Pools, Beaches Crowded

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31232, 2 December 1966, Page 1

Pools, Beaches Crowded

Swimming pools and beaches were crowded, streets became sticky with tar, and sumiper clothing was the order in Christchurch yesterday, as temperatures rose above 80 degrees.

After seven days of warm weather, in which the maximum temperature was 72 degrees, or more each day, summer official began yesterday with a maximum temperature of 83 degrees recorded at Harewood at 10.30 a.m. A week of north-west winds and high temperatures was unusual said the chief observer at the Meteorological Office, Harewood (Mr A. K. Brown). Most often there was a change to south-west winds after a few days.

The warm north-west wind which had blown throughout the night continued in the early morning. About 10.45 a.m. the wind changed to the south-west and temperatures began to fall. By 11.30 a.m. the temperature gauge on the Government Life building, which had registered 88 degrees at 10.30 a.m., was showing 82 degrees. By 3.15 p.m. at Harewood the temperature had dropped to 67 degrees. Milk-bars Crowded In spite of the drop in temperature most milk bars in the city were crowded throughout the afternoon. Those in the vicinity of Cathedral Square reported heavy sales of milkshakes, ice-creams, and cool soft drinks. Tar became sticky and the Christchurch City Council had 11 trucks out in the afternoon with men spreading gravel. Streets in the central city and St. Albans were worst affected.

Beaches were crowded, especially in the morning. Pools, too, claimed many swimmers yesterday. The manager at the Jellie Park Lido Pool, (Mr J. D. Olds) said that the number of mothers with infants at the pool yesterday morning was the biggest he had ever seen. The centennial pool was also

crowded, particularly in the lunch hour. Attendances dropped in the afternoon. The master of the steamer express Wahine made two attempts to berth the ship in a strong north-westerly wind yesterday morning but because of the fierce gusts, he took the Wahine outside again and made another approach. The ship was berthed at 7.45 a.m. The tug Lyttelton was used on the port bow on the second run. The berthing of the Union Steamship Company's Eastern trader Wainui under pilotage was also delayed by the wind. Her first approach to Cashin Quay was made at 5 a.m. but because of the wind, she returned to the anchorage and berthed at 9 a.m.