Join former Taranaki Daily News editor Denis Garcia on a trip through the pages of the past.

When wind, rain and darkness made conditions too dangerous to continue, Mr J C Ludlam (35) of Stratford gave up his attempt to run 107 miles around Mt Egmont in under 24 hours with his time at 19 and a half hours and only 14 miles left to run.

After three days during which competitions were beset by rain and high winds, the New Zealand Federation of Parachute Clubs concluded its national championships at the New Plymouth airport.

Sixteen of the 33 first-day pupils were present when New Plymouth's Vogeltown school celebrated its 50th jubilee, proceedings being opened by the member of Parliament for New Plymouth, Mr E P Aderman, who commented that women teachers had played a vital part in the development of the community.

The manager of the Waitara branch of the Bank of New South Wales, Mr M C B Cooper, was appointed manager at Putaruru, his Waitara post being filled by Mr D M Maguire.

First-day pupils Mrs G Seed of Matapu and Mr R Glentworth of Wanganui, were guests of honour when the Mangatoki school celebrated its 75th jubilee.

Twenty-eight boats from many parts of the North Island attended when the North Taranaki Power Boat Club held its final regatta of the season on Lake Ratapiko, K Taylor of New Plymouth winning the Tasman Cup for the most improved boat and driver.

Events such as pillow fights and throwing quoits while mounted took place when the annual Auckland-Wellington Easter North Is inter-club motor scooter rally was held at Junction Rd, New Plymouth, with 26 competing.

A shed, bales of hay and a hedge were spread over three farms in the Waitara area when a whirlwind struck, the farm most affected being that of Mr Barry Brown on Kelly Rd.

Prepared by H Mills at Hawera, Tolka won the Goodbehere Memorial Handicap, feature event at the Feilding races while another Hawera horse, Alkira, prepared by W McEwan, took out the second leg, the pair returning 67 pounds for a one pound bet on the TAB double.

New Plymouth veteran golfer A N Jeffrey notched up his seventh title win when he defeated the rising young Hawera player, G Hawken, to take the 1966 Taranaki amateur golf championships at New Plymouth's Ngamotu links.

Movies: Oregon Passage (New Plymouth Opera House), John Ericson, Lola Albright and Tony Gerry; The Art Of Love (Hawera Regent), Dick van Dyke; Behold A Pale Horse (Stratford Plaza), Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and Omar Sharif; Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (Opunake Everybody's), Sophia Loren and Marcel Mastroianni.

New Plymouth's Kawaroa swimming pool closed for the season after 120,000 people had paid £5106 to use the facility.

Three years and three months of work came to a climax for Stratford bulldozer contractor, Mr A M G Simons, when he launched his large deep-water cruiser Bella Mia at Waitara.

Competing in the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand's national rally at Wellington, New Plymouth insurance salesman Mr D R Bowman in his 1928 Bentley navigated by Mr R Thomson, a New Plymouth tanker driver, won the main event.

The proprietor, Mr M W Fahy, and a house full of guests slept while a safe containing £100 was stolen from Waitara's Masonic Hotel

New Plymouth oilmen working on the South Taranaki Kapuni field, Messrs R B Adams and A Billinghirst, were posted to Nigeria by Shell International as junior drillers.

35 Years Ago: Taranaki Swiss Club opens new clubrooms at Kaponga; Awakino Collie Club holds 75th jubilee trials; 18-day strike ends at Patea freezing works.

25 Years Ago: 1600 participate in New Plymouth's port-to-park fun run; women's health and resource centre set up in Stratford; Port Taranaki dredge Kaheru sold to Hongkong.