The new surf boat John Oxley, launched on Saturday afternoon, made a good start to the season by winning in the Kempsey-Crescent Head surf carnival on Sunday.

The new craft won the three boat events on the program. Its good handling in the heavy seas augurs well for its success in the sesqui-centenary surf carnival on January 7.

The colourful launching ceremony was attended by a large crowd on Flynns Beach. The boat was christened with champagne by Mrs. B. Hennessey and Mrs. H. J. McClelland.

Mrs. Hennessey is the widow of the late Jack Hennessey, who was the club’s only life governor, while Mrs. McClelland is the widow of the late Fred McClelland, who was the club’s treasurer.

The A crew, comprising Ray McManus (sweep), Alan Dick, George Leighton, Gerald Dick and Charles Stokes, launched the boat. It made a spectacular sight as it climbed over the first few shore dumpers under the handling of its crew. The boat was accompanied by the club’s other two surf boats, Pat ‘n’ Geoff and Jack Hennessey.

The surf club women’s auxiliary provided refreshments after the launching. The new boat purchased through a public appeal which raised $1500, has a high reputation to live up to. It is a modernised version of the nine-year-old Jack Hennessey, which has been placed among the leading boats in the State and Australian championships.

The new boat was built personally by Mr. Bill Barnett, of Sydney, who built the last America’s Cup challenger, Dame Patti.

Plus nine won Butchers’ Trophy

A tremendous score of plus nine won trophies donated by Port Macquarie’s butchers on Saturday afternoon, when a field of 92 players participated on the Tacking Point golf links.

There were no less than four pairs with scores of plus nine and the count-back, with plus six on the back nine, favoured Dick Spence and Peter McLaren. For the butchers – Rural Co-op - Bruce Bennie, Ken Roberts, Ian Anderson; Huddleston and Hardaker – Bill Monger (leader of the donors) congratulated the winners and the runners-up, Hastings Hicks and Don Low.

Letter to the Editor

I am led to believe that an old dwelling situated now at the corner of Munster and William streets, is to be moved to Lord Street, between Everard and Hill Streets.

If this is so, I strongly object to such a move, as this sort of retrograde step will detract the value of any area, and I and my neighbours do not want this happening in our area.

Furthermore the people who live in a higher rated area such as Macquarie Heights, will not want to drive through an area of old moved houses. Every house on the eastern fall of Glebe Hill has been built within the last 10 years, and we take pride in our area.

I hate to think that the area will become saturated with derelict houses, to satisfy the whims of someone wanting to clear a block nearer town. Thirty five signatures were obtained in 14 hours to a petition of objection, and 1000 signatures will be obtained in the near future. A.H. Fowler