General News

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26515, 1 September 1951, Page 6

General News

Permission Refused Permirsion to close part of the Mount P.easant road tor acceleration tests by the Canterbury Car Club on Sep ember 22 was refused by the Heathcote County Council last evening. The council received a letter iron) the club asking for the road to be closed between 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Mr F. Carpenter (Mount Pleasant! Said he was strongly opposed to granting permission for the road to be closed. It had only been recently metalled, and it was in very good order. There were soft spots in the road where the water was coming through, and which even a light car could tear up. Also there were sheep and lambs each side of the road, and the results of cars speeding up the road everv two minutes could be detrimental. “I do not think that they should be allowed.” he said. “They should get some other lonely road.” Cancer Campaign Society

“It is now 21 years since the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society was inugurated during a visit to New Zealand of Mr W. Sampson Handley,” said Mr L. A. Bennett, chairman of the Canterbury, Westland, Nelson, and Marlborough division of the branch, at the annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday. “It is not unfitting therefore to record the benefits which have accrued to New Zealand as a result, nor to recall that the Canterbury Division has played an important part in making these benefits possible.” Picton Express Late

The Picton express arrived in Christchurch at 8.3 p.m. yesterday—one hour and 56 minutes late. The Railways Department said last evening that the delay was due to heavy passenger traffic and speed restrictions between Parnassus and Kaikoura on account of line repairs. The express from Invercargill. which reached Christchurch at 7.56 p.m.. was half an hour behind schedule. Temperance Hotel

In Australia it has been proved that good hotel accommodation can be provided without liquor trade, according to Sir John McKenzie, who has just returned from a three months’ visit to Australia. In Toowoomba, in Queensland, a citv of about 40,000 people with about 48 licensed hotels, the best accommodation was provided by the Hotel. Canberra, which was conducted by a temperance society, said Sir John McKenzie. The same society, he said, conducted another very successful hotel in Brisbane. Research Laboratory

Negotiations with the Department of Health concerning the Dominion Xray and radium laboratory had been concluded, said the chairman of the Canterbury, Westland. Nelson. Marlborough division of the New Zealand Branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society (Mr L. A. Bennett) at the annual meeting of the division in Christchurch yesterday. From last Mav the purely technical work long carried on by the society was now the responsibility of the Health Department. and the society was now free to encourage pure research into problems of cancer along the lines of radio-biology and radio-chemistry, he said. Record Coal Tonnage A record coal tonnage for the new K type colliers was taken by the Kawatiri on her maiden trip from Greymouth to Napier and Gisborne this week. The vessel loaded 3004 tons of coal. This is the first occasion on which the 3000 ton mark has been passed by this class of vessel. Other Union Company colliers have rarely loaded more than 3000 tons because of their greater draughts. There have been few occasions on which vessels have loaded over 2900 tons. The Kawatiri cotild have taken another 50 tons of coal had it been available. The Omana has taken the record coal cargo of 3456 tons from the port.—(F.O.O.R.) Zoo in Christchurch The creation of a zoo and aviary at the camping ground at 307 Pages road by Mr H. S. Papps was approved by the Heathcote County Council last evening. The county clerk (Mr A. E. Amyes) said the zoo would Include monkeys, j-ed deer, wallabies, a honey bear, and rabbits. It would be a children’s zoo. Mr R. A. Young said the zoo would be an asset to the city. Council members had no objection to the proposal provided it complied with the requirements of the Departmental of Internal Affairs and Health Department regulations. Hauturu Stranded and Refloated

The Hauturu. the Northern Shipping Company’s 30040 n coaster, grounded late on Wednesday night on a spit off. Long Island, Queen Charlotte Sound. She was hauled off about 5 p.m. yesterday without sustaining damage, and continued her voyage to Onehunga. The Hauturu (Captain Bartlett) sailed from Picton at 8 p.m on Wednesday with produce for Onehunga. She stranded about 10 p.m. on a spit running out from Long Island, which is about 18 miles from Picton, near the main entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound. The master radioed the ship’s owners at Auckland, and they arranged for the whaling mother ship Tuatea to put to sea. Captain T. S. Eckford took command of the Tuatea and hauled the Hauturu off a muddy bottom after half an hour’s pulling.—(P.A.) Maori Girl In London

A young Maori girl who travelled to England for the opening of the Festival of Britain. Patricia Davis, of Te Kuiti, aroused unusual interest among Londoners when she appeared wearing traditional Maori dress. During her six months' visit to the capital Patricia, who is eight years old, was taken on sightseeing trips and had her portrait painted by a Chelsea artist. Mr Herbert Holt. She was also photographed beside a statue recently erected in the suburb. She was wearing a piu-piu and a kiwi feather cloak, which was reputed to be 100 years old.

Flew Vampire Jet

Group Captain M. F. Calder, C.8.E., commanding officer at Whenuapai, has proved’’ to himself that it is not difficult for a' pilot experienced in pro-peller-driven aircraft to be converted to a jet. After a short briefing from Mr Brian Walker, test pilot for the de Havilland Aircraft Company in Australia, he flew one of tne new Vampire fighters. “It is a splendid little aircraft,’’ Group Captain Calder said afterwards. “It can be handled with ease on the ground and when taking off or landing. In the air it flies smoothly and is exceptionally manoeuvrable.”