General News

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26671, 4 March 1952, Page 6

General News

£lOOB Gift for Kindergarten A gift of £lOOO has been made by Sir John McKenzie the funds for a new kindergarten to be built by the Rlccarton free Kindergarten Association. in announcing this at the annual meeting of the association last evening the honorary treasurer (Mrs R. Pitie) said that the association would now be able to go ahead With the building. Generous assistance had also been received from businessmen in the district, she added. A vote of thanks to Sir John McKenzie was cat* ried With acclamation. The associtt‘ tion began to plan for its new kindergarten four years ago and has acquired a section in Rattray street. It has been using the St. Ninian’s Church schoolroom as a kindergarten. Notifiable Diseases One case of poliomyelitis in the Christchurch district is reported in the Health Department’s weekly return of notifiable diseases. Three new cases of tuberculosis in the Christchurch district and three in the Grey mouth district were also notified. There were two dajses of scarlet fever in the Christchiireh district. ' Bridge Breaks Under Lorry The middle section of a bridge over the Waiharakehe stream, oh the Okaihau Station road, fifty of Islands County, collapsed early yesterday afternoon while a large articulated truck carrying a seven-ton load was crossing it. The back of the 30ft tray rested on the creek bed, ‘and the cab remained at a precarious angle on the bridge above. The driver was not hurt. The load, comprising six tons of sugar and a ton of general goods, including furniture, cases of spirits, and groceries, was tipped into the creek. Much of the furniture and I agile goods was sinus.u'd. —(I'.S.S.) * Education in N.Z. Dr. V. L. Streeter, a visiting United States Fulbright scholar, and his wife, Mrs Evelyn Streeter, are not worried about having to sehd their two Children, aged 114 and eight, to a New Zealand school during their stay this year. “Our schools are inclined to teach a little bit about a great deal,” Dr. Streeter said. ‘We hope they might learn a great deal about a little bit here. We want them to be taught the three R‘s rather than such things as how they make wine in France.” When told that there had been changes in the education System in New Zealand, Dr. Streeter said": “Yes, but I don’t think vou have gone as far as we have —I nope you never will.” Coal Waggons Derailed Three empty Coal waggons were derailed by a shunting abluent dn me Greymouth wharf yesterday morning. Two of the waggons were standing near a switching point when a third came over the points and all were thrown from the lines. Two of the trucks were damaged but not extensively. The trucks were restored in the rails in about an hour. The railway track was not damaged.— (F.0.0.R.) No Official Invitations No official invitations to the open day at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station Wigram would be is-* sued, said the station commander '(Group Captain B. S. Nichok) yesterday, The service was still in Court mourning, and, the usual invitations to local bodies would not be sent for that reason, he Said. Inspection of Works Projects which the Government caucus committee on works will inspect during its visit to Christchurch on March 20 add March 21 include the tunnel road, the Christchurch railway station, the proposed SockburnBtyx railway, Lyttelton harbour works, highway outlets, and Waimakariri river works. The committee will arrive in Christchurch and leave for Timaru on March 15. and on the way will inspect irrigation works in MiaCanterbury, the Orari river works, the Levels irrigation scheme, and the Adair experimental farm at Timarit. During its southern visit the committee Will also inspect the hydro-elec-tric Works at Lakes Pukaki and Tek3po. and at Roxburgh, and the hydro-electrib power station on the Waitaki river. The members of the committee are Messrs R. G. Gerard (chairman). D. C. Kidd, J. N. Massey, J. K. McAlpine, G. R. Herron, D. J. Eyre, and A. J. Murdoch.

Manuka Honey English manufacturers have reported -favourably oh manuka hohey from New Zealand, experimehial shipments of which WferO sent to the United Kingdom last year. The hohey section of the Marketing Department reports in the latest issue of the “New Zealand Beekeeper.” official brgan of the National Beekeepers’ Association, that up to 1000 tons of manuka hbhey have been suggested by its London representative as being not an unlikely quantity that could be absorbed this season. This outlet for manuka honey could be the beginning of a steady trade ih this particular class of honey. According to the Honey Marketing Committee a Wotth-while trade In the export of manuka hohey n\ay yet be established. Its agents, however, consider that they could dispose of at least 500 tons this year at a price Which would, now. net New Zealand producers hot less thah 7d a pound. Prisons Board Visit Members of the Prisons Board, who are making their annual visit to Christchurch, arrived frbrti Wellington yesterday. The board Will spend one day at the Paparua Prison, and later visit the Borstal institution at Invercargill. Mr Justice Finlay is the chairman of the board, and the other members are Sir Donald McGavin, Dr.‘ T. G. Gray. Pfbfessor D. C. Marsh, and Messrs B. L. Dallard ahd C. M. Behnett. Inspection of Live Poultry A plan is being prepared by the Department of Agriculture to provide an inspection service at all main centres with Veterinarians or stock inspectors attending poultry auction marts at regular intervals. Action dan then be taken immediately if birds suffering from contagious disease are being offered for sale. Freight Rates on Fruit From a transport point of view there is no justification for a reduction in railway freight rates for fruit,' according to the general manager of the Railways Department (Mr H. C. Lusty). In a letter to the New Zea-' land Fruitgrowers’ Federation, which had asked for a considerable reduction in rates because the recent increase was Causing a severe diminution in growers’ net returns. Mr Lusty says that thahy year* ago the rates Were reduced to a low figure as a measure of assistance to the fruitgrowing industry. Although this position had been altered to 'titre lit’’e extent by subsequent adjustments, the benefit o'f the reduction made years ago largely remained to-day. India and Air Race

The hope that'there will be at least one Indian entry in the international air race from England to Christchurch next year is expressed bv the Indiah aviation journal. “Indian Skyways.” in a full-page article on the air race, which appears in the January issue. The journal says that the longest route of 10,605 miles for the race, which more nearly follows the England to New Zealand regular flying routes, has distinct interest to" India. Competitors who select this route are almost certain to make one landing for fuel on Indian soil. It Is hoped India will be afforded the opportunity of offering service and hospitality to at least some Of the competitors. The journal also suggests that the passing of the race might be made the occasion for holding a first-class aviation meeting in India. Juror' Fined A grand juror, who was fined £5 for non-appearance in the Supreme Court at Greymouth yesterday morning. had his fine reduced by £3 when he appeared at the Court in the afternoon to express his apologies for his absence. He told Mr Justice Northcroft that he had done a great deal of jury work blit this was the first time he had failed to attend when called upon. He explained that his wife was awav and that he had overlooked the matter and had gone to work as usual ‘This man has come along to exnress his contrition 2nd his fine will bo reduced to £2,” said His Honour. "It canhot be completely remitted, but ‘hat will help his memory.”— (F.0.0.R.)