General News

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27406, 20 July 1954, Page 10

General News

“Seasickness” Influenza “Seasickness” is in some cases one of the symptoms of a mild form of influenza prevalent in Auckland. Patients become dizzy and the room seems to be spinning round madly. They feel as if they are in a small boat in a very rough sea. Actually, the sufferers’ sense of balance, situated in the inner ear. is disturbed. Doctors have known of this condition for some years. However, they do not know the cause. “It’s rather in-

triguing,” said the Auckland Medical Officer of Health (Dr. A. W. S. Thompson). There was no cause for worry, he added. Disturbance of the equilibrium was not dangerous nor permanent.—(P.A.) Rare Petrel On Rangatira Northbound from Lyttelton in the early hours of Thursday morning, the steamer Rangatira took an unusual passenger aboard for Wellington. A large Westland black petrel struck the ship’s foremast, and crashed into the cab of the bridge, where it was picked up by the Rangatira’s chief officer. Dr. R. A. Falla, director of the Dominion Museum, said that although the Westland black petrel nested in New Zealand, it was a specimen of a nearly extinct type, the inland-nesting petrels. Birds bred in winter in only one locality—on the western slopes of the Southern Alps—and had been completely unknown until nesting places were discovered in 1946. “This very dark brown, ivory white billed specimen comes from a very localised population, which are amongst the rarest petrels in the world,” said Dr. Falla. “It is very fortunate that it happened to be reported to us from the ship.” Lost Ring Recovered A miner lost his signet ring while working underground in the Liverpool State coalmine five months ago and it could not be found in spite of a keen search. The ring was recovered last week when it was found in a ton of coal which had been delivered to the home of a workmate. Casual mention of this at work soon resulted in the owner of the ring being found. —(F.0.0.R.) Rates Approved

Rates for 1954-55 were levied by formal resolution of the Christchurch City Council last evening. No change in the resolutions adopted by the council three weeks ago was made. Speeding in Kaiapol

The Kaiapoi Borough Council plans to draw to the notice of its traffic inspector the speeding of motor traffic in the northern part of the borough. Suggesting this action at a meeting of the council last evening, Cr. L. Peachey said that he feared that there would be “a nasty accident” in that part of the borough. The council also decided that signs should be erected on either side of the borough defining the borough boundaries and warning traffic that speed limits would be rigidly enforced in the borough. Missing Anvil According to the Auditor-General’s report presented to Parliament last week, an anvil worth £5 was missing from the Department of Industries and Commerce. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. T. Watts) has disclosed how the department came to have a missing anvil. The anvil came from the old iron works at Onekaka, which are subject to accounting by the department. Little Work For the fourth time in six successive working days there was no work yesterday «t the Wallsend State coalmine. Miners held a stop-work meeting and before it had ended the management had sounded the whistle which meant that no work would be done that day. The mine was idle on the first three days of last week. —(F.0.0.R.)

Tram Accident Inquiry The inquiry into the fatal tram accident in Hopper street, Wellington, on June 19 will begin on September 6. This was announced yesterday by the chairman of the board of inquiry (Judge Stilwell) after a preliminary meeing w ith counsel. With Judge Stilwell on the board will be the inspecting engineer of the Ministry of Works (Mr H. L. Hume). The board, ~ 7 hich was convened by the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) will also examine matters relating,'to risks arising from the collapse of a motorman or other elements that might place a tram out of control. Counsel representing the Ministry of Works (Mr C. N. Irvine) said the technical evidence that was to be presented might take the hearing into three or four days.—(P.A.) Hangar Roof Blown Off

A 64-knot wind blew the roof off a hangar at Wairoa aerodrome on Friday night, and the walls collapsed. Two aircraft inside, valued about £2300, suffered only minor damage. There was no-one on the aerodrome at the time. The roof was found lying about 30ft to 40ft from the hangar. The back wall had fallen outwards, and both side walls had collapsed inwards. One of the aircraft, an Argus, was supporting a side wall which measured 12ft ,x 40ft by the tip of its wing. The other aircraft, a Tiger Moth, had its tail slightly damaged by a falling beam.—(P.A.)

Public Relations Office Agreeing with Cr. A. R. Guthrey’s complaint that the delay in appointing a public relations officer was unfair to the applicants, Cr. T. H. McCombs informed the City Council last evening

that the sub-committee had held a meeting that aftemodn, and applicants would be interviewed next week at a special meeting of the finance committee. Connexion Severed In case it should be billed for arrears of subscriptions at some time in the future the Kaiapoi Borough Council decided last evening to advise the South Island Local Bodies’ Associa-

tion officially that the council had decided to sever its connexion with the association. Tpis action was taken on the suggestion of the Mayor (Mr N. E. Kirk) after the council had received advice from the association that its annual conference would be held in Westland in October. Two Caucuses Caucus meetings before formal meetings of the City Council are now held by both the Labour and Citizens councillors. Caucus meetings have long been held by the Labour members, and the Citizens’ members have now agreed to meet half an hour before the council meet? to discuss courses of action. Six Citizens members attended last evening, two arriving a quarter of an hour late. The Labour caucus also had two late arrivals.