Otago beats Wanganui ...

By defeating Wanganui at Carisbrook on Saturday in the last match of the season Otago saved itself from a “wooden spoon” record. Otago had already played this season Southland (twice), Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Wairarapa, and had gone down in every match. The ground was in excellent order, there was little or no wind, and about 6000 spectators witnessed the game. The game was interesting to watch, and there were plenty of spectacular incidents. The backs on both sides, however, lacked finish, and the forwards also lacked combination.  At the finish the Otago forwards had the opposing pack well beaten, but early in the second spell it looked as if the visitors were going to dominate the Otago pack. Otago 31 points; Wanganui 14 points.

 ... as All Blacks beat NSW

Twenty-five thousand spectators witnessed the Test match between New Zealand and New South Wales.

The All Blacks were still attacking when the final whistle was blown, the final score being: New Zealand 36 points New South Wales 16 points

A feature of the game was the control kept on the play by the referee, Mr Sutherland. He gave very few free kicks and consequently the game was fast and full of incident throughout. Both sides played clean football and there was not the slightest trace of rough play. Porter, whose methods have been criticised abroad, was never off-side, and if every wing-forward adopted the same tactics as the New Zealand captain did there would be no cause for complaint. The tackling on both sides was at times deadly and several players were knocked out for short spells, but no serious damage was done. Taken as a whole the match was one of the finest advertisements for the Rugby code it has ever had in Auckland, and the huge crowd returned home well satisfied that they had seen a great exposition by a team of champions on the one hand and a team of plucky young players on the other.

Showing class on the road

The new number plates for 1926, according to the requirements of the Government, will be of No24-gauge sheet steel. The plates will have a letter on them to indicate the class — that is, whether private car, truck, lorry, or taxi. There will be 110,000 plates with the letter A, 1500 with B, 8500 with C, 5000 with D, 500 with E, and 6000 with F. There will be 30,000 motor cycle plates without a letter, and 1000 with the letter D. This makes a total of 162,500.

Seafront property burns

A fire in a four-roomed wooden dwelling, situated on the esplanade at St Clair, owned and occupied by Mr Martin Boyle, claimed the attention of the City Brigade, and also the South Dunedin section, at 1am on Saturday. One of the outside walls, one room, and the ceiling and roof were damaged,. The fire was caused through a defective chimney. The building is insured for £275 and the contents for £175 with the New Zealand Insurance. — ODT, 21.9.192

Compiled by Peter Dowden