General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25226, 3 July 1947, Page 6

General News

Notice to Advertisers While the restrictions announced by the Christchurch Gas Company, Ltd., continue, “The Press” asks its advertisers to have their copy in “The Press” office not later than 2 p.m. each day. to ensure insertion the next day. Divers Inspect Sunken Pile-Driver The Wellington Harbour Board’s pile-driver, which sank during the southerly storm on Saturday night' was inspected by divers at Aotea quay yesterday afternoon. The board’s engineer said that an attempt would be made to-morrow to raise the piledriver by direct lift from the floating crane Hikitea.—(P.A.X Firewood at 12s a Cord Dissatisfaction with the sellihg of nearly 100 cords of firewood at 12s a cord by the North Canterbury Catchment Board, was expressed by members of the Ellesmere Lands Drainage Board afl the board's meeting yesterday. It was stated that the Draincage Board had put a price of 30s a cord on the wood, and had sold about 2(T cords fbr this amount. “Had it been known the wood was going at xhis price there woijld have been hundreds after it, including myself,” one mem-1 ber said. Long- Service in Legislature Mr J. A. Hanan, Invercargill, one of i the four Legislative Councillors whose ! term expires shortly, sat for 26 .years in the House of Representatives and was appointed to the Upper House in 1926, so that his total period of Parliamentary service is almost 50 years. He is the only present member of either house who was in Parliament before the turn of the century. He first made his appearance in national politics at the 1899 General Election. From 1912 to 1917 he held several Ministerial portfolios. In the National Government of that period he was Minister of Education. Mr Hanan was fpr some years Chancellor of the University of New Zealand. Mr J. R. Hanan, the new member for Invercargill in the House of Representatives, is a nephew of Mr J. A. Hanan. —(F.O.P.R.) Shortage of Telegraph Boys The Christchurch Post Office has 25 vacancies for boys as assistant telegraph messengers, but would be willing to take up to 50 boys if they were available. At present it has to rely on the services of boys after school hours and on Saturdays to maintain a full service. Schoolmasters who are careers advisers at secondary and primary schools visited the Post Office on Tuesday to acquire information which they Could pass on to pupils intending to enter the service. Quail Eggs from America The second consignment of Virginian quail eggs from Oakland, California, for the Otago Acclimatisation Society, arrived at Auckland by. Australian National Airways Skymaster yesterday. Two baskets with a total of about 200 eggs, were in the shipment. The first consignment arrived by the same air service last month, and shipments will be continued every fortnight until either 1000 eggs have been received or the society’s import licence for £2OO has been exhausted. The eggs will be hatched at the society’s game farm at Waitati.—(P.S.S.) Heavy Frosts Yesterday Motorists were warned last evening by the Canterbury Automobile Association that the road between Evans Pass and Lyttelton was dangerous because of ice that had not melted after the heavy frost of the morning. To make this stretch of road safe the Public Works Department will spread some grit over it. In the city a frost of 14.2 deg. was recorded yesterday. It was the heaviest in Christchurch this winter and had many of the usual effects. Many water pipes were burst and plumbers were kept busy yesterday repairing them. High Price of Sago and Tapioca

If information received by a Dunedin merchant is correct the cost of sago and tapioca to the public of New Zealand will be from Is to Is 6d a pound when they are again placed on the market, compared with 2d a pound before the war. The merchant said that in 1938 it cost 16s a hundredweight to land sago and tapioca in store. The new supplies, would cost 144 s a hundredweight, which was exactly nine times as much as the prewar figure. The merchant said it was doubtful whether supplies would be received for several months. After import licences had been granted deals had still to be made on Eastern markets and shipping delays had to be considered. Although the prices would be high, imports were bound to be made, because the public would demand luxuries of which they had been deprived for many years.—(P.A.) Valuable Birthday Present The first prize of £ 10,000 in an overseas Consultation has been won by Mrs J. Boyd. 312 Queen street east, Hastings. The ticket was bought as a birthday present for Mrs Boyd by her niece. Miss Shirley Proctor, Hastings. Mrs Boyd’s husband is a former serviccfnan and he intends to enter business on his own account. Mr and Mrs Boyd have three young children. Fewer Food Coupons Saved

Contributions to the New Zealand famine emergency committee’s campaign to save more food for Britain through the collection of food coupons last week fell to the lowest level since the start of the campaign 63 weeks ago. The number of coupons collected was 76,103, representing only one for each six households in New Zealand. The best contribution, on a population basis, was that of Gisborne. Oamaru was second and Hawke’s Bay third. Dominion collections now total 10,705,719 meat coupons and 410,046 butter coupons.—(P.A.) Maoris Return from Tonga Laden with gifts of native mats, baskets, tropical fruits and plants, ornaments, and carving, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Dakota aircraft “Waikato Taniwharau” arrived at Whenuapai from Fiji yesterday with a party of 13 Maoris led by Princess Te Puea Herangi, who attended the recent double wedding of Tongan royalty at Nukualofa and later visited Aitutaki, Rarotonga, and Samoa. The private secretary to the Minister of Native Affairs (Mr M. R. Jones) and the 15-year-old Princess Piki Koroki, daughter of King Koroki, of Ngaruawahia, were also in the party. In Aitutaki the party had to attend six feasts in one day. About eight cases of gifts which could not be carried on the Dakota are being shipped to New Zealand.—(P.A.) Wairarapa Flood Relief

“Sufferers in the Wairarapa flood may rest assured that the Government will do everything possible to assist them,” said the Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen) last evening. He said that organisation for the necessary relief was being established. Stock losses would be heavy, and damage to farms and homes was serious. Arrangements for financial assistance would be made through the Bank of New Zealand. Many farmers would be able to finance their requirements with their own bankers, but those less fortunate should apply to the Bank of New Zealand. Full reports on special cases of hardship would be made to him by departmental and Federated Farmers’ representatives. Speaking in the House of -Representatives, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Hplland) said the Opposition would co-operate with the Government in every way possible to help flood sufferers.—(P.A.) • ,