Wednesday Write-In: UFO sighting a schoolboy prank

UFO sighting a schoolboy prank
It was interesting to read Peter Fowler's well researched article in Hawke's Bay Today (April 23, 2011) on local sightings of UFOs.
One section really caught my eye, that of the sighting of a UFO by a Mr Sutherland, reported on October 30, 1952.
I'm sorry, Mr Sutherland, you and quite a few others were hoodwinked by a group of Napier Boys' High School students living in Greenmeadows.
In those days, of course, there was no Taradale, Tamatea or even Colenso high schools. We all bussed to town.
UFO sightings were in vogue, so we decided to try and add to the total.
I and three other pals had constructed a large kite with the largest white light that the kite could lift in a decent wind and to that, we added a string of coloured Christmas tree lights for a bit of extra effect. We bided our time and when suitable conditions came up, off we trudged up Sugarloaf.
Our launch was obviously successful and the effect Mr Sutherland saw was the natural act of a kite on a long line moving from side to side.
The object suddenly disappearing? This happens when you throw a switch. The power goes off.
We know that more people than Mr Sutherland observed the sighting of our faux UFO. In those days, the Mission was still being used as a seminary for trainee Catholic priests and we could clearly hear their excited chatter floating up from below. A suggestion that they investigate a little closer signalled our time for retreat.
We laughed our heads off when we saw the report in the paper.
To this day, we have never let on. This was a bit of harmless fun. In those days, kids made their own fun, within the law and without damage to people or property. We certainly never heard the whine of "we're bored".
We went eeling in the various open drains around Taradale in those days.
Being keen Scouts, we helped build the original Scout hall in "Greendale", sighted in Osier Rd. We made bows out of Osage orange wood and one of our group went on to win a New Zealand archery title. We made sophisticated sleds which we used on Sugarloaf, having first asked the late Mr Tom McDonald for access through his vineyard. Our practical grounding stood us in good stead in our later chosen fields of endeavour.
So sorry, Mr Sutherland, and the person who reported the sighting to Senior Sergeant Tanner, the Mission trainees and any UFO enthusiasts, as they say on a popular TV show - myth busted!
Barry Forbes
Taradale
Please stop thieving
To the person who removed four bags of feijoas from the stand in front of my daughter's orchard in Twyford without paying, you can still drop the $8 you owe into their letterbox.
My 7-year-old twin granddaughters had gathered and bagged those feijoas to raise some spending money for a holiday later in the year for them and their little sister.
They go out now to see if some other heartless thief has ripped them off and cannot understand why people take things without paying for them.
I hope when you read this Letter to the Editor, you will have a conscience that will make you feel guilty and ashamed for what you have lowered yourself down to. Oh silly me, I suppose you will have to pinch somebody else's newspaper out of their letterbox so you can get a laugh out of reading my letter.
Arthur Bott
Hastings
NZ's other VC heroes
 Congratulations to NZ Post for their splendid issue of stamps honouring our Victoria Cross winners - representatives of all New Zealanders who served their country.
Perhaps there should be a second series, for New Zealanders who achieved this recognition for the apex of courage while serving in the armed forces of our allies.
Napier's own Lt Percy Valentine Storkey VC is one such hero, winning his medal for actions at Hangard Wood on the Somme in 1918, serving in the Australian Imperial Force.
There are others - Lest We Forget.
Phillip Rankin
Napier