General News

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25061, 18 December 1946, Page 6

General News

Post-Graduate Schools Overcrowded, A warning to medical practitioners who might be intending to visit England for post-graduate courses not to do so unless they had first made all arrangements for accommodation and inclusion in courses was issued by Dr. J. Fulton, of Dunedin, who returned by the Waiwera yesterday after completing a post-graduate course. He said there was considerable overcrowding in post-graduate schools at present, and personal accommodation was also very difficult to obtain.—(P.A.) New Intermediate School The opening of a new property at Elmwood, acquired by the Education Department from the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes and to be used as the site for a new intermediate school, was briefly discussed at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board. The board had before it formal advice about the granting of drainage easement rights over the property, and the chairman (Mr H. G. Livingstone) said that it concerned property recently acquired for school building purposes. A peculiar position had existed about drainage easement rights on the site, but it had now been put in order. Sane Use of Leisure Modern schools were playing an important part in teaching young people how to use their leisure sensibly, and were thus rendering a valuable service to the community, said Mr W. C. Colee, chairman of the Canterbury University College Council, at the annual prize-giving ceremony of the Christchurch West High School last evening. Much time was devoted in helping pupils to develop hobbies while after school hours teachers gave up much time to instruction in shorts and games. It was all part of a programme to teach the pupils to use their leisure time sanely. Road Assistance to Caravans The extension of the road assistance service to caravans as well as cars was discussed by the council of the Automobile Association, Canterbury, last evening. It was decided to extend the full service to caravans in the charge of women drivers, ,but that men drivers would not receive assistance with tyres and wheels. Sickness on Dominion Monarch The reported sickness on the .Dominion Monarch was not serious, and all cases had cleared up by December 10, according to a radio telegram received by the Shaw Savill and Albion Company from the master of the liner, Sir Henry Gordon. An official of the company said the epidemic, which was fairly widespread, was apparently a form of summer sickness caused by the sudden change from the rationed diet of Britain to the comparatively luxurious fare aboard ship.— (P.A.) Police Clubs for Boys Boys’ clubs conducted by police officers would help youths to regard policemen as friends and not as bogymen, said Mr J. Meltzer, who presided at a meeting of the New Zealand Council of Sport in Wellington on Monday. Mr Meltzer said the idea had been started in the United States and Canada, and had met with success. A police club for boys had been established at Westport, and it had the blessing of the Commissioner of Police. “I would like to see the movement spread right throughout New Zealand, he said, “and I think it is something well worth thinking about. It would be a move to train youth for good, healthy citizenship and would do much to put down youthful delinquency.” Unusual Fish Found Washed up on the beach at Camerons on the West Coast, an unusual fish, thought to be a cowfish, was found by Messrs R. J. Biddington and G. P. Diedrichs. Weighing about half a ton, the fish is minus a tail Instead it has two large rear fins, measuring eight feet from tip to tip. It is six feet long and about 18 inches thick. The colour varies from black along the back to almost pure white on the stomach. Slip Affects Coal Production Because of a slip which badly damaged the fanhouse above one of the two sections of colliery known as the Aerial mine last Tuesday after heavy rain, the Paparoa Coal Company’s mine at Roa has been producing only half its normal tonnage. The section affected has not been worked since, and the eight miners in this section have been employed clearing away the debris which crashed on to the fanhouse. Though every effort has been made to repair the damage and resume normal production by hewing in the closed section, it is now thought that this object cannot be achieved before Friday, when the mine will close for the Christmas holidays. Storm Water and Sewem

The trouble caused by storm water entering sewer connexions was briefly discussed at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch Drainage Board. Two areas had been inspected, said Mr W. P. Glue, and in one, six instances of this occurring had been found in an inspection of 39 properties. Of another 77 properties looked at, six had been found to be at fault. It was decided to warn the public that it was an offence to allow stormwater to enter sewer connexions. • Shortage of Dentists at Hospital Although the Auckland Hospital Board advertised throughout the Dominion, no applications have been received for two positions as dental surgeons. In a report before a meeting of the board on Monday, it was stated that the senior dental surgeon would soon be the only surgeon left at the dental hospital, and that it would be impossible to carry on. He said that instructions to draw up tentative plans for a new dental department could not be carried out while the staff position was so chaotic. The salaries for first to fifth year junior dental surgeons range from £431 to £625. • | Emergency Petrol A definition of an “emergency,” such as would entitle a motorist to buy petrol after ordinary trading hours at emergency petrol stations, will be sought from the Labour Department by the Automobile Association, Canterbury. The council of the association last evening decided to send a deputation to the department to ask for this definition. Sales of Aircraft Only 20 of the 98 Tiger Moth aircraft and nine of the 70 Gipsy Major I engines offered for sale by War Assets have been bought by individual tenderers. Tenders are to be called for’the remaining aircraft and engines. Stored at Taieri and Woodbourne, the aircraft are in various states of airworthiness, and no guarantee is given as to their serviceability. At the request of the buyers, the War Assets Realisation Board will arrange for the R.N.Z.A.F. to erect and test fly them for a charge of £2O. A reserve price has been placed on all the aircraft. It ranges from £3O up to £3OO. The reserve on more than half is fixed at between £lOO and £2OO. Aircraft not made airworthy by the Air Force must be removed from the air stations where they are stored within 60 days. | Only one of the successful tenderers j for the 20 aircraft represented aero club interests, allocations of serviceable machines having been made to clubs before tenders were called.

Greater Phosphate Output Shipments of phosphate from Nauru and Ocean Islands during the first six months of next year are expected to total 120,000 tons and. although an increase in output is expected after that, the high production reached before the wai is not likely to be equalled before 1949 These figures were supplied by the British Phosphate - Commission after a conference in Melbourne, which was attendee!- by the New Zealand Commissioner, Sir 'Albert EUis, the Australian Commissioner, and other leading officials. Noted Zoologist A distinguished scientist, Professor R. B. Goldschmidt, professor of zoology at the University of California, is expected to visit New Zealand next year, according to advice re ceived by the Auckland University College Council. Professor Goldschmidt, who is an international authority on genetics, began his sabbatical leave in October and plans are in hand for him to come to the Dominion during the early part of the next university session.