A number of local sporting clubs, societies and community groups started off, or, more often, were revived, in the post-Second World War period. From 1949, their meetings were covered in often great detail in the 'North Shore Times', although some geographic areas across the North Shore area were better covered than others. After all, their 'roving reporter' couldn't be everywhere and not every organisation provided regular copy for publication in the 'Times'.

Queen Elizabeth visited Devonport on 26 December 1953, and her visit was generally well publicised in the newspaper. Sporting results for some local matches also featured in the 'North Shore Times', as did some family celebrations, engagements, weddings and obituaries. However, most continued to acknowledge such family events in either or both the morning 'New Zealand Herald' and evening 'Auckland Star'.
Although the first service at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Milford was on 18 December 1949, it wasn't until early 1950 that the new church featured in the 'North Shore Times'. Part of the Takapuna parish, it was estimated to have a potential congregation of 600 and the building to be the result of ten years' work. Previously Mass was held in the Picturedrome cinema in Milford Road.
The 'North Shore Times' was initially printed in 1949 in the central city, at 31 Campbell's Buildings in Vulcan Lane (near High Street) by R A Ryan and Company. From 5 April 1950, the 'North Shore Times' also incorporated the 'Devonport News, official organ of the Devonport Businessmen's Association'. Robert Alexander Ryan (1911-1980) then established an office for the 'Times' at Halls Corner in Takapuna from 28 June 1950 and started printing the 'Times' at 102 Kitchener Road (part of Malcolm's Buildings) near Dodson Avenue in Milford from 31 January 1951.
The rival 'North Shore Advertiser' started on 4 May 1954 and was initially published by North Shore Printers at 48 Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, near the corner with Anzac Street. That publisher was Philip Arnaud Lesmoir Phillips (1915-1984) and North Shore Printers  had initially been formed around 1937. Both titles were combined in 1966 as the 'North Shore Times Advertiser' and the present day successor, the 'North Shore Times', is now published by Stuff.
The Second World War (1939-1945) remained in people's thoughts and memories. The Takapuna War Memorial Hall and Takapuna R.S.A. rooms were opened on 27 February 1954 and the Northcote War Memorial Hall in 1956. Birkenhead Borough in the early 1950s was developing its proposed War Memorial Park. The 8 March 1950 issue featured an artist's concept of the proposed park on the front page, with further details on inside pages. The park was formally opened on 19 April 1958.
Subdivision of the large Catholic and Hospital Board land endowments in the northern parts of Northcote Borough, including around Ocean View and Raleigh Roads, was more from the mid- to late-1950s. The Northcote Shopping Centre, formerly on Catholic land, opened Friday 19 June 1959 at 7.30pm.

david.verran@xtra.co.nz