General News

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25732, 18 February 1949, Page 6

General News

Umbrella Causes Accident Abrasions and shock were suffered fby Mrs E. Renwick, of Kakahi, when iher upraised umbrella was caught in the piston of a locomotive which was slowly hauling a train through the Kakahi station. It is thought that Mrs Renwick did not hear the locomotive approaching. When her umbrella was caught by the piston, she was thrown to the ground, but the train stopped after she had been dragged for about five yards. She was placed aboard the train and taken to Taumsrunui, where she was admitted to hospital.—(P.A.) Building Up School Roll A Mid-Canterbury farmer recently advertised for a man with one or two children. He was not looking for a man whom family ties might make reliable, but was simply seeking to swell the roll number at the country school in his district. Because of the small roll, the teacher at the school was liable to be transferred, and the school closed.

Kilroy Kilroy won two prizes at the Christchurch Boys’ and Girls’ Horticultural Society’s show yesterday. One of the headmasters helping with the organisation of the show selected some cut flowers discarded by children arranging their exhibits and put them in several vases under the name of Thomas Kilroy. The vases were awarded two prizes but the committee disqualified Kilroy.

Tractor Recovered from Harbour A tractor which fell into the Lyttelton harbour on Saturday afternoon when it was being unloaded from the cosstal vessel. Kopara, was recovered yesterday. A Lyttelton Harbour Board diver attached hooks from one of the large electric wharfside cranes to the tractor and it was pulled up to the wharf for cleaning. Never Heard a Shot It was traditional that crime committed in Chicago always got a good “airing,” said Mr Ivor H. Owen, of Chicago and formerly of Christchurch, who is revisiting New Zealand after an absence of 22 years. “Personally I never heard so much as a shot fired in Chicago,” said Mr Owen. Parcels for Soviet Zone The suspension of the parcel post service to Berlin and the Soviet zone of Germany, notified on December 23, has been cancelled and the service is now restored, according to advice received from the Chief Postmaster (Mr D. R. Thomson). The parcel post service to Israeli and the controlled area of Palestine and to Jerin. Jericho. Jerusalem (Old City). Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm (all Arab-control-led) has been restored. Britain’s Tobacco Figures issued J>y the Commonwealth Economic Committee disclose that British Commonwealth countries last year supplied 35 per cent, of the United Kingdom’s tobacco requirements, compared with 28 per cent, during the previous year. Three Commonwealth countries—Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, and India—together exported 80,000.0001 b of tobacco, to Britain.—London, February 17. Cancellation of Driving Licences Opposition to suggested legislation intended to give the Commissioner of Transport the right to cancel motor driving licences was expressed at the quarterly meeting of the North Island Motor Union yesterday. The council expressed the opinion that the commissioner should be empowered only to apply to a Magistrate for an order of ’ the Court to cancel a licence.— (P.A.) Territorial Refresher Course A six-day refresher course has been arranged for territorial army officers at Burnham. The course, which will cover general training, will begin on May 14. Funds for Health Camps The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) announced yesterday that the proceeds of the recent “Prizes For Christmas” art union, amounting to £11,418 8s 7d, would be paid to the Promotion of Health Fund. This is in accordance with the Minister’s practice for several years of making available the proceeds of art unions held in December to assist the children’s health camp movement.— (P.A.) No Rabbit-skinning Factory An application by a Burwood resident for permission to establish a rabbit skinning factory has been declined by the Waimairi County Council. It was reported to the council last evening that such a factory, which would dry skins for the export trade, came within the legal definition of “offensive trades” and thus could not be allowed in the street mentioned by the applicant. Fees for Crown Vehicles The non-payment of heavy traffic fees for vehicles owned by the State, and used in trading activities, was commented on at the conference of the Municipal Association in Napier yesterday. A remit was adopted, asking the Crown to pay these fees. It was stated that vehicles of the State Forest Service and the Mines Department, which caused considerable wear and tear on roads, were among those for which no fees were paid at present.— (P.A.) N.Z. Newspapers Praised Two delegates, one from Britain and the other from the United States, to the Pacific Science Congress last evening praised New Zealand newspapers for the way in which they had reported meetings of the congress and scientific news generally. One. the Briton, said: “The standard of reporting in the New Zealand press has been such as would put most newspapers in Britain to shame. You are indeed very fortunate in having a press which is so science-minded.” The American delegate said that United States scientists had been misreported so often that they had waved off newspapermen ana remained on a pedestal, but they realised that they had a duty to tell the public about science.