LYALL BAY GALA

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 28 December 1925, Page 4

LYALL BAY GALA

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING

BEAUTY COMPETITION WON BY MRS. SCALES

With the cares and worries of a work-a-dav world forgotten, and the true Yuletide “ spirit piedomiuating, about two thousand holiday-makers wended their way to the Lyall Bay gala on Saturday, where ths “joy-genu was given full scope for its operations. The object of the gala is tx> raise funds to help the City Council in tho removal of the present unsightly sheds and in the formation, of a beautiful promenade, with bathing sheds undeineath. Judging by the brilliant success of the opening day’s efforts of the Lyall Bav and Maranui Surf and Lite Saving Chibs, under whoso auspices the function is being held, tho prospects for the materialisation of tho proposals are, at present, exceedingly bright. The official opening ceremony was performed by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood), who congratulated Mr. P. Coira (chairman of the combined committees) on tho enthusiasm displayed by the clubs in endeavouring to assist the council. On behalf of the council, ho promised to do all he could to bring about the desired change. In conclusion, ho paid a tribute to the excellence of the beach, and referred to the manifold health-giving advantages of swimming. , • . 'l'l.e ei.ovds then set out to enter into the -pi rit of carnival and enjoy to the

utmost tho amusements provided in tho form of Auut Sally, hoop-la, dancing, jazz- wave, merry-go-round, darfs, a miniature theatre, and various noveltystalls, while a few of the more adventurous typo braved tho chilly wind to seek enjoyment among the breakers. Others there wore who were content to wander along the foreshore and mingle with tho carnival crowd, only to return to participate in the numerous attractions provided. Each tram aud bus from the city brought its quota of pleasureseekers as tho day wore on, and by the time tho principal attraction of the afternoon came round—the beauty com-petition-many hundreds had congregated to watch. Each competitor was required to walk round a platform in balloted order and assume six different attitudes. The entries were good and the task of the judges. Dr. Wilson Hogg and Messrs. J. Ellis and Nelson Isaac, must have been an arduous ouc. However, a popular decision was arrived at when it was announced that Mrs. Scales, of Lyall Bay. had been awarded the first prize. ■ Miss G. I. Smith, of I’efone, was a close second, and Miss H. Edglinton. of Featherston, third. Other competition.'! which aroused considerable interest were the baby show for the best boy and girl under six months, which was won 'by Leslie Kidd and Margaret Turnbull respectively’, end tho children’s fancy dress competition, won by the Misses D. and F- Harris (Dutch couple), with Miss Lockhead second; consolation prizes were awarded to Miss S. Jackson and Miss M. Penman. In the evening tho carnival wari continued and a good trade, was again done by the various stalls, while on the beach tho strains of tho Ace High Jazz Orchestra, tho laughter of happy couples, and the shuffling of hundreds of feet until, well into tho night, made the conclusion to 1925 Boxing Day a memorable one.

Tlie gala, as already stated, will be continued until January 2, and large crowds are expected each day and night, as everything possible lias been done to provide amusement.

“It is a matter of justice that tlie law should be altered in cases of this kind so that the man mav give evidence in other parts of the Dominion in respect to the cases,” stated Mr. A. C. Hanlon at the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court the other day, when referring to charges under the motor regulations, against drivers living in other centres (states the "Otago Daily Times”). Mr. Hanlon said that the alteration was desirable as the defendant might be at the other end of the Dominion when the case was heard, and had to plead guiltv or iournev to the court. The defendant should be allowed to give evidence elsewhere. Under the present regulations a defendant declared, “1 might as well plead guiltv and get the case over quicklv.” The Magistrate (Mr. H. W. Bundle) said that in certain cases a hardship might be inflicted on the defendant. He might be a visitor to the city and have a bona fide defence to a charge. The man sljould have an opportunity of placing his evidence before the court without incurring heavy expenses. Mr. Hanlon said that he was pleased to hear His Worship’s oninion on the point. Probably the Legislature would alter the Act if the motor clubs took the. matter up.

The proud' record of not having used even one of the five “refreshment” tickets issued to him for the entertainment of visitors to the spring show was claimed by a member of the Auckland A. and P. Associations’ executive recently (states the "Herald”). At the meeting of the executive the member handed in his book of tickets intact, remarking that he probably deserved a small vote of thanks for his frugality. He was, perhaps, a little disappointed to find that he was not the only economical man in the room, for the secretary remarked that another member had done the same. The official added that he would like to meet a third member who had used his five tickets, total value 2s. 6d., to take a friend in to lunch, the charge for which was half a crown. The executive smiled, but nobody owned up.

On Saturday afternoon last residents in the vicinity of Company’s Bay jetty at Dunedin were startled by piercing screams from the direction of the water. A small boy and a girl (states the “Otago Daily Times”) had been enjoying themselves in a small punt at the boatshed just beyond the jetty, and the strong wind and tide catching the craft, it was rapidly driven from the shore. In a few moments the children were carried on the strong current up the harbour. Their terror was increased when they discovered that the punt was leaking, and, as they had one oar only they were practically helpless. Their cries reached the ears of two young men in the boatshed, who promptly launched a small rowing boat and eventually overtook the castaway well off Macandrew’s Bay jetty. The rescue was effected none too soon, and the punt was well filled with water, ami could not have remained afloat much longer. In the face of the strong nor’-easte/ the young men were having a hard struggle, towing the punt back to Company’s Bay, but a motor boat came along and took the children on board and towed the punt to its moorings. Revond a fright the young "mariners” were none the worse Fw their adventure. As exemplifying the barrenness of the Ashburton County a good many years ago, an incident was related to the Ashburton correspondent of the “Lyttelton Times” by Mr. T. Hyde, a well-known resident of Hawke’s Bay. He said that away back in 1876 he was in Ashburton on a holiday, and wishing to pay a visit to some friends in the Seafield district, he procured a horse to make the trip. As the horse did not move freely he took a stick to "persuade” it along. He arrived at Peafield in due course of time, and at the conclusion of his visit on going to remount his horse, he found that the stick had disappeared. Ou making inquiries he was told it was ideal fot measuring the distance between rows of potatoes, and was almost worth its weight in gold, a? there was no timber for many miles around, the land growing Utile but fussockj;