General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 6

General News

Visitors to Crvlser About 1500 persons, most of them school children, inspected the cruiser H.M.S. Black Prince at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon when the Ship was open to the public. The ship is to sail at 7.30 this morning for Wellington. Salaries * The Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said yesterday that the consultative committee recently appointed, by the Government to investigate teachers’ salary scales has begun its sittings? The committee pects to be in a position to report to the Government on its findings within the next two months.—(P.A.)

Waimakariri River Control Expenditure for standing charges, administration and construction work on the Waimakariri river totalled £28,455 last year, as against an estimate of £28,922. This was reported to a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday. Standing charges cost £6337, administration £2676, and construction £19,442. The finance committee of the board stated that charges were unlikely to be less during the present year, and the board decided to request the Waimakariri River Truct to strike the same rate this year. N.Z. Forces Overseas There were 6786 members of the armed forces overseas at March 31 this year, according to a statement released by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) yesterday. Of that number, 428 are serving in the Royal New Zealand Navy, and 1531 with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (including No. 14 Squadron in Japan). The balance of 4742 are serving with the Army. Included in the latter figure are 4007 serving with J Force in Japan.—(P.A.)

Bryndwr Crossing Warning Signal Work has begun on the installation of warning signals at the .Bryndwr railway crossing. They will be of the flashing-lights type. Representations had been made to the Railways Department by several public- bodies about the danger of collision between motor vehicles and trains on the north line at this point.

Venus and Moon in Conjunction An interesting though not unusual phenomenon was visible last evening between 6 o’clock and 7 o’clock, when the star Venus and the moon were in conjunction. Venus is slowly coming into the evening sky, according to the Carter Observatory, Wellington, and this will become more obvious as the month progresses. To observe the conjunction last evening was rather interesting in view of the fact that the moon was only two days old and Venus was still close to the sun in the sky. The effect was one of quiet beauty rather than brilliance. Venus itself was in a light brown cloud which blended with a pale green, this colour gradually deepening into the darker evening sky above.

Druids Lodge Membership Membership figures for the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, U.A.0.D., were on a better footing last year than for some years past, said the Grand President. Bro. C. K. Williams, in his address to the annual meeting of the lodge. Although the decline in membership had not been arrested, it had been checked, the decrease for the year being 74, the lowest figure for seven years. On the other hand, the number of initiations was 74, the highest figure for six years, he said. During the war years the field of recruits for the lodge had been practically closed while eligible men were serving with the armed forces. Lincoln College Field Day Circulars are now being sent out by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce to local bodies and interested organisations inviting their members to attend a field day at Lincoln College on Thursday, May 16. when an inspection will be made of the college. The chamber recently discussed the lack of modern facilities for carrying out the important work of the college, and arranged the field day in order to secure the support of all organisations for its representations to the Government on the subject. It Is expected that there will be many visitors to the college, and arrangements have been mad* 3 for buses to leave the Chamber of Commerce Building at 1.30 p.m., returning to the city about 4.45.

Ships Ab Power Generators Proposals for using ships as generators to alleviate the shortage of electric power were examined by a subcommittee of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce about six months ago, but were unfavourably reported on as ships whicl were then on offer had technical disadvantages which made them too expensive to convert. Inquiries since made by the Auckland Power Board suggest that some ships might now be found which could be used for shore supply, and it is not considered technically impossible to use such plants to meet the direct current demands of consumers like the tramways and the waterfront. The needs of the North Island in auxiliary generating plant have been estimated at two plants of 30,000 kilowatts each, one to be at Auckland and the other at Wellington. The generating capacity of the North Island is now considered to be about 50,000 kilowatts below the free demand. Refugees at English Classes Of the 25 Dutch refugees attending Englishrlanguage classes at the Christchurch Technical College, only about six were starting off from "scratch," it was stated at a meeting of’ the Board of Governors of the college last evening. Some of the students, it was said, spoke very good English. “They are most interesting people," said the principal (Dr. D. Hansen). “Most of the refugee students learned their English at school, and some of them speak the language very well,” the prineipal added. “Their methods of teaching must be different from ours." Beauty in Millbrook Reserve During this week several hundred people have seen and have appreciated the autumn beauty of flood-lighted trees in the Millbrook Reserve. Seen from the opposite bank of the Avon, the reflections in the river have been greatly admired. The Fishing Rivers According to information received by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society at noon yesterday, the Rakaia, Waimakariri. and Hurunui rivers were flshable. Appeal Authority’s Notes

When counsel for one of the parties in a transport appeal case yesterday brought only one copy of his submissions in the expectation that the Appeal Authority (Sir Francis Frazer) would have the services of a stenographer. Sir Francis Frazer said it was his custom to take his own notes and to rely on them, though a stenographer could be called if that were desired. Long experience of courts, he said, had taught him that he could usually rely more on his own notes. Air Stewardesses When the new Mark V Sunderland aircraft, which • are being brought from Britain by Tasman Empire Airways. Ltd., begin operating between Auckland and Sydney, the passengers will probably receive attention from flight stewardesses as well as stewards. The company’s chief pilot, Captain O. Garden, made this announcement last night. Captain Garden said that the Sunderlands normally carried two stewards; but it was intended that those operating on the Auckland-Syd-ney run should have one steward and one stewardess. The proposal will offer unusual opportunities to Auckland girls, nine of whom will be recruited for the work.—(P.A.)