. Unusual Offer

One of the more unusual offers of refreshments had come from a nurse as the party passed the Public Hospital. The nurse had appeared with a baby's bottle filled with a sweetened baby’s preparation. Because it is rumoured that Otago University students are going to attempt to break the record, the party is considering starting a society to set the conditions for attempts.