General News

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 6

General News

Princess Elizabeth’s Pram The pram used by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret when they were babies will be sent from Windsor Castle to a West End firm to be made ready for Princess Elizabeth’s baby. It is a high-wheeled boat-shaped perambulator of a type fashionable 20 years ago, and now popular again. The cream kid upholstery will be renewed and the cream coachwork body repainted.—London. July 16. Canterbury Centennial Stamps Much interest had been aroused by the recent announcement that the New Zealand Post Office had aproved a special issue of stamps for the Canterbury centennial celebrations, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) yesterday. Some time ago Mr H. W. Atack, a keen philatelist, had written to him with proposals for the issue, This letter was sent to the Post Office which now proposed to hold a competition for designs, drawings, subjects. or ideas for the stamps. The set would be issued on December 16, 1950, when the actual centennial would be celebrated. x

Emergency Operation at Sea While the Ruahine ploughed through heavy seas two days after leaving Pitcairn on her voyage to London, four passengers assisted the ship’s doctor in an emergency operation on a steward for a gangrenous appendix- The Ruahine sailed from Auckland on June 5. A letter received at Auckland yesterday said that powerful lamps were rigged in the alter lounge and the ship’s nortable operating table was lashed to the floor. The ship was put into the wind, and Dr. Roberts began the operation at 9 o’clock at night. A woman doctor, Dr. Semon. administered the anaesthetics and three nurses among the passengers. Misses Coakley, Burton, and Warner, assisted. More than an hour later the operation was declared successful. When Panama was reached the patient was well enough to appear on deck— -(P,A.) Bellona to Visit Lyttelton Formal advice that H.M.N.Z.S. BeL lona will visit Lyttelton from November 16 to 24 was received yesterday by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews). It is expected that the cruiser will carry 32 officers and 500 ratings.

Fire Brigade Trial While motor-ear race traffic to Trentham is at its peak about 10.30 a.m. today, a special test is to be made by the Upper Hutt Fire Brigade, whose engine is located at Trentham camp, to see how the traffic impedes the engine. Mr E. W. Nicolaus, Mayor of Upper Hutt, and chairman of the Fire Board, said last night: “First things first. We must know how race traffic delays the fire engine. It is most important to know how long the brigade will take to get to Upper Hutt against the traffic. The engine is hemmed in in Trentham camp during race days by thousands of vehicles. We must see if it can break through to a possible fire. Race traffic is of secondary importance. There may be delays, but the brigade is the most important thing.” There would be no danger of accidents when the fire engine left the camp on its way to Upper Hutt. replied Mr Nicolaus to a question. “The traffic department has been informed. It is all under control.” Mr Nicolaus said he would not be aboard the engine for the test. London Seed Market

“There seems to be a possibility of an acute shortage of white clover seed and supplies of later flowering red clover are much smaller than was anticipated earlier in the season. ’’ said a report from the agricultural liaison officer in London of the Department of Agriculture received through New Zealand headquarters of Federated Farmers by the South Canterbury Provincial Executive yesterday. Orders for spring sowing were finished, said the officer, and many retailers who were out of stocks were anxious to have some seed for an autumn demand. “Most wholesale firms would purchase further supplies if the Board of Trade would agree to grant licences,” he said. Chatham Islanders* Record The Chatham Islands had created a world record by subscribing more towards the United Nations appeal for children, in proportion to their population. than any other community, said the Dominion organiser, Mr Rugby Malcolm, yesterday. The inhabitants of the Chatham Islands numbered exactly 490, and they had subscribed £490. The appeal to date had realised £364,000. he said.— (P.A.) Asparagus as a Weed “Edible asparagus, which is about the same price as gold per ounce, is a weed in parts of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.” writes “Granny” in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” “Its roots have got among citrus trees and vines and are killing them. The Agricultural Department, is trying to get a weed-killer which will knock out the asparagus without damaging the trees. Among the vines of Mildura asparagus has done enough damage to be declared a noxious weed.”

Railway Oil Tank The installation is being completed by tho Railway Department of a supply service for oil-burning locomotives at a special siding in Mechanics Bay, which will be the bulk distribution point for the northern part of the North Island. It will make possible the regular operation in Auckland province of oil-burning locomotives which hitherto have been used mainly at the southern part of the island. A steel tank which, in war time, was used for, aviation spirit in the far north, will provide storage for 40.000 gallons of Diesel oil. A stand-pipe will allow railway tank waggons to take in oil at the siding as an alternative to loading from a storage tank by direct pumping from the British Petrol Company’s bulk terminal at Mechanics Bay.—(P.A.) Asian Interest in N.Z.

The interest taken in New Zealand by Asians he had met was both general and astonishing, says the New ■Zealand delegate to the Asian Regional Conference of the International Labour Organisation (Mr A. B. Grant) in his report on the conference held at the end of last year. "The reputation of the New Zealand Labour Government and its record of social legislation stands high in the east. I do not mean that interest' is shown only by intellectuals or those actively engaged in political life or administration.” ho states. “I met many working class people who knew of New Zealand, its geographical situation, its social legislation, and high standard of living. This is the .more surpris- ■ ing when one sometimes reads in our 1 newspapers that people—so-called I literate people—in Great Britain and I America confuse New Zealand with • Australia. The many Asian workers I to whom I spoke were not so coni fused. They knew the advantages the New Zealand worker had and they wanted similar conditions for their own people.” Decentralisation of Shipping The decentralisation of shipping in New Zealand and a greater share of traffic for the port of Timaru, was advocated by the South Canterbury Provincial Executive of Federated Farmers yesterday. The Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) had said during i the recent shipping troubles that de- ■ centralisation might be a solution, said IMr C. R. Barnett. “I think we should [support this proposal. We have a good i port at Timaru and the 'watersiders I give good service. If greater use was made of the port the rates should also Ibe reduced.’’ Jerusalem, N.Z. A Gazette notice announces the appointment of a woman as registrar of births and deaths of Maoris at Jerusalem. This is 50 miles up the Wanganui river. Town Planning Officer The Wellington City Council has decided to appoint a town planning officer. Announcing this, the DeputyMayor, Mr R. L. Macalister, said that he future orderly development of the city would require the services of a man capable of co-ordinating the wide range of city activities. Applications will be called in due course.— (P.A.) Atomic Energy Film “Atomic Physics.” the British film which created such interest overseas 'ast year, has been secured for screen■ng by the Canterbury University Colc • Sctent;?.- Society next week. It •*■?••.!•_ with the development of the • mic theory, the nuclear structure th- atom. the discovery of the neutron, and finally uranium fission.