ART UNION LUCK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19980, 4 July 1939, Page 6

ART UNION LUCK

YOUNG WINNERS “BROKE” JEST THAT CAME TRUE RESULT HEARD OYER AIR PARTNER IN IGNORANCE (Pm- Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Possessors of £2OOO. but “broke." This was the singular position this morning of -Mr. E. V. (Reynolds, aged 21, and Mr. T. J. Stewart, -aged 20. winners of the first prize of £2OOO in the art union. They did not have a -penny between them. In -a -tiny room above a second-hand shop in Colombo street, Mr. Reynolds listened intently to the spluttering of his radio when the draw was being broadcast from Wellington last night. His radio was not working well, but he managed to pick up the last three numbers of the winning ticket and the non-de-plume “Two Drunkards.” Tense with " excitement, convinced that he and his pal were the winners, young Reynolds waited for -a later announcement before lie let his feelings run away with him. Alone in the tiny attic room which is his home, 'Mr. 'Reynolds dressed -and hastened to the hotel where his pal, Mr. Stewart, was on night duty. Wisely, Mr. Reynolds handed over the precious winning ticket to the hotel proprietor to be' placed in the safe, and then he “shouted.” Excitement Runs High

While excitement veil, high and beer flowed 'at a -city hotel. Mr. Stewart, -the c-ther winner, -worked on in ignorance of his good luck. He arrived home to his boardinghouse in Colombo street -about 1.30 this morning, and turned in still not knowing that he was winner cf £IOOO for Is 3d. This morning the two young men told how one Friday night about a month ago. they were walking up the city when they decided to share in an art union ticket. They could not think of a suitable non-de-plume, so “just for devilment,” they used "Two Drunkards.” They joked among themselves this morning.

-Mr. -Reynolds.'who is a tyre worker, is at present -out of work. “I borrowed fifteen bob from my eo-bUer on Friday night,” he said. "I made the remark .then, ‘Don’t worry about it; we will -win the art union on Monday.’ Now I Can toss him double or quits.” -Both are -athletes. Mr. Stewart is an -amateur middleweight boxer, who 1-a-st year fought in the Canterbury championships. Mr. Reynolds is an Addington League senior reserve forward.