General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 10

General News

Von Haast Relic In 1864 Sir Julius von Haast, founder of the Canterbury Museum, placed in the cradle of his infant son a miniature geologist’s hammer. For 90 years it has been a precious relic in the family. Its owner, Dr. H. F. von Haast, on his death, made a generous bequest to the geology department of the museum, and recently his wife came from Wellington to Christchurch especially to give the museum the miniature hammer. With its handle inscribed, it was shown to the Museum Trust Board yesterday. Names Reversed On the suggestion of the New Zealand Alpine Journal and the New Zealand Alpine Club, the housing committee of the Paparua County Council has agreed to reverse the names of two streets in the Pyne, Gould, Guinness housing block. The streets are named Tensing crescent and Hillary place, after the conquerors of Everest. The New Zealand Alpine Journal and the New Zealand Alpine Club said that the more prominent street was named Tensing crescent and the less prominent Hillary place. Tribute to Band The sum of £l5 15s will be given by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) to the Addington Workshops Band for its services at the association’s orphanage outing recently. “You hear a lot of things about men in public service, particularly in the transport section,” said the president (Mr W. R. Carey) at yesterday’s meeting of the association council. “But for a group of men from the Addington workshops to give up their Saturday afternoon for the entertainment of orphanage children is a fine expression of goodwill.” Housing in Rural Areas

The Halswell County Council is to supply the Census and Statistics Department with figures on the number of permits for houses issued during each month and the number of houses completed each month, as from January this year. This decision was made at yesterday’s meeting of the council, after a letter had been received from the department asking the council to send in permit figures. The letter said one of the results emerging from the recent housing conference in Wellington was the need for more up-to-date building statistics from the larger counties, which at present only send in annual returns. The Halswell county was one of 16 counties which at present contribute 50 per cent, of the new houses in rural areas, and it was from these counties that the figures were wanted. ML Cook Rock for Scouts’ Cairn A rock from the summit of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak, will be collected this week-end to be concreted into a memorial cairn which will be unveiled for the Boy Scouts of New Zealand at Woodend on January 12. The cairn, on the property of Mr J. Bunting, *>will mark the site of the first official scout camp ever held in New Zealand. On the site of the first camp fire, another will be kindled and from it runners will carry torches in relays from Woodend to light the public campfire at the Boy Scouts’ jamborette at Motukarara. Centennial Funds for Museum The Canterbury Museum Trust Board is still awaiting receipt of the centennial memorial fund which will be devoted to the new wing at the museum. ‘‘There is no report from the Centennial Association, I suppose?” inquired the chairman (Mr J. L. Hay) at a * meeting yesterday. ‘‘Not a word.” said the treasurer (Mr C. H. Perkins). “With the Royal visit there won’t be a thought for those things.” ‘‘They might at least wish us a prosperous New Year,” said Mr H. F. Baird. Pigeons Take Hint Auckland’s waterfront pigeons have been chased from the rafters of shed 12 on the Central Wharf. The birds tended to huddle over the portion of the shed set aside for serving morning tea to the Govemor-Genefal, the Prime Minister, and others on the day of the Queen’s arrival. A harbour board employee routed the birds with an air pistol. He fired at random, and, although no blood was spilt, the pigeons took the hint.

Anemones from London for Queen Anemones to decorate the Queen’s Christmas dinner table at Auckland were flown to New Zealand from London yesterday. They were sent by the National Farmers’ Union.—London. December 16. Nelson Roading Plans The Government is to send a delegation of engineering experts to Nelson in February to work out plans for improving roads in the area. This decision was announced at a meeting yesterday morning when a Nelson deputation waited on the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman). During the engineers’ visit, Mr Holland said later, it was hoped to decide by agreement with local authorities on a plan covering the next few years. The question of landing facilities at the Nelson airport was also discussed. Under this heading night landing facilities and the extension of the hard sUr * ace came under review.— Elizabethan Tableaux The Canterbury Museum Trust Board hoped that the museum would be chosen for the Christchurch display of the Coronation regalia of Queen Elizabeth 11, but its application went astray. The museum intended to make associated displays from its own collections. It has now been decided to proceed immediately with the erection of historical tableaux from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I given to the museum by J. Ballantyne and Company after the Coronation celebrations. The firm’s staff is assisting in the work, which is under the direction of Miss Rose Reynolds. New Road-marking Compound A new compound is being used as a test to determine its superiority over paint along four miles of the eastern side of the Hutt road, Wellington. Manufactured in Nelson to a Swedish formula, the compound consists of finely crushed marble bound together by a plastic which, applied to the road surface at a temperature in excess of 300 degrees, actually binds with the tar. The crushed marble gives a fluorescent effect at night, and. the markings are particularly clear when it is raining at night. Two miles of the motorway at Johnsonville are also to be marked with the compound.

Blinded by Powder Temporarily blinded by powder, Mr Ronald Davies, of Whangarei, was admitted to the Whangarei Hospital. Mr Davies was pouring the powder into a car radiator to stop it leaking when a puff of wind blew some into * his eyes. T© assist the doctors the manufacturers in Auckland supplied the names of chemicals contained in the powder.

Raspberries Picked at Waimate Raspberries are already being picked in the Waimate district, though the bulk of the crop will not be ready for a week or so. Growers say a scarcity of locally grown fruit is likely. Very wet weather last season resulted in the loss of many acres of canes, and there has been a number of relatively poor strikes in the main crop, according to a statement yesterday by the secretary of the Waimate Raspberry Growers’ Association (Mr L. D. Kenyon).—(F.O.O.R.) Appeal to Children A plea for all children to take special care on the roads during the holidays was made by the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) at the Remuera School prize-giving. “The last summer holiday period was a record for its freedom from accidents,” Mr Algie added. “We want to do even better this year.”—(P.A.)