Taranaki Trivia - April
1 April
1989 - Stratford County and Borough amalgamate to form the Stratford District Council with one Mayor and six representatives.
1858 - Sir Frederick Truby King is born in New Plymouth.
6 April
1864 - There is a violent ambush on a Taranaki military patrol. Heads of soldiers killed in attack are preserved in a traditional Maori manner. Te Ua Haumene is made custodian of the heads.
8 April
1982 - The world premier of Sam Pillsbury's feature, The Scarecrow, screens in Auckland. This is adapted from the novel of the same name by Hawera's Ronald Hugh Morrieson.
9 April
1971 - New Plymouth's 650ft (198m) power station chimney is completed.
10 April
1880 - The first issue of The Hawera Star is published.
11 April
1892 - The Taranaki Highwayman carries out his first hold up.
1969 - The blowing up of the old clock tower begins in New Plymouth.
14 April
1905 - Averil Margaret Lysaght (biologist, science historian, illustrator) is born at Mokoia, near Hawera.
16 April
1939 - Railcar service between Wellington and New Plymouth begins.
20 April
1860 - Colonel Charles Gold orders the European settlers of Taranaki to keep a light in their windows and to bar doors and windows at night.
22 April
1952 - Dave Loveridge (arguably the world's best half-back) is born in the Avon Maternity Hospital, Stratford.
25 April
1982 - Margaret Smith (Eltham Mayor) and another female leader become the first women to deliver an ANZAC address in New Zealand.
26 April
1876 - First steamer heads to Mokau.
27 April
1929 - New Plymouth's first radio broadcast goes to air from Colliers Music House - 2YB.
29 April
1989 - The last issue of The Taranaki Herald is delivered.
1834 - Vessel Harriet is wrecked off Cape Egmont.
30 April
1851 - Surveyor Donald McLean leaves on a cross-country expedition to the Upper Whanganui River.
1864 - The Battle of Sentry Hill. Many of Te Ua Haumene's followers are killed because they go into battle with their right hands raised in the belief God will protect them from bullets.