General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27074, 24 June 1953, Page 8

General News

Dream Saves Man’s Life A dream saved a man from death in an accident which took the lives of two of his workmates at Texas City yesterday. The three men were about to be hauled to the top of a 175 ft water tower which they were going to paint when one, Jimmy Key, aged 38, shouted to be let out of the “basket.” It was only five feet off the ground and he jumped out. Mr Key said: “I had a premonition of death. I had a dream last night and I’ve been scared all day.” He began to climb the ladder up the tall tower, but the foreman told him to stay and help the ground party. The two other painters were hauled aloft in the basket. It was within inches of the top when the rope broke and the men were dashed to death.—New York, June 23. Scrapie in Sheep The United Breed Societies’ Association expressed concern at its annual meeting at Wellingtqn yesterday at the dangers of a recurrence of scrapie disease in sheep in New Zealand. The association urged that the present virtual embargo on the import of sheep from Britain be continued for another year, arid that more information be sought about the disease. Scrapie is a virus disease leading to paralysis and death of affected sheep. The first outbreak in New Zealand was reported last year in Canterbury. Some 225 sheep were slaughtered as a result. It was traced to sheep imported from England and released from quarantine in New Zealand early in 1950. The disease has an incubation period of up to three years or even longer.— (P.A.) Tribute to Mr M. E. Lyons The congratulations of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand were extended at the annual conference in Wellington yesterday, to Mr M. E. Lyons, of Christchurch, a member of the council of the society, on his inclusion in the Coronation Honours List. Moving the motion, Mr A. L. Adamson, of Invercargill, paid tribute to Mr Lyons’s work for the society, and also mentioned that Mr Lyons had recently been to Masterton to visit his mother, who had celebrated her one hundredth birthday. “I think we should also send our congratulations to her through Mr Lyons,” said Mr Adamson. Mr Lyons, in thanking delegates for their congratulations, told them that, if he was able to emulate his mother’s example, “I will be here to plague you for many years yet.”—(F.O.O.R.) Breakwater for Lyall Bay

An early start will be made on the first major work in the Rongotai airport project—the construction of a breakwater to protect land reclaimed at Lyall Bay. The Cabinet yesterday accepted the tender of the Wilkins and Davies Construction Company, Ltd., for the work. The company is confi-' dent the work will be completed within the contract period of two years. No details of the price have been announced. Special cranes able to handle 20-ton loads at a radius of 60 feet will be imported. The firm will employ 80 men, using the most modern plant available.—(P.A.) Useful Practical Joke A practical joker who draped one of Otahuhu’s Coronation flags round the big bronze statue of a New Zealand soldier on horseback at the corner of Mangere and Great South roads unwittingly performed a public service- When the flag, was being recovered it was found that the statue was in need of repair, the borough overseer. Mr J. A. Clark, told the Otahuhu Borough Council. Several holes had developed in the body of the horse, the soldier’s water-bottle had fallen off, and the whole statue showed movement. Communists’ Street Meetings An application by the Otahuhu branch of the Communist Party for permission to hold a public street meeting on one Friday each month was declined by the Otahuhu Borough Council by four votes to two. The Mayor, Mr J. M. Deas, and Mr A. Kirkland favoured granting the application. Mr Deas said that under democracy the highways had always been a forum for any political party, and he warned the council that it would be establishing a precedent by declining the application. Mr Kirkland said everybody was entitled to free speech, apd it was better to have the Communists in the open so that everybody knew what they were doing.—(P.S.S.)

Royal Show Schedule Alterations to the schedule for the next Royal Agricultural Show, which have been necessitated by the choice of dates later than usual in the season, were discussed yesterday in Wellington at the annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand. The show will be held in Invercargill on January 27, 28, and 29, 1954. to coincide with the Queen’s visit. Mr M. E. Lyons said the show would have “tremendous advertising value overseas,” and urged the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association to include some classes for fullwoolled sheep, which, he said, would look better than shorn sheep. It was agreed to consider this suggestion when the schedule was prepared.—(F.O.O.R.) Veterinary College for N.Z. That a veterinary college for New Zealand was essential was agreed, said the president of the Royal Agricultural Society (Mr J. S. Marshall) at its annual meeting yesterday. Its location would be widely debated throughout the country soon. “New Zealand is now, I think, the only important primary producing country without such a school,” he said. A committee had been set up to investigate and report, but though the society was vitally interested in the proposal it had not been invited to appoint a representative, Mr Marshall said. He thought the college should be established near either a medical school or an agricultural college.—(P.A.)