General News

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26273, 18 November 1950, Page 6

General News

Shrubs Taken From Building Shrubs have disappeared from the window boxes in the window ledges of the Government building during the last few nights. The thefts were noticed yesterday morning and reported to the police. Several window boxes filled with attractive shrubs were placed in the window ledges ot the Government budding in both the Worcester street and Cathedral square frontages at ttie beginning of the month as part of the centennial decorations, pie ledges are too high to be reached by hand, and a stepladder or boxes must have been used. As the building is. floodlit until 2 o’clock every morning it appears that the thefts took place after feat time.

„ A,r Cadetshtps The New Zealand Government has approved of four youths being selected for the Royal New Zealand Air Force for cadetships overseas, two to the „ R °y al , Air Foree College at Cranwell, England, and two to the Royal Australian Air Force College, Point Cook, Australia, for training and subsequent appointment to permanent commissions in the General Duties laying) branch of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Announcing this yesterday the Minister ot Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald) said the Cranwell entrants would be additional to the three cadetships u> der a present scheme for permanent comm ssions in the Royal Air Force. Mr Macdonald announced details of the cadetships, applications for which should reach the Air Department, Wellington, by the end of this month.—(P.A.)

Spontaneous Donation Before the ceremony a woman had approached him and asked him why he was looking so woebegone, said Father C. Outturn, S.M.. priest of St. Mary’s Parish, at the function which marked the blessing of the foundation stone of the Mary Potter Hospice by Cardinal Gilroy yesterday. When Father Outtrim told the woman of his task—to appeal for funds for the new building—she said: “What have you to worry about?” and gave him a cheque for £ 100.

Rigging »f the Charlotte Jane Work is proceeding at Lyttelton on the conversion of the hulk Darra into a representation of the Charlotte Jane, the first to arrive of the First Four Ships. The vessel will be used in the re-enactment ceremony at Lyttelton on December 16. Already the three masts have been stepped and topmasts and yards rigged. The plan followed is that of sailing ships of the day, that is, single topsails and topgallant sails. In the later day of sailing ships, double topsails and topgallants were introduced, to save manpower in the handling of them. The decking of the Charlotte Jane and the renovation and Minting of the hull will be started soon. Loading of Barley Resumed The loading of barley into the Walwera was resumed at Lytteltoh yesterday. Loading has been held up tor two day* because of the refusal of the waterside workers concerned to handle the barley, which they alleged was infested with weevils, unless they were paid an extra 2s 6d an hour instead of the fid an hour they were offered. Dead Fish in Avon During the last few days the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has been informed by several persons of the findink of dead fish in the lower reaches ot the Avon river. The secretary of the society (Mr H. R. Bennington) said yesterday that two specimens had been received by fee society and had been sent to a fisheries biologist for examination. A New Brighton resident said yesterday that he saw nine dead trout in the river at the Brighton bridge. Since the pumping df sewage into the Avon at Madras street and Fitzgerald avenue beSan, ducks are reported to have left le iower reaches ot the river.

More Hygienic Drinking For those drinkers in hotels who become members of large ‘‘schools’’ and are particular about hygiene there u a novelty available in Christchurch, shops. It is a plastic clip, which fits on the side of a glass. Twelve different coloured clips are being sold in sets, and men in hotels have been seen to distribute several clips among their friends so that after the barman has refilled his glasses each drinker is sure ot getiing his own glass back, provided he can remember the colour of his clip. The Fishing Rivers „ A “°J din <t to advice received by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, the condition of the fishing nvers at noon yesterday was:—Ashley, Selwyn, Upper and Lower Waiau, clear smd fishable; Hurunui, clear and flshable, with north-west conditions prevailing; Halswell, fishable apart from some surface weed movement and slight discolouration; Waimakariri, fisnab.e but becoming milky; Lower Rakaia, unfishable; Upper Rakaia. river clear and fishable.