The last turf meeting before Christmas of the Waipā Racing Club held at Te Rapa
The Waipā Racing club’s last meeting before Christmas 1938 was held at Te Rapa in showery weather but had a good attendance. The event was described as a ‘full on dress rehearsal for the Ellerslie carnival’. Form was completely upset in the hurdle event when Loombination, a Waipā candidate, won in very attractive style. He was very well back in the middle stages but made up leeway to be right behind Green Label as they turned for home and battled on in solid fashion with Gascyne in a spectacular finish.
Work on some of the buildings in Te Awamutu was being seriously hampered owing to a shortage of skilled carpenters. Numbers of men working on the buildings before Christmas did not return. A local contractor, who was short of labour, said tradesmen preferred to seek work near the seaside during the summer months. Work was plentiful in all directions and they had no difficulty in securing such jobs.
Safety precautions on Waipā roads during the holidays were encouraged by the Main Highways Board with a list of helpful suggestions. Particular attention could be given to gravel surfaces during days outside ordinary working hours when traffic was usually greatest. Notices could be clearly displayed where graders or other machines were working. White line markings could be clearly defined, especially at curves. Bridge-ends, approach-fences and warning-posts at bridges and curves could be painted white and have growth cleared away. Warning notices could be erected where roads were under repair or construction.
Waipā roads receiving attention included the reconstruction of the Kihikihi-Arapuni highway.
At Pārāwera metalling was being carried out at the junction of the Owairaka Road and the main highway and excavation was in progress at Orakau. Near Kihikihi several bends were being improved. It was anticipated millions of miles would be covered by motorists during the holiday season. The demands of tourists for road information, hotel and motor camp accommodation, and travelling equipment were breaking records. A comparatively modern development of holiday touring – trailers and caravans – was expected to be in wide use.
Noted in the Te Awamutu ‘Holiday Round’ was the Misses Mackay, of Paterangi, who were spending a short holiday at Kerikeri. Mrs McKinnon, of Te Rore, had left by air for Christchurch, where she intended spending a few weeks. Mrs Germann and the Misses Germann, of Paterangi, were spending a week camping at Mount Maunganui. Mrs Clough Blundell, of Alexandra Street, was also spending the holidays at Mount Maunganui. The Misses Kay, of Hairini, had left for Auckland, to spend a fortnight’s holiday. Mrs Empson, Mangapiko Street, left for Great Barrier Island for the holidays. Mrs Jourdain, Young Street, was having a seaside holiday at Tongaporutu. Mrs Connal, of Teasdale Street, left on a motoring tour of the South Island, and expected to be absent about a month.
