General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27191, 7 November 1953, Page 6

General News

Expert Handbag Thief A thief, apparently an expert in opening handbags carried on the arms of their owners and stealing purses from them, is operating in large shops in Christchurch. Three thefts were reported yesterday. A woman, who is certain that her handbag was never off her arm, had £22 stolen from it. Another woman, whose handbag has a zip fastener, also had a purse of money stolen.

Underwater Statue What is described as the first underwater statue in the world is to be erected on the seabed of the little bay of San Fruttuoso, a few miles west of Portofino, on the Ligurian coast, says the Rome correspondent of “The Times.” It will be a statue of Christ intended to protect all whose work or recreation takes them beneath the sea —submarine crews, divers, and underwater fishermen. The statue, in bronze, will be eight feet high and will weigh eight hundredweight, or 20 tons with its concrete base. It is to be designed by a Genoese sculptor and cast in Milan. It will be set at a depth of 45 feet so it will not hamper fishing boats which use the bay, the clear water of which will allow it to be visible.—London, November 6. Telegrams to Pitcairn Island

Pitcairn Island, one of the loneliest and most isolated islands in the Pacific, now has telegraphic communication with New Zealand. Telegrams can be sent to the islanders from Christchurch for 9d a word, according to advice received from the Chief Postmaster (Mr H. R. Pool). Pitcairn Island has a postmaster and mail is received when ships call occasionally on the Panama Canal route between England and New Zealand. There has been a transmitting and receiving radio station on the island since 1938. Moving of Radio Mast

The old 3ZB radio mast which was dismantled at New Brighton recently, completed a short stage of its journey to Burnham Military Camp yesterday afternoon. It was taken by Army engineers under the command of Major E. W. Boyle along Shaw avenue, Hawke street, and across the bridge at Brighton to the corner of Pages road and Bexley road. It was left for the night on a vacant grass patch at the side of the road. It will continue its journey at 5 o’clock this morning along Pages road, Buckleys road, Linwood avenue, Cashel street, Olliviers road, Tuam street, Hagley avenue, Riccarton road, and the Main South road. It 4 s hoped that the mast will reach Burnham by 10 a.m.

Cricket Test Commentaries Perturbed by the lack of any direct ball-by-ball commentaries on the five tests which the New Zealand cricket team will play in South Africa, the Taranaki Cricket Association has decided to ask its resident delegate on the New Zealand Cricket Council in Christchurch for a full report on any negotiations between the council and the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. This was announced yesterday by the chairman of the emergency committee of the association (Mr R. T. Harris).—(PA.)

The Fishing Rivers A joint report on the condition of the Canterbury fishing rivers at 4 p.m. yesterday issued by the Canterbury Anglers’ Club and the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society says that the Waiau. Lower Rakaia, Rangitata, Ashburton, and Selwyn were clear and fishable. The Clarence, Hurunui, and Waimakariri were discoloured, and the Halswell was clear and fishable except for further loose weed cut by the Catchment Board early last week. The Ashley was very discoloured, and the Upper Rakaia was clear after being discoloured. Lake Ellesmere is still open to the sea and the lake has dropped some three feet since being opened. The weed cutter was working in the Halswell river above the canal and up to Tai Tapu early last week. Some grass is still floating. A special anglers’ forecast is: scattered cloud today, but fair weather with mild northerlies to north-easters. Increasing northerlies on Sunday with skies ctfoudy to overcast. In the back country it should be clear with a little wind until Sunday morning when clouds will increase with northerly winds. The weather at Coleridge and Highbank was fine with some cloud and a light southerly wind.