General News

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25735, 22 February 1949, Page 4

General News

The King’s Health “The King’s doctors have sanctioned plans to give His Majesty full scope for increasing his activities as part of a new phase of convalescence,” says the “Daily Mail.” “His Majesty, from Easter, will spend about six weeks at Windsor. He ’will drive out in the grounds, where he can travel 10 miles without leaving his private estate, and will also walk in the gardens. The doctors also hope that His Majesty will be able to do some riding. Members of the Royal Household who returned recently from Sandringham said that His Majesty was still making remarkably gcod progress. The belief is now gaining ground in court circles t v #at the Royal tour to New Zealand and Australia will take place early in 1950. but on a restricted scale. Their Majesties at Easter will entertain a family party at Windsor, including Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.’—London, February 21. “Radar” in Birds Theory The speculation in the “Lancet” that the feathers or other characteristics of birds might constitute a naturally sensitive “radar,” enabling them to find their way home over great distances. was an interesting new theory, said Professor R. C. Murphy, chairman of the department of birds at the American Museum of Natural History in . Christchurch- yesterday. Before publication of a cablegram from London last week, he had not heard of much distinctive research in this field, he said. Only the bat was definitely known to possess a natural “radar,” Professor Murphy said. Membranes of the bat’s wings detected differences in the atmosphere by which it found its way though its eyes were sealed. The membranes gave a high-pitched squeal, which was reflected like radar, assisting them in their course. Invitation to Mr Churchill Christchurch is to make an attempt to have Mr Winston Churchill as its guest during the centennial celebrations. Moving at last evening’s meeting of the City Council that an invitation be sent to Mr Churchill, the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) suggested that the assistance of the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) might be obtained in issuing it. Sawdust Lawn Tennis Courts

Two lawn tennis courts with surfaces of green-dyed sawdust are to be laid at Wilding Park. They will be similar to one put down in the King Edward Barracks for the visiting American players who were very impressed with it. Although sawdust courts are used elsewhere, this type is believed to be unique. It is the result of experiments by Mr G’. E. R. Atkinson, a member- of the management committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. The sawdust is rolled into wet bitumen and provides a faster playing court than the normal asphalt court. There is also less wear and tear on balls. Pioneer Women’s Memorial A proposal that six stone seats should be constructed near the pioneer women’s memorial at the top of the Bridle Path was made in a letter received at a meeting of the Lyttelton Borough Council last evening from the Christchurch Citizens' Association. The association said that the seats would be one of the centennial memorial proposals. Two of the seats would face towards Christchurch, two would face towards Lyttelton, and the remaining two would face towards Heathcote. * The council was asked for financial help. The meeting referred the request to the council’s finance committee for a report. Big Public Bequests An amount estimated as between £12,000 and £15,000 has been bequeathed for the “cultural, educational, and physical development of the people of Hawera and the surrounding district,” by Miss Catherine Marion Buchanan, who died lit Hawera on December 21. Special trustees, Mr E. w. Horner, a solicitor, and Mr C. G. Trotter, a company manager, both of Hawera. have been empowered to apply the trust fund wholly, or in part, to the erection and equipment of a youth centre, museum, art gallery, or other public amenity. Several Do-minion-wide organisations and charities with which Miss Buchanan was associated, will Benefit by bequests totalling £2300.—(P.A.) Seats at Tram Stops A petition for a seat to be erected at the Guild street stop had been declined after the matter had been given full consideration on the grounds that it was not a busy stop, it was reported at a meeting of the Christchurch Tramway Board yesterday. “It seems to me that this was all the more reason to provide a seat,” said Mr N. R. Forbes. “Is it not more true to say that the reason for not putting a seat at this point was because, if the request had been granted, we would have had to grant every similar request?” That was the reason, said the general manager (Mr J. F. Fardell). Mr J. E. Jones: A seat should be provided at every stop. That depended on the fre<quency of the tram service, it was stated. Maori Mythology “I don’t see why we should not keep tag on our own mythology; when we were at school we had to learn all about Greek and Roman mythology,” said Sir Peter Buck to the Christchurch Businessmen’s Club yesterday, after he had told the story of Kupe’s discovery of New Zealand about 900. Kupe set out from an island in Polynesia to catch an octopus that had been killing fish, Sir Peter Buck said, and the long chase ended in Cook Strait, where Kupe killed the octopus. He returned to Polynesia and told the people there about the new land to the south. Lost Shoes A boy pupil of a Christchurch primary school decided to improve the school picnic at Little River during the week-end by raiding a farmer’s orchard. So that he might more easily climb the fruit trees he removed his shoes and socks, leaving them at the bottom of a tree. When he descended he found that his shoes and socks had gone. The owner of the orchard, he said afterwards, gave him no help in recovering them. At train time he was reluctant to enter his carriage, telling the headmaster that he would be in trouble if he returned without his shoes. The headmaster took up a collection so that the boy would be able to buy a new pair of shoes and socks and more than £6 was collected before the train left. The surplus is to go to the school’s funds.