1929

On the 2nd of January 1929, a little girl named Vera Heward, aged ten, drowned south of the New Brighton pier. She went into the surf at about four o’clock with her elder sister, Nellie, aged eighteen, and Joyce Webb. The newspaper reported they were playing in the surf. As there was a strong undercurrent, the three children got into difficulties near Bligh Street, and Vera disappeared under the water and was not seen again. Despite the efforts of lifeguards from New Brighton, Vera drowned.

Following this incident a public meeting was held in the “Bridge Street Hall on Tuesday, March 19, at 8 p.m for the purpose of forming a surf club for South Brighton”. Several meetings had previously been called for the purpose of forming a surf club for the area, but they had lapsed for want of support. The Press newspaper reported “The need for a surf club for South Brighton has been shown by the two fatalities this season, and it is hoped that the meeting called for March 19 will be well supported.”

At the public meeting, a surf club was formed for the South Brighton area. The Mayor, one Captain A. W. Owdes, presided over a good attendance and it was decided that the club be called the South Brighton Surf Bathing and Life Saving Club. Short addresses of considerable value to the new club were given by the president of the Canterbury Surf Bathing and Life Saving Association, Mr. Claude Cooper and by Mr. H. Throp, secretary, and Mr. F. S. Taylor, captain of the Central Brighton Surf Club.

On the suggestion of Mr. Throp. it was decided that the officers elected should remain in office until October 1930. An offer to train any members of the club was made by Mr Taylor. Votes of thanks were passed to the Mayor and Messrs Cooper, Throp and Taylor. The election of officers resulted:— Patron. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.; president, Captain Owles; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. D. Muirson, J. Qrsborn, Hulme, W. Greenwood and J. Jowett; committee, Messrs. F. J. Grammer, C, H. Greenwood. C. W. and H. R. Nankervell. P. Knight, R. J. Cullen, J. J, Gibson, G. Hewitt, W. Manhire, J. Glasson and A. E. Lawry.

Soon after, the committee of the club were informed the Canterbury Surf and Life Saving Association had granted the new club affiliation and that the proposed club colors, black, blue and gold, had been approved. The Town Clerk of the New Brighton Borough wrote regarding asking that the club and the works committee of the council have a survey of the proposed site of the pavilion prepared. When this was done, the committee would recommend “the council to grant the cub the right to occupy the site for a period of fourteen years”.

An estimate of the cost of leveling and claying the approach the full width of the road was to be obtained, but in the meantime a track up Bridge Street giving access to the site would be made. The chairman, replying to a question, said “the center of the building would Bridge Street”. Plans of the proposed pavilion were shown, and members expressed themselves highly pleased.

1930s

In 1930 there was a large gathering of the public for the opening of the season for the new South Brighton Surf Club. Mr. 0. Cooper congratulated the club, introduced the mayor (Mr. J. H. Shaw), who declared the season and club open and congratulated the committee of the club on their wonderful progress. He said it was another great asset to New Brighton, especially the building, which was nearly completed, and when finished would be one of the best. The clubs first annual report stated “this a very progressive year—this in spite of the fact that a -great deal of members' time had been occupied in building the new pavllion. The gala held by the club on Easter Monday had been a most successful function, and as a result the finances had benefited considerably”.

The 1931 club AGM showed a balance of $563 pounds and an artesian well was sunk to service the new pavilion. The Press reported that “The contractor who is sinking the well is having rather a bad run of luck. After twenty years’ experience in this sort of work in the district, he has become an authority on this subject and states that artesian water is at a lower depth the further south one goes. At present he has sunk his pipe 330 feet and is getting only a six foot rise of water, whereas at a spot half a mile north he recently sank to a depth of only 240 feet and got a rise of over twelve feet.”

The 1932 annual report stated that the club's financial position shows a slight improvement as compared with last year, but still leaves a great deal to be desired. Outstanding subscriptions amount to £7 10s. It also noted considerable improvements had been made to the surrounding area and that five new life guards had obtained their qualifications from the Canterbury Surf Life Saving association. In 1933 the decision was made to affiliate the club with the Royal Life Saving Society and that the committee investigate allowing female members into the club.

In 1935 the Press newspaper records the club committee held a meeting and that the dance committee reported that the dances held had proved satisfactory and arrangements were being made to hold dances on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. It was decided to forward a letter of appreciation to the South Brighton Progress League for the assistance rendered by the recent gala. The club officially opened its season in poor conditions, the heat of the sun being marred by a strong easterly wind and driving sand. The club president (Mr J. K. Worrall) in declaring the season open, extended a hearty welcome to all visitors. Mr. W. H. Benson said he thought the club was extremely fortunate in having such a live wire as J Worrall for its president and that the club had the material and the most attractive end of the beach. An exhibition of life-saving work was given, by various club teams.

The 1935 season closed with a dance at the Bridge Street pavilion. The club captain presided and there was a large attendance of members and friends. Mr A. Wright referred to the splendid progress and the enthusiasm created by the club captain among the members. The evening brought to a close one of the most successful seasons since the dub’s inception. A vote of sympathy was passed to Mr. H. Robinson who is at present an inmate of the Christchurch Hospital. The annual report notes a vast improvement in the fiancial matters of the club.

In 1936 the club continued to grow. There is notes mentioning that the executive committee of the South New Brighton Surf Bathing and Life Saving Club met in the pavilion, the club instructor, Mr C. J. Kite, presiding. A letter was received from the Canterbury Surf and Life Saving Association asking the club for financial assistance towards the cost of sending a Canterbury team to the coming New Zealand surf championships at Dunedin. It was resolved to reply to the association offering a guinea, should assistance from the club be found necessary. A further letter from the Surf Association said that the local consul had reported that the club's safety discs were painted in the club's colors, whereas the association had approved of green discs and asking that the matter be remedied. It was decided to reply stating that the matter would receive attention. The club also entered its first full team in a competition, that been the Black and White relay at Sumner beach.

The annual report from 1938 records "a disappointing factor is the lack of enthusiasm and support afforded the club by the local residents, who do not realise the value of the club as an asset to their community. Once again the beach was efficiently patrolled by members at week-ends and holidays, the constant attendance of members for duty being very gratifying. The services of a team were not required on any occasion, although advice and assistance were rendered by individual members on numerous occasions.”. Subscriptions were fixed at 3s 6d for juniors and 5s for seniors. A last comment mentioned that “It was very noticeable that the pavilion did not suffer nearly so much as in the past from vandalism. This is mainly the result of the apprehension by the police of certain individuals.". The club also wrote to the Canterbury board, stating that although the club has two reels for rescues, this was not considered enough and could financial help be forthcoming to purchase another.

1939 saw the first winds of WW2 blowing through the club membership. The committee minutes mention “several of our members have volunteered for military service and we wish them every good fortune and look forward to seeing them again in our midst. The greatest loss is that of our captain. Mr C. J. Kite. The committee felt that the time was opportune suitably to acknowledge his untiring efforts, which have built the club up to its present state of efficiency, and at very short notice a small function was arranged and Mr Kite was presented with a wristlet watch.”. The annual report presented and adopted stated that the membership stood at 63 (seniors 44, juniors 10, and ladies nine), and the club’s assets over liabilities were £497. It was decided that owing to lack of finances the club would not send a team to take part in the centennial competitions. Opening day was fixed for November 5. and it was decided to ask the New Brighton Municipal Band to play a number of selections.

1940s

During the early years of WW2, the club ticked along with little mention in the papers of the day. In 1944 at the Domain Championships at Lyall Bay, the club won its first national title with a win in the junior six man after a “thoroughly outstanding” performance. In 1946 business resumed after the war and it was stated at opening day that “The club Is to be congratulated on this part it played in the New Zealand championship, and it is hoped that the younger teams will be inspired in their efforts to further the good work by the high standard shown on these occasions.”. The weather was dull but in spite of this and a keen sea-breeze there was a big attendance of active members. Representing the Canterbury Surf Association, Mr. A. T. F. Stokes paid tribute to the work of the South Brighton Club during the war years and assured members that with the return of veterans from war service competition at future championship meetings would be of a very high standard.

A march past by a combined team was held and a demonstration given of the six-man rescue and resuscitation drill and water work. It revealed the benefit derived from winter training. The team comprised K. Duncan, L; Schou. D. Beggs, M. Fearon, K. Rothwell, and K. McKenzie, with M. T. Butterick as instructor. The names of Schou, Fearon, Beggs, Rothwell and McKenzie would soon become well entrenched in the history of the club.

1950s

In 1950 the club AGM passed a motion “That the name of the club be altered to the South Brighton Surf Life-saving Club, Inc.”. Sir Ernest Andrews, a prominent local cricket player, politican and mayor was voted as patron. Beach patrols appointed by the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association started and new red and yellow surf caps were worn by members. It was observed in 1951 that “The beaches are generally in fairly good condition, although care should be taken at Sumner when the tide is the rocks being covered, making it dangerous to get into the water.”

The 1953 season opened in poor weather. Six women members of the club gave a display of rescue and resuscitation for local dignitaries. In 1954, the visiting Maranui club competed against South Brighton for what was then called the “Stevens Trophy”. South Brighton won overall after taking the junior four and six, the junior surf race and junior surf teams race.

The Press reported in 1955 that “South Brighton competitors had a field day when the Canterbury surf life-saving championships were begun at Waimairi yesterday. The senior team had a comfortable win in the six-man rescue and resuscitation competition, and the junior four-man alarm, surf ski and resusciation events were all won by members of the South Brighton Club. There were good fields in all events, and most finishes were keenly contested”. South Brighton won the Kesteven Cup (senior six-man rescue and resuscitation non-championship event), the junior six man rescue and resuscitation competition, and retained the senior march past, in which it has been unbeaten since the war. Surf-ski competitors found it difficult to get beyond the breakers, and all the competitors were thrown off at least once. A cold north-easterly wind whipped up a choppy sea at New Brighton.

The 1955/56 season was another good one. The Star newspaper stated “The surf life-saving season which ended in Christchurch last week-end brought the South Brighton Surf Club easily the best results it has achieved in its enterprising lifetime. Apart from the three titles won at the New Zealand championships, the club took seven Canterbury titles and filled places in many other events. One of the most pleasing features of the season’s activity was the formation of a women’s team which will soon provide opposition for the hither to unchallenged Taylor’s Mistake team.

The club also formed a team of junior juniors—boys too young to compete—who were given instruction in surf rescue work. During the season 12 members gained Royal Life-saving Society bronzes, six members gained surf bronzes, and at present 16 members are in training for bronzes. The full list of the club’s championships successes is: Canterbury championships. senior: Won Kesteven Cup. march past', second in six-man rescue and resuscitation, third in four-man rescue and resuscitation, second in beach relay, second in surf canoe race, B. Inder first in beach sprint. B. Rose second in beach sprint. Junior: won four-man rescue and resuscitation, third surf teams' race, won canoe race, won six-man rescue and resuscitation, second in ski teams’ race, K. Williams third in ski rescue. D. Graham second in surf race. K. Williams first in resuscitation shield.

At the New Zealand championships the club won the Nelson Shield for the senior six man rescue and resuscitation, the march past championship, was third and fourth in the senior beltman's event; the juniors won the William Henry Memorial Trophy for the six-man rescue and resuscitation and D. Graham was second in the beltman's event. During the winter, the club will not be in ordinary recess. Members plan to make alterations and additions to their premises to house further equipment and to provide more accommodation for the club’s increasing membership.”

In October 1956 proposals to extend the pavilion club at a cost of about £lOOO, were outlined in a report. Labour costs, expected to be about £5OO, will be saved through members giving their services “Not since the pavilion was built in 1931 have any major alterations been made or any additions been added.” says the report. "Today, faced with a rapidly increasing membership, the club must extend if it wishes to function successfully. Urgency is the keynote of this expansion programme.” The plans approved by the club’s committee call for a further 800 square feet to be added on the road side of the present pavilion.

The extension will be built of concrete blocks and constructed in such a manner that a further 800 square feet can be added on top at a later date. As the club funds are not particularly high, the club approached the New Zealand Surf Association and the City Council for grants to purchase the materials. The club has 268 members—an increase of more than 100 since last October, the report says. The club enjoyed its most successful season last year with 17 members gaining their surf bronze medallions and 18 gaining their Royal Life-saving Society’s bronze medallions.

For the first time in the club’s history, two women members—Misses A. Blair and B. Smith —gained their surf awards. For the fourteenth year in succession, the club won the march-past championship, and after 10 years it regained the Kesteven Cup. Only five rescues were made during the summer, all being without line and reel. “The small number of rescues carried out would point to the relative safety of the South Brighton beach. Four of the five persons rescued were outside the patrolled area, swept there by the drift,” says the report.

One part of the beach, about a mile south of South Brighton and known as South Shore had become a favorite bathing spot for hundreds of city folk. The number of bathers using this beach often exceeded those using the patrolled beaches and members of the Canterbury association floated the idea of a new South Shore club that can be formed in the area to provide life-saving facilities.

Over winter of 1957 “a stretch of beach at New Brighton bounded on one side by the sea and on the other by a line gouged out of the sand, was the venue for the first Rugby fixture played between teams from the South Brighton and Waimairi surf clubs on Sunday. What the players lacked in Rugby skill they made up for in keenness. As was expected, when play was centred in the area of the changing seaward sideline, the players summer season skills were very much in evidence. Waimairi won by 9 points to 6.”. A considerable portion of the game was played in the sea, the referee, Mr L. West, having great difficulty in identifying the sideline. A certain amount of difficulty was experienced in finding the goal lines, and in one instance F. Gurr missed scoring a great try for South Brighton by running 50 yards over the goal-line before touching down.”.

The Christchurch Council also granted the club £l00 towards the cost of extension of its pavilion. The club estimated the cost of doing the work—an additional 800 square feet of floor space on the road side of the club and alterations to provide more dressing accommodation and a kitchen—at £l5OO. The council invited the club to bring its request for assistance before the council again at the beginning of the next financial year. This was due to the club having increased their membership and activities that the clubrooms had become inadequate. This was after four of the strongest clubs in Chirstchurch (Waimairi, North Beach, New Brighton, and South Brighton) had told the Canterbury Surf Life Saving Association that they would require further finance to provide the additional space they so urgently need. Probably the greatest increase in membership is that in South Brighton, which has gained more than 100 members, mainly juniors, in the last season. The Press stated “As South Brighton will be the host club for the New Zealand championships- in 1958, its claim for finance for extra accommodation will probably find some support.”.

At the opening of the 1957-58 season, the government and the city council was commended by Mr S. B. Mason, president of the Canterbury Surf Life Saving Association, for the flnanIcial assistance they gave to the movement. “In the last few years the Government and the City Council had made grants totalling £4OOO to Canterbury clubs”, he said. The public had also materially assisted by supporting street appeals, and the result was that clubs had been called on to find little money for gear from their own funds. He said he disagreed with a statement made at the opening function of another club that Government support for surfing was lacking. Mr J. Mathison, M.P. and patron of the club, supported Mr Mason, but said he would not like to see Government grants increased to the extent that its contribution would leave the clubs without any incentive. The present Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr S. W. Smith) was very generous to youth movements and he had always received a sympathetic hearing from the Minister when he had sought practical assistance, he said. The opening day concluded with several water and beach events.

In 1958 the club hosted the infamous 1958 national surf life-saving championships. Due to heavy surf and a very strong drift from the northwest, the carnival committee to postponed swimming events but six-feet high breakers all champs dashed all hopes of concluding the events. As a result, the Norrie trophy for the champion province was not awarded this season.

The heavy sea played havoc with the surf canoe and surf ski races. When the senior beltman’s championship was held the swimmers were almost exhausted by the time they had reached the beach with their patients. In one heat, two competitors had to be reeled in after a losing battle against the surf and a strong rip. A doctor was called to attend one of the surfers when he reached the beach, but he soon recovered. The major event of the meeting, the Nelson Shield six-man rescue and resuscitation, was won by Red Beach (Auckland). Although the team lost several points on land drill, R. Harker’s fine swim with the belt was decisive. It is the first time that Red Beach has won the shield, and it did well to beat Waikanae, which reached the final with two teams. Another Auckland team, Eastern United, won the senior four-man rescue and resuscitation, to retain the title.

On the Saturday morning, a strong north-westerly wind caused a strong rip from the north and a very heavy surf. This made conditions extremely dangerous, and only land competitions were held. Knowledge of the South Brighton beach and experience in handling the wind and drift in opposite directions meant that many local teams held an advantage over the visitors. Eight out of 10 major placings were gained by local teams in the heats and finals of the surf ski and canoe events.

At one stage on Saturday, the organizing committee considered changing the venue to Taylor’s Mistake or Corsair Bay. However, the south-westerly change improved the surf conditions sufficiently for the events to continue. Nevertheless, in some surf ski heats, all competititors had been thrown heavily from their craft before the finish. The only injury was a cut on the face suffered by one competitor. In the heats of the surf ski championship, W. R. Gordon (Midway) showed fine control of his craft. On his return from the buoy, Gordon almost came to grief, as he had to steer an erratic path through a mass of overturned craft and swimmers, for he was the only competitor still with his craft the right way up.

F. Hilton (Sumner) was in fine form in the final. Hilton won the title in 1956 at Oreti and his clever handling of his ski on Saturday allowed him to reach the beach almost a minute before the second man. Sumner won the surf canoe championships with excellent work in its new fibre-glass canoe. Great skill was required to steer the craft back to the shore through a large number of swimmers from other overturned canoes. Riding very high in the water, the fibre-glass craft was less liable to the swamping which spoilt the chances of several competitors. No beltmen events were held because the strong drift made swimming to the buoys almost impossible. Breaststrokers Prominent

A strong drift was still present when Sundays events were held, and in the beltmen's championships, breaststroke swimmers held an advantage over the freestylers. Three swimmers who won in the heats—G. Pratley, G. Brittenden, and I. McDonald—are all breaststroke swimmers. The final of the senior beltmen’s championship developed into a great tussle between the Auckland champion, R. Harker, and G. Pratley (Taylor’s Mistake). Pratley has on several occasions been runner-up for the title. Harker went slightly off course during the race, and this probably cost his club the title. C. Bidwell, of Sumner, swam a well judged race to take third position.

The premier event —the Nelson Shield six-man rescue and resuscitation—was won by Red Beach in an exciting contest with Waikanae and Sumner. So heavy was the surf at this stage that Waikanae B and South Brighton beltmen had to be hauled in on the instruction of the referee when they were found to, be making no headway. It was Harker who helped to give Red Beach victory, for his swim to the buoy left most of the others well behind. Waikanae, which managed to get two teams into the final, was unable to repeat its good displays in the heats on Friday. The senior four-man rescue and resuscitation ,event was won by Eastern United, which had as its beltman the 1956 New Zealand representative J. Sneyd. The result of this event depended on Sneyd’s swim, for only a point separated the winner from the second and third teams, Maranui and New Brighton.

In 1959 the club celebrated its 30th anniversary and although formed later than the other surf clubs in Canterbury, the South Brighton club was allready forging a fine record in sports having won 31 New Zealand titles since 1943, an achievement bettered only by the Maranui club from Wellington. The anniversary report states “The club was formed in 1929, but it was not until after the last war that it began to make a mark in provincial and national events. Through the work of Messrs S. B. Mason, N. Hewinson, F. Jennings, D. Brown and A. S. Patterson, the club was put on to a solid footing and went from strength to strength. The club has produced many prominent surfers in its comparatively short history. M. T. Butterick, M. Melhuish, and D. Tarrant were prominent after the war, and Peter McNally and Maurice Feron were both members of the 1950 and 1954 New Zealand representative teams against Australia. Allan Lee, the present club captain, was a reserve for New Zealand in 1956 and is one of Canterbury’s most prominent surfing and swimming officials, as well as still being a fine swimmer himself. The first president of the club was the then Mayor of New Brighton (Mr A. W. Owles). The post is now held by Mr N. Robertson, who is also a member of the council of the New Zealand Swimming Association.”

The Star newspaper recorded that “Past and present members of the South Brighton Surf Life-saving Club celebrated the club’s thirtieth anniversary during the week-end. A dinner on Saturday evening was attended by the Minister of Transport (Mr Mathison), who is patron of the club, and surf races were held at the beach yesterday afternoon. M. C. Fearon, a former New Zealand surfing representative, won the senior surf race easily, hardly needing the handicap which officials thought his advancing years might require.”.

In November 1959, the seafront and tussock to the south of the club was alight with a series of blazes which destroyed about 14 acres of tussock. Metropolitan and volunteer fire crews fought the fires for more than three hours and a half and were still on the job to control further outbreaks several days later. A 12 knot wind, varying from north-east to north-west, carried the fires down towards the South Brighton spit at rapid pace. Some residents sprayed their houses with garden hoses as a precaution against flying sparks and embers. As long as the wind blew seawards they were in no danger, but inside their homes they had to contend with choking smoke and the smell of charcoal. At 11 o clock the blazes were confined to the east of Marine parade.

The Press newspaper reported that “South Brighton Surf Club members prepared to evacuate their wooden building if necessary and stamp out any fire started there by showeriing sparks as one blaze bore down on them. This outbreak began in the Tovey street area and burned south towards Bridge street (opposite the surf club). Firemen controlled this fire only to contend with others which started inland in tussock along the same area. More Fires Immediately south of the surf club were more fires. They raced along a 60 yards front for nearly half a mile before being checked between Sandra street and Jellicoe street. At one stage a fire-fighting team lost water in a hose when a high pressure jet blew out a standpipe near Sandra street and cascaded over the roadway in a white, foaming fountain.”

1960s

In January 1960 two men were rescued in a combined operation by the New Brighton and South Brighton surf clubs and the Sumner life-boat. The men had set out from a point south of the New Brighton pier on one surf ski and had drifted in an easterly direction. They were sighted at 2 p.m. about one mile and a half offshore by the South Brighton Surf Club patrolman. Mr. Donald Pocock of the South Brighton Surf Club immediately set out on a surf ski followed by three other surf club members — two on one ski and a third, Mr. Donald Graham, swimming. One person was brought back to shore by Mr. Pocock. who again set out to rescue the second person. In the meantime, the New Brighton Surf Club’s surf boat bad been launched. This picked up the second swimmer, the two surf club members who had originally set out on a surf ski and Mr Graham. One of these men had contracted cramp and was unable to get back to shore. At 2.45 pm the Sumner lifeboat went to the scene of the rescue and towed the New Brighton surf boat and its occupants back to Sumner. Nobody suffered any ill-effects from the incident but two surf skis valued at about £4O each were lost. The captain of the South Brighton Surf Club issued a warning to all people, not to take lilos or any other inflatable swimming aids, or surf skis into the water, when there was a strong offshore wind blowing.

In 1961, the local newsletter stated that unless there was a sudden increase in the numbers of bathers at the South Shore beach, near the Estuary, no portable reel would be placed there by the Canterbury Surf Life-saving Association. The association had made two visits to the area and at no time had there been a sufficient concentration of bathers to warrant the association placing a reel on the beach, said the president (Mr. F. L. Mitchell) at last evening’s meeting of the association. It was decided still to purchase two more portable reels if they could be obtained.

Reports from various members on the portable reels on the North Canterbury beaches were fairly favorable. The cover of one was reported to be off and the line of another slightly tangled. There were also signs of rust, but otherwise they were in good working condition. The reels would be withdrawn during the winter months and overhauled, Mr Mitchell said.

Missing Buoys Several buoys, which had disappeared in the night after the second championship carnival at South Brighton on December 18, had been recovered by the Amberley police from Waipara beach, it was also reported. The chief instructor to the association and a member of the South Brighton Club (Mr J. A. Lee) said it was low tide when the buoys were put out. After the carnival, they were underwater and could not be reached. As a result, the buoys had been left out overnight. Messrs R. George. W. Manhire, M. Fearon and A. Green were admitted to the board of judges from 1961 onwards.

In 1961 plans were completed for the construction of extensions of 900 square feet to the club’s pavilion, which was first erected in 1929. The extension, on the seaward side of the pavilion, were to be made of concrete blocks with a precast, pre-stressed, post-ten-sioned concrete slab roof. Mr A. Lee, the club captain, said “That it was hoped to start the work in less than six weeks, but it would definitely be ready for next season. The ground floor, which will be about 16ft by 30ft, will be entirely for the storage of gear. It is being made long enough to hold a surf boat if the club ever decides to purchase one. On top of the gear room, a kitchen, about 12ft by 7ft, will be built, leading into the present hall.”. A new staircase was constructed to the upstairs portion of the building. Underneath toilet facilities for men and women were provided. Other minor alterations to the wooden building were also made.

South Brighton also narrowly won its annual Rugby match against the Waimairi Club by six points to three. At halftime the score was 3-all. The match, played on the beach at South Brighton, was reasonably bright although most of the play was confined to the forwards. During the match, the surface of the sand remained remarkably good and only on the western side of the full-size field did it cut up at all. South Brighton’s win was mainly attributable to its forwards. They showed more determination and fire than did the Waimairi pack, and gained much more of the ball The backs of both teams were fairly even, with the Waima.iri players being forced to place more emphasis on defence. Waimairi began the match well and after several promising moves, second five eighths, E Leask. gathered up a well-placed cross-kick to open the scoring. Shortly before half-time, W. Godfrey evened the score. Halfway through the second spell. Godfrey again went in to give South Brighton the winning points. A crowd of several hundred lined the side-line. Players were so tired after the match that the referee (Mr H. Davidson, North Beach) escaped the customary ducking in the sea.

In 1962 Mr S. D. Tarrant was elected a life member of the club. Mr. Tarrant has been a member of the club for 18 years, had held numerous offices and participated actively over a period of 10 years. He was president of the club from 1951 to 1955. Best known for his coaching achievements, he has been instrumental in raising the standard of the club to its present level. Others elected life members were messrs G. Hewitt, W. Manhire. sen., S. B. Mason, and N. W. Hewinson.