THIRTY STARTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 192, 29 July 1940, Page 5

THIRTY STARTERS

: : SATURDAY'S WHEELBARROW', DERBY WIDESPREAD INTEREST IN 1 TOWN - Costers, Red Cross nurses, and; individuals completely dressed! in scrim featured in the Wheelbarrow Derby, staged last Saturday in the interests of thei local Patriotic Funds. There were thirty starters and it will probably be many a year beford "the public of Whakajtane will! be privileged again to enjoy the spectacle of so many of their) prominent lady citizens pushing loaded.wheelbarrows from Brab ant's garage Commerce Street to the monument, in the Strandl The ladies concerned are to be| •congratulated on their initiative and pluck, quite apart from a) -strain - of a 'marathon posh] have approached ai mile. Arrival in Strand, The novelty of the event I*ad 'drawn a good crowd to the town 4 •and there were many broad smiles? as the procession made its way into the business section in the wake of the Pipe Band, and the contents jof 'the barrows were noted. The goods, 90 per cent which had been donated iby Ihe businessmen of the town, ranged from groceries, hardware, vegetables and articles of clothing, fowls, sheep and pigs. It was the livestock which created all the fun however, for though the sheep peared placid enough on its bed of hay, the porkers out-vied the jjipers in their shrill vocal efforts. 'pushers' in this instance were k trio of beauties who must have b'een recruited from Russia where the masculine type of womaii predom-J anates. These 'ladies' brought .up the rear and their progress down the/ street was marked by a series antics which had the onlookers convulsed. A diminutive Red Cross nurse Bed the way, and this little lady was followed by a brilliant collection of "barrows, decorated in all shades of patriotic colouring. Many of the ladies were costumed for the occasion and some of tjie coster outfits were extremely good. Strung out the whole parade must have extended the full length of the :Strand. An extension of the course was made round the dome at the intersection in front of the Bank iof New Zealand. From this point was made the return trip to the Square "where the auction was held by the ■courtesy and co-operation of Messrs A. J. Canning anci'Co. Good Prices Realised. Keen bidding was experienced for the goods, and on the Avhole there was a good response to the appeal to the general public for support.. The prices were exaggerated in a few instances but a fair level was .generally the rule and the returns were highly satisfactory. The actual auction took longer* than anticipated owing to the great variety goods and it Mas well into the afternoon before all were disposed of. The promoters are to be warmly! •complimented on their effort, especially the organiser Mr Moses Penny. The ladies taking part were Mesdames Jarrqtt, Wilson, White, King Fuller, Lang, Hansen, M. Penny, A. 1 O. Stewart, Waldyke, K. Schofield A. Burt, Sutcliffe, Hannan, E. Armstrong, A. Albiston, C. Sims, .1. .Warner, Misses R. Garaway, Jean Howat, C. Cawte, D. Stewart, >'g Biddle and Enid Moore. As a result of the above auction, the sum of £42 2s 3d was raised. '% —,