General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 6

General News

To England and Back The first aircraft to fly from New Zealand to England and make a return journey, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Douglas Dakota transport aeroplane, which left the Dominion on January 12 carrying 14 aircrew members, who will ferry Mosquito aircraft from England, arrived at Whenuapai yesterday afternoon—after a flight lasting 14 days. Commanded by Wing Commander L. H. Parry, A.F.C., the aircraft’s flying time of 65 hours 47 minutes was a record for a Dakota, and the flying time between England and Singapore, 42 hours 12 minutes, was also the fastest made by a Dakota. Apart from ferrying crews to England, Wing Commander Parry said the purpose of the trip was to conduct a survey of the route for Dakota aircraft. On return the aircraft carried 17 members of H.M.S. Gambia, who were awaiting transport to their homes in New Zealand. The first flight of Mosquitoes will leave England this week.—P.A. Study of Kauri The establishment of a scholarship for the scientific investigation of kauris in the Waitakere ranges and other areas controlled by the council has been agreed to -by the Auckland City Council. Proposed by the superintendent of parks Mr. J. A. McPherson, the scholarship will be known as the Auckland City Council Studentship for Botany, and will be tenable for three years. The council will provide £lOO a year for the scholarship, and details will be decided by the president of the Auckland University College and the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum. It is suggested that study by the holder of the scholarship should be directed toward a thesis entitled “The Natural Regeneration of Kauri in the Waitakere Ranges.” Professor V. J. Chapman, who is honorary city botanist, will have supervision of the student undertaking tne research. Flagstaff at Russell Saved The historic flagstaff at Russell was threatened by a scrub fire on Friday, and it was only through the action of a resident, Mrs T. Clifford, that it was saved. The totara posts that hold the chain round the base of the staff were burning, and Mrs Clifford carried water from her cottage and put the fires out. The anniversary of the cutting down of the staff by Hone Heke in the Maori wars of the north fell last week. Prescription for Longevity “I was asked the other day what was the secret of a healthy and happy old age,” said Lord Bledisloe at the reception given him in Wellington by the Early Settlers and Historical Association. “The prescription I gave was ‘continued faith in Gbd, plenty of hard work of a congenial character, and reasonable moderation in all things.’ The last part has been quite the hardest to observe since we left the Old Country,” he added, "and particularly when you shower upon us your generous hospitality. It is rather hard for M.C.C. cricketers to win their matches when overfed, particularly when they have been through a period of belt-tighten-ing—at least that is the excuse I am going to make for their not winning the test matches /n Australia.” Christchurch Booklet Praised“I sometimes feel there is a danger of overdoing the austerity programme; it may even become a part of our national character.” This comment was . made by an English town clerk in a letter to Mr T. H. Langford, Christchurch City Council public relations officer, expressing appreciation of the booklet on Christchurch prepared by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and contrasting it with the “austerity standard” of his own city’s publication. The writer said a friend who exported goods and had travelled had made similar comment on the handicap from which the British suffered by sending goods abroad in cheap and .undecorated packages. It was only by comparisons with the way people did things on a big scale overseas that they were able to see the error of their ways. This is one of 142 letters, of thanks for copies of the booklet received by Mr Langford from overseas local bodies. He has had more requests for additional copies than can be supplied, one request coming from the Akron Public Library, United States. Westport Borough Loans

Consent for the raising of two loans, of a total value of £27,200, by the Westport Borough Council, is contained in the Gazette. One loan is for gas supply improvement, and the other for the improvement in the borough’s water supply. The larger loan, for the gas supply, is of £15,000 and is for 20 years and the other is for a 25-year term. Liverpool Mine Dispute Because of the dispute over the time to be worked by the backshift truckers at the Liverpool State Mine Colliery, the mine was idle on Friday. It was officially announced last evening that Ijhe dispute had been settled and that work would be resumed on all shifts to-morrow. Marriage to American Sailor The registry office, which had been requisitioned a good deal during the stay of the American troops in war time, had been of use to the Antarctic task force even during its short stay, said the American Minister, Mr Avra M. Warren, at a civic reception in Wellington to officers of the force. One of the members of the force had married a New Zealand girl in Wellington. Cars on Steamer Express Complaints from several members about the facilities for handling motorcars on the new steamer express, Hinemoa, were discussed in a report before the council of the Automobile Association, Canterbury. at its last meeting. The meeting was told by Mr S. Hamilton that the design of the Hinemoa prevented the winchman from seeing the cars taken from the ship actually landed on the wharf. One car, he said, had had ait four wheels splayed when being taken off the ship. In addition, delays had taken place in the unloading of cars. Representations on the subject had been made to the Union Steam-Ship Company, and every possible step would be taken, they had been assured, to improve the position. Families Returning to England

“Your sunshine and food are all very nice, but so far as New Zealand is concerned, we’ve had it.” This comment by a young English woman with three children when she embarked in the Largs Bay at Auckland last week to return to England, was endorsed by several other families who were returning to England in the vessel. All gave the housing shortage as their reason for leaving the Dominion. They said they were returning to English blizzards, queues and food shortages because New Zealand could not provide them with a roof over their heads. One returning passenger strongly criticised the authorities at New Zealand House, London, for not emphasising the difficulty of securing accommodation here.—(P A.) Auckland War Memorial As a memorial of the Second World War for Auckland city, the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association has decided to suggest the building of an indoor sports and athletics centre in the Domain. The proposal contemplates a building of four storeys, to contain a stadium for 5000 spectators, a repertory theatre, and facilities for all kinds of indoor recreational and athletic activities. In the foyer there would be a shrine with the names of the fallen.