General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27201, 19 November 1953, Page 10

General News

Ketch Mini Wrecked The ketch Mini, in which Dr. Tom Davis and his wife and family sailed across the Pacific from Wellington to Boston last year, has been smashed to pieces in a storm raging along the New England coast early this month, according to a letter received by Mr F. M. Ongley, of Wellington, from his son, Dr. Pat Ongley. It was one of many yachts and small craft destroyed or badly damaged. Lancaster Park Embankment The concreting of the terraced embankment at Lancaster Park has been two-thirds completed, according to a report by the chairman of the grounds committee (Mr D. A. Colville T to the Victory Park Board, last evening. The work should be completed by Christmas, he said. The seating in front of number 3 stand would soon be repainted and numbered, he said. Fat Content of School Milk The Wellington Education Board has rescinded a motion it passed last month asking the Government not to interfere with the fat content of school milk. After a long debate Mr N. E. Dalmer, who had moved that thd mption be rescinded, said: “Let us admit that none of us knows enough about this matter to pass judgment.” Members? then voted eight to six to rescind their previous resolution. Queen's Colour for N.Z. Navy The new Queen’s Colour of the Royal New Zealand Navy will arrive at Auckland on Saturday in the freighter La Hacienda. A silk White Ensign bearing a gold-cypher, it will be presented by the Queen when she visits H.M.N.Z.s. Philomel on December 24. The present Colour, presented by Lord Galway at the Basin Reserve m 1937, will then hang in the Philomel’s chapel. School Certificate Examinations

Post-primary school pupils relaxed just a little last evening because school certificate examinations had actually started. Mounting anxiety as the day approached had been coupled with renewed vigour in revision; but once the test began it became for many a question of “do or die.” In all there are 33 subjects from which pupils may choose and the tests will continue until December 2. Holidays may not be enjoyed to the full because results are not expected until late in January, a delay which always puzzles candidates. However, the examiners also nave encroachment on their holidays. Thousands of papers are handled, carefullv. marked, and then sent to Wellington •_ for checking, averaging, and determination of successful candidates.

N.Z. Hybrid Buttercup A New Zealand hybrid buttercup has been produced by Mr W. B. Brockie, curator of the Otari Native Plant Museum, Wellington, where the flower is blooming. It is an artificial hybrid buttercup, a cross between the pure white Mount Cook buttercup, Ranunculus lyallii, and deep yellow Mount Ruapehu buttercup, Ranunculus msignis. The hybrid is primrose yellow. Queen Visits Theatre The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh tonight saw Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier in Terence Rattigans new comedy, “The Sleeping Prince,” at a West End theatre. The Queen said at the reception: “I am so delighted to be able to come, as I am afraid it will be my last visit to the theatre before I go away.”—London, November 17. Fire in Tram When a short circuit occurred in the electric motor of a number 2B tram owned by the Christchurch Transport Boara. near the corner of Colombo and Wordsworth streets yesterday, a fire broke out. An attempt by the motorman to extinguish- the fire with sand failed but the outbreak was quickly quelled with a portable extinguisher. The Sydenham station answered a call to the fire at 6.46 p.m. Passengers sat in the tram while the fire was being brought under control. A relief bus took over the running of the service from Somerfield street. The damaged tram was run to a loop to allow two other trams to pass before being driven back to the city under its own power. Rehabilitating the Highlands Malco t lm Douglas-Hamilton urged the world’s Scotsmen to rally t° the c t use ?f rehabilitating the Highlands when he launched the Highland Fund today. The fund . aims at improving the social and economic development of the Highlands, and to make loans to small businessmen and crofters.—London, November 17.