General News

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26026, 1 February 1950, Page 4

General News

Centennial Cricket As a centennial effort the Canterbury Cricket Association had at one time thought of holding a big representative match with leading New Zealand players taking part, but it was now felt that an old-time cricket match should be held on the afternoon of December 16, said Mr E. R. Caygill, reporting for a special sub-committee to the management committee of the association last evening. Played in costume with equipment and under rules of English cricket 100 years ago, it was felt that the match would be an event consistent with the spirit of the centennial celebrations. A hundred years ago over-arm bowling was not known. The proposal was adopted, and Mr E. M. Hay commented: “the teams should be selected early so that they may start growing beards.” Mr Nash and U.N. The former Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) last evening denied a suggestion in a weekly newspaper that he might accept a position with the United Nations. He said that the report was probably based on an offer made to him some considerable time ago.—(P.A.) Petrol Coupons Petrol coupons 22, 23, and 24 would be available at face value for February, March, and April inclusive, said the Minister of Supply (Mr C. M. Bowden) yesterday. In addition, any unused December coupons, numbers 16, 17, and 18 at double face value would be available during February, and any unused January coupons, numbers, 19, 20, and 21, would be available at face value during February and March. Sea Lion Stranded at WaimaiH A large sea lion, which showed signs of having been in a fight, was stranded on the beach at Waimairi last evening. The animal had a long scar across its neck, and appeared to be of some age. It was quite nealthy, and snapped and hissed at anyone who approached. Crew of Women for Yacht Auckland again has an all-women crew racing a yacht regularly against men. This crew sails the C class Wanderlust, and its skipper, Mrs Heather Parkinson, is a joint-owner of the vessel. Mrs Parkinson is assisted by Mrs Trevor Leach, Miss Valerie Morton, and Miss Ida Lees. At present, Mrs Parkinson’s son is helping with some of the heavier work on board, but it is planned to make the crew self-suf-ficient as soon as possible. “We haven’t quite worked out this spinnaker business,” Mrs Parkinson said. “You have to have a bit of muscle to set it. It is the only thing that is hindering us.” The Wanderlust competed in the regatta at Auckland on Monday, and did moderately well. “We are improving, and took great pleasure in passing boats that up to now have passed us,” said her skipper. Radio for Harbour Rescues Two high-powered radio transmitting and receiving sets will shortly be in use by the Muritai Yacht Club, Wellington, for directing harbour rescue work. The sets will be used to communicate between the shore and the club’s rescue launch Karuna. The shore unit will be installed in the clubhouse, but will also be operated by a remote control unit on the Eastbourne wharf from where all races. are started. The two sets will be under the charge of the club commodore, Mr R. Stagg, a former Navy radio operator. They are former Army equipment. Rat’s Head in Loaf of Bread The head of a rat was found in a loaf of bread by a Blaketown housewife when she broke the loaf to prepare for supper on Monday evening. The woman is a sister-in-law of the Blaketown housewife who found a cigarette butt embedded in a loaf of bread some months ago. She has a family of three young children.— (F.0.0.R.) Benefits for Athletes Pharmaceutical benefits under the Social Security Act will be made available as a special concession to athletes and members of overseas teams taking part in the British Empire Games in Auckland. This decision of the Government was announced lasT evening by the Minister of Health (Mr J. T. Watts). Pharmaceutical benefits are not normally available to visitors who do not intend to remain in the Dominion.— (P.A.) N.Z. Export Trade The department was making inquiries. but nothing tangible had yet emerged, said the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr C. M. Bowden) in an interview yesterday, when he was asked what were the prospects of marketing New Zealand manufactured products in hard-currency countries. The former Minister (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) wrote to the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation last year, seeking the co-operation of manufacturers in ascertaining what types of goods might offer opportunities for increased trade. The department is making investigations in all hard-currency countries, including dollar countries. Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, and Japan.

Stockton Mine Dispute

The Stockton State mine Was idle again yesterday. This was the sixth working day lost at the mine since the dispute about the employment of the number of men on the coal face. A meeting of the Miners’ Union is to be held to-morrow at Hector in connexion with the dispute, which began on January 23. Shipping in the port of Westport has been restricted since the mine has been idle, and some colliers have been diverted to Greymouth to load. More than 8200 tons of coal production has been lost at the mine. Other mines in the district have not so far been affected.

Lovelock Memorial Stamps The Hokitika Progress League, on the motion of Mr H. C. Peart, is to approach the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. A. Bodkin) with the suggestion that the time is opportune for the striking of one or more memorial stamps in honour of Dr. J. E. Lovelock. It was considered that the holding of the Canterbury Centennial Games could with advantage be incorporated in some way.— (F.0.0.R.)

Fowl-Plucking Record Claimed Mr T. Woodbury, of Gisborne, claims the record for plucking fowls. With three witnesses checking his time and work, Mr Woodbury killed, scalded, plucked, and dressed a fowl in lmin lOsec. Mr Woodbury said that if his time was disputed he would do it again at any time and before any witnesses.

Scientific Research Facilities

To give greater facilities for research work at the industrial development division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Canterbury University College, extensiofis are being made to the present wooden building housing the office. A design room and a laboratory are being added, and should be finished in about a month. The present design staff is housed in two radar trucks parked in the college grounds. Dry Season in Waikato

Because of exceptionally dry weather in the Waikato, where 40 per cent, of New Zealand’s butterfat is produced, the New Zealand output is not maintaining its earlier phenomenal rate of increase over last season’s figures. For the first five months of the season, up to the end of December, production of butterfat was about 11 per cent, higher than the 1948-49 figure. The rate of increase has now fallen sharply. Taranaki the other large butterfat district has had better weather.

Rescue of Injured Deerculler

It is unlikely that the rescue party carrying Cornelius Malone, a Government deerculler, who cut a foot with an axe in - rugged bush country near Karamea last Friday, will reach Karamea before to-day. The rat- of travelling is restricted to about 600 yards an hour. Mr Malone, who comes from the North Island, was about 12 miles from the main road when hurt. His companion, Mr Vernon Stout, made a trip out for a rescue party to take the injured man out by stretcher.

Unusual Bus Accident

Two passengers in a bus unexpectedly were cut by flying glass near the Ashley Bridge last week when a macrocarpa branch struck the side of the bus. The passengers were delayed for an hour until another bus came to replace the damaged one. A doctor came from Amberley to attend to the injured and at the same time a farmer arrived to lop off the offending branch.