General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 10

General News

"The Silent Change” A strange little ceremony in which the new Lord Mayor of Ixmdon (Sir Noel Vansittart Bowater) and the retiring Lord Mayor (Sir Rupert de la Bere) were the principal participants took place at the Guildhall during the week-end. Known as “the silent change,” it was the occasion for the handing over of .the insignia by Sir Rupert de la Bere to his successor. The two men sat together at a table. One by one the sceptre, sword, and the mace were brought to the table by city officials and placed before the retiring Lord Mayor. Then the officials returned to receive them from the hands of the new Lord Mayor. Not a word was spoken.—London, November 9. 60 Bottles a Second Filled and capped bottles of milk are produced in New Zealand at the rate of 60 a second every day, every year. According to the latest issue of “Town Milk,” official organ of the Central Milk Council, the country’s total milk bottling capacity exceeds 200,000 bottles an hour. Overseas Lottery Five of the 10 major prizes, including the first of £lO,OOO, came to Zealand in the latest-drawn Tasmanian lottery. “Take it from Here,” Wellington, won the first prize of £10,000; “All of Us, 36,” Dunedin, the second prize of £2000; “Blimey,” Christchurch, the fifth of £750; "Sandy,” Wellington, the sixth of £5OO, and “Lucky Friday, 144,” Island Bay, Wellington, the eighth prize of £250. — (F.0.0.R.) Tastes in Food “People don’t want fish and chips any more,” said the proprietor of a fish-and-chip shop, in evidence before a Lambeth Court. “What do they eat. then?" asked the Magistrate. The proprietor replied: “Meat. I am selling out and going back ,to butchering."— London, November 9. CORSO Shipment The Enton, which sailed from Wellington on Friday, carried CORSO clothing to the value of £7495 for distribution by relief organisations overseas. Ten bales, worth £3900, are feoing to the World Council of Churches for distribution in Europe, three bales, worth £1460, to the Women’s Voluntary Service in London for local relief, and seven bales, worth £2135, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for distribution in Lebanon and Palestine.—(PA.) Milk Board Representatives Messrs J. W. Green and W. P. Warner will continue to hold office on the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board until their successors are appointed. Mr Warner lost his seat on the City Council at the recent local body elections, and Mr Green did not contest the Waimairi County Council elections. Housing Conference A conference in Christchurch has been convened by the Minister of Housing (Mr W. Sullivan) for the afternoon of November 23. The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) was advised yesterday of the conference, which will be attended by local bodies and organisations connected with building. He has been asked to preside. Handbag Stolen at Races

A woman had her handbag stolen while she was at the New Zealand Cun race meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. It contained between £5 and £6 as well as personal articles. Patriotic Fund Spending

The Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council last night declined to spend money raised during the Second World* War on the welfare of First World War veterans. This decision was reached after consideration of a request from the New Zealand Patriotic Fund' Board that provincial councils should assume responsibility for men of the First World War. Colonel T. H. Dawson said that although the council was not spending its income at present, the time was coming when Second World War men would require help. The council’s funds (about £250,000) should be kept intact in the meantime. —(P.A.) Indian Prince’s Visit

Listed on yesterday’s passenger list for the inbound British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines airliner was “Mr S. Sinhji." A tall, quiet young man, who kept a close eye on a young son and chatted quietly with his wife as he went through the customs inspection, “Mr Sinhji" was actually Prince Shivraj Sinhji, of the tiny Indian State of Gondal. Gondal, near Bombay, has a total population of only 244,514. Since India became a republic Prince Shivraj has been just another one of the citizens, he said. The administration of the little State was now out of his hands, and he had not made the transition from ruler to politician as had many of the other Indian royalty. The Prince said he was not making his present world tour to look into commercial or agricultural affairs in other countries. It was purely a Sightseeing trip. The Prince and his family and staff will week in the North Island before flying to Sydney on the final stage of the trip home. *-(P.A.) '

Analysis of N.Z. Soils An ambitious programme of soil analysis has been started by New Zealand scientists. It is designed to show what elements exist in a wide range of New Zealand soils, and what are present in a form available to plants. Besides being important to agriculture the survey is expected to prove valuable in extending knowledge of the relationship between the soil and human health. The Soil Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research is carrying out the project. The soil is being analysed indirectly through an examination of plants. Some 600 samples of a common pasture grass, sweet vernal, have been collected in topdressed and untopdressed pastures from Northland to Southland. These are. being subjected to spectograpbic analysis, the most modern rapid method of analysis known to science.—(PA.) • House for Sale at £27,500 As its headquarters in Auckland, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron proposes to buy a two-storey brick house for £27,500. The house belongs to John Burns and Company, Ltd., and is at the corner of Anzac avenue and Parliament street, in the city. It contains 5724 square feet of floor space and has a magnificent view of the harbour. The squadron plans to add a dining, room and an assembly hall, totalling 2300 square feet. Members of the squadron have been invited to fnance the project.