General News

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 6

General News

** TdevMen to Medicine The possibilities of one of the most important uses of television, the practical instruction of medical students in surgery, has been demonstrated at the New Zealand Broadcasting Service studios before 40 doctors. It is hoped that the equipment will be taken later to Dunedin for a possible demonstration of the televising of an actual operation at the University Medical School. “The possibilities are terrific,” said the chairman of the Wellington branch of the British Medical Association. “It will revolutionise the whole system of the practical demonstration of surgery, as it is possible to crowd at most about a dozen students around an operation table.” With television operations could be watched by hundreds.—(P.A.) Best Documentary Fi'ro The British Film Academy has chosen *The Undefeated,” a production by the films division of the Central Office of Information, as the best documentary film of 1950. The film, which was made for the Ministry of Pensions, describes how a young British Sider pilot, who lost both legs, and e power of speech during the war, was assisted to take up his life again as a useful member of the community. “The Undefeated” was one of the films chosen at the International Documentary Film Festival held at Christchurch last October. Quick Scoring One of the best exhibitions of hard hitting in senior cricket in Ashburton this season was given by C. Robertson. playing foi* Fairfield against Star on Saturday. Robertson in one hour scored 127 not out off 39 balls. This score included 11 sixes and nine fours. This is his third century this season. Institute for the Blind

The New Zealand Institute for the Blind had made amazing progress since his last visit 14 years ago, said Dr. J. Bruce Hamilton, a board member of the Tasmanian Institute for the Blind, before he left by air for Australia yesterday morning. Dr. Hamilton, who visited the New Zealand Institute headquarters at Parnell and the Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin branches, was greatly impressed by the New Zealand institute’s hostels for the adult and aged blind. He will recommend the Tasmanian institute to provide similar hostels. Among other New Zealand schemes he took back notes on the Sunrise Home for blind infants, its busy workshops, occupational therapy, the primary school, and the employment of the blind as institute officers.—(PA.)

State House Allocations Up to the end of December former servicemen had received tenancies of 13,788 State rental houses and fiats under the arrangement by which at least half those allocated go to former servicemen applicants. Allocations are made on the basis of urgency by rehabilitation housing committees in each centre. During December the number of State houses allocated to former servicemen was 229. In Canterbury 1578 houses had been allocated to former servicemen, the December allocation being 14. In the Nelson-Marl-borough-West Coast area the allocation was 413, the December allocation being eight Ketch Reaches Lyttelton After a smart trip of just under 24 hours from Wellington, the ketch Rakoa arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning. Aboard were Messrs E. A. Tomkies (skipper), E. A. Owles and E. F. Rothwell, who will attend the Rotary conference at Christchurch this week, and Mr W. H. Leighton. The Rakoa left Wellington at 4 pjn. on Friday, but heavy seas off Pencarrow head caused those on board to put back into Wellington harbour. The ketch anchored in Scorching Bay for the night Radio messages were sent to relatives notifying them of the postponement of the departure. Leaving again at 9 a.m. on Saturday the Rakoa made good time under sail and power until half way bitween Cape Campbell and Kaikoura. The following wind thendropped and a light head wind set in. The ketch then sailed under power only to Lyttelton. The Rakoa has called at Lyttelton previously. She will remain at Lyttelton for about a week and may call at Akaroa before returning to Wellington. New flight Australia, New Zealand, and North America have been introduced by British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Ltd. These are the fastest services ever flown by any commercial air carrier across the Pacific. Passengers boarding at Sydney at 11 am. will now arrive in San Francisco at 7 a.m. the following day (one dav is saved crossing the international date line). From Auckland, passengers ooarding at 3 oclock in the afternoon will also arrive in San Francisco at the same hour. On the return journey an hour has been clipped from the previous schedules. The aircraft leave San Francisco at 2 p.m. on Mondays' and Thursdays, and arrive in Sydney at 7.05 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays (losing one day crossing the international date Jtoe)- Jne aircraft arrive in Auckland at 6.25 p.m. on Sundays.