Queen Mother Fails But Trout On Menu

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31041, 22 April 1966, Page 1

Queen Mother Fails But Trout On Menu

(New Zealand Press Association) WANAKA, April 21. The Queen Mother returned empty-handed after five hours’ fishing at Glendhu Bay today. The members of her party were no more fortunate.

The Queen Mother tried both dry and wet fly fishing—from the shore and on the lake —trolling and with thread line—but all to no avail. However, trout brought back from the Hunter river by three member- of the Queen Mother’s household, including the Captain of the Queen’s Flight, Air Commodore J. H. L. Blount, were served to her tonight. The 20,000 acre Glendhu Station, owned by Mr and Mrs A. Scaife, was the scene of the Queen Mother’s excursion today, seven miles and a half from Wanaka. A stiff breeze whipped up the waters of the lake by 6.30 p.m., the time Her Majesty returned to her hotel. Once more local residents congregated in front of the

hotel, and children played on the lawn. Bystanders clapped continuously as the Queen Mother—in grey tweed jacket and skirt and wearing the now-familiar fishing hat — walked into the hotel. According to reports she put in a serious day of fishing, taking time off only for a picnic lunch. She tried various rods before selecting a Scottishmade 9ft, two-piece rod of split cane with mediumweight reel. This rod will be taken along for the Queen Mother’s use in the North Island later this nionth. Using this rod, she was casting 25 to 30 yards with great ease, observers said. Before leaving Glendhu Bay, the Queen Mother had a cup of tea with the Wildlife Division official who has accompanied her on both fishing excursions at Lake Wanaka, Mr H. W. Axbey.

It was Mr Axbey who decided on fishing sites for the two days, and brought along various rods for the Queen Mother to try.