Many Spent Week-End Out Of Doors

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 14

Many Spent Week-End Out Of Doors

A fine, pleasant week-end was marred by cold easterly winds yesterday afternoon. There was a long traffic holdup at the Walmakariri bridge, as holidaymakers and racegoers headed back to Christchurch. The Harewood weather bureau reported a total of 15 hours of sunshine for the three days, compared with 19 hours for Labour Day weekend last year. Sunday, although hot. was a fairly cloudy day and had only 2.8 hours of sunshine.

Winds of up to 25 miles an hour kept yesterday's temperature to a maximum of 62 degrees, recorded at 130 pun., but nevertheless there were seven hours of sunshine. Traffic returning to the city between 5.40 pm. and 6.20 p.m. took 40 minutes to cross the Waimakariri bridge, because of the acute traffic jam. Other main roods, including the Main South road, carried exceptionally heavy traffic into the city late in the afternoon, but were free of accidents and blockages. Heavy traffic from the Rangiora races swelled already heavy traffic returning to the city at the Main North road-Tram road intersection to cause the Waimakariri bridge block. Vehicles of all descriptions, including many cars towing caravans, banked up tor a mile bumper-to-bumrper on the north aide of the bridge. Two vehicles telescoped into the rear of other vehicles in thf bridge area aggravated the traffic jam. Thousands spent the weekend picnicking, camping, motoring, fishing, and yesterday many were at the beach. Good catches of trout were reported in the upper reaches of tlie Ashburton river, several fish weighing four and five pounds being taken. At the mouth of the Rakala river, several trout weighing two and three pounds were caught.

Good catches of red cod were reported by estuary fishermen at the mouth of the Opihi river. South Canterbury. Poor Whitebait Whitebartera at the Waimakariri, Rakeda and Ashley rivers and Saltwater creek bed poor catches, the luckiest managing only to take a meal tor a family. Strong winds spoiled any chances of night - time floundering along coastal river mouths and estuary mudflats. Many went to national championships in gun dog trials and grass motor-cyc-ling. Golf, tennis and softball were played. Die naewmaj fencing championships were held. Fine weather attracted many visitors to Lyttelton and other harbour bays. Har-

bour launch services were busy. The new road tunnel face and general port improvement attracted conoiderwble interest. Boating on the Avon and picnics in the Botanic Gardens were also papular. Traffic department officers said that at 10 o'clock last night heavy road traffic was still returning to the city. In other years, the traffic had usually decreased to normal by about 7 prn. The traffic late last night was heaviest on the Main I South and North roads.