General News

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26491, 4 August 1951, Page 6

General News

King Farouk Breaks the Bank King Farouk, of Egypt, to-day broke the Monte Carlo Casino’s bank, winning £20,000. The stakes were unlimited. King Farouk recently broke the bank at the San Remo Casino.—Paris, August 2. Sa Leva Ni Qagona “Sa levu ni qagona” (translated freely, “plenty of kava”) should have read “Sa sega ni qagona” (“no kava’’) on the programme at the Fiji Military Forces’ sixth reunion last evening. Since the first reunion was held in 1946, kava, the traditional Fijian ceremonial drink, has been served. Last evening was the first time since 1946 that kava has not been available. Radio To The Rescue A passenger travelling from Wellington to Sydney in the Tasman Empire Airways’ flying-boat yesterday suddenly remembered that she had left the iron switched on in her home after some last-minute pressing. The captain of the aircraft sent a radio message to his Wellington base, where a telephone call was made to a neighbour. Four minutes after the friend had been asked to help, the passenger over the Tasman received Word by radio that the iron had been switched off without damage to her home. “The Pleasure Garden”

“The Pleasure Garden”—the painting by Frances Hodgkins—will be sold to the Auckland Art Gallery if the City Council does not accept the renewed offer of it as a gift for the Robert McDougall Art Gallery from subscribers who bought the work for Christchurch, "The subscribers have definitely decided to accept the offer from Auckland if ’The Pleasure Garden’ is rejected this time by the City Council,” said Mr A. C. Brassington and Mrs Margaret Frankel yesterday. No recommendation has yet been made by the art advisory committee of the City Council— Messrs Archibald F. Nicoll, Richard Waliwork, Colin Lovell-Smith, Russell Clark, and Heathcote Helmore. It is believed that the committee has held a preliminary discussion, but the members will make no comment until they report to the council. The Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) said yesterday that efforts were being made to obtain the painting for further examination bv the committee. The next meeting of the City Council is on Monday week. Suggested Route Through Alps An alternative road route to Canterbury, instead of the proposed Amurl pass road, was suggested at the monthly meeting of the .Grey County Council. The route would follow the Kopara river and cross the Alps through Harper’s Pass, between the Amuri pass and Arthur’s Pass. It was agreed to refer the suggestion to the Ministry of Works. Cr. W. Fisher, who suggested the route, offered to provide a guide and use of a hut and materials if it was proposed to send an engineer to make a preliminary survey. The Harper’s Pass, or Hurunui saddle route to Canterbury is through what was described as “reasonably good reading country.” In distance it comoares favourably with the Arthur’s Pass highway, it was reported.—(F.0.0.R.) Higher Price For Fertiliser The price of fertiliser is to be increased soon. A price order will be issued within the next few days raising the price substantially. The increase is believed to amount to slightly more than 56s a t0n.—(F.0.0.R.) Unplanned Withdrawal Just before the troopship Wahine was due to sail from an anchorage in the stream at Wellington on Thursday, an under-age soldier was brought ashore by launch. The Wahine is carrying K Force reinforcements. An Army headquarters spokesman said yesterday that a last-minute check showed that the soldier was not yet 21.—(P.A.) Maps for Schools An order for wall maps for the Christchurch West High School, orginally advanced in 1937, may be fulfilled this year at a cost of £lOO, a 20 per cent, increase in price having been made recently. The Canterbury University College Council (as former controlling authority) vetoed the purchase in 1937 and since then supply difficulties have continued. The headmaster (Mr C. A. Noble) told the Board of Managers last evening that maps were among the poorest school equipment,. continual patching having preserved the present old range.

Opossum Menace Concern at the increasing number of opossums in the North Canterbury Catchment Board’s district was expressed at a meeting of the board yesterday. The chairman of the Soil Conservation and Reserves Committee (Professor G. Jobberns) said that the problem was showing signs of becoming really serious. Local people should be encouraged to take up the destruction of opossums on the bounty system, Professor Jobberns said. Mr H. H. Petrie suggested that 12 skins Instead of 25 be the minimum for claiming the bounty. Many boys would aim at collecting 12 skins but not 25. he said. Professor L. W. McCaskill said that administrative difficulties made it necessary to have a minimum of 25 skins. Harewood Third Civil Airport With 5556 aircraft in and out during the first quarter of this year, Paraparaumu was by far the busiest airfield in the Dominion. With 1239 freighter movements, it was also the heaviest air cargo point. Local flights and military movements are not included. The next busiest airports, according to figures given In the “Civil Aviation Journal” were Whenuapai, 2702 movements (no freighters), and Harewood, 2565 (186 freighters).—-<P f A.) Moving a Canteen The Christchurch West High School proposes to move its canteen to another part of the grounds. The building is a former shelter shed, of which part is used as a timber store. An estimate for the iob of £2OO was received by the Board of Managers last evening. It is believed that part of the building will have to be dismantled for moving. The headmaster (Mr C. A. Noble) remarked that when the school was established, boy pupils hauled a building on rollers from the St. Andrew’s site.