General News

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27547, 3 January 1955, Page 8

General News

Water Storage for Electricity The storage of water for the generation of electricity in the South Island yesterday amounted to 63,800,000 units, compared with 172,000,000 on January 2 last year. “I am certainly not exaggerating the position when I say that the bottom has dropped out of our power storage,” said the district engineer of the State Hydro-elec-tnc Department (Mr W. H. Gregory), commenting on the situation last evening. “Nobody can tell what the winter is going to be like. We may get plenty of rain, but at the present the position is not good. If there is any doubt about that, it is only necessary to look at the figures of a year ago.”

By Helicopter to Races Four people will leave Wellington today for the Tauherenikau races con- ; fident that they can be there inside 30 minutes without breaking any traffic Regulations. The four —Command® Glen Jacobsen, commander .of the American icebreaker Atka.v Lieu-tenant-Commander Francis E. Law, and their two pilots —will leave at 10.45 a.m. by helicopter. The two helicopters are making the flight as part of a demonstration that is planned. They will put down at the course to let fheir passengers out, and then return to the ship—(P.A.) From the Source Among the 2000 honours in the New Year Honours List in Britain is. w following British Empire Medal: John Smith; occupation—Foreman .Medal issuer. Army Medal Office, Droitwiat —London, December 31. Maori’s Bow Rudder Damaged Since a mishap to her bow rudder early last week, it has been necessary for the steamer express Maori to have the Harbour Board’s tug standing-by

when the vessel berths at Lyttelton. The mishap occurred about 1 a.m. last Tuesday, when the Maori, on the trip from Wellington to Lyttelton, struca dn unidentified obj® ct of f Kaikoura Peninsula. The vessel’s bow rudder was made useless/. When the Maon arrived at Lytteltoftlast evening on a special daylight trip from Wellington, it was necessary, because of the strong north-easterly wind, to make use of the tug in berthing. Bee Swarm Causes Alarm A huge swarm of bees nearly 600 ft long caused a disturbance m Christchurch on Friday morning. At 11.40 a.m. householders in Durham street heard what they described as a noise “like' the roar of a hurricane.” and the swarm, which vfts about 7ft wide, approached from the south-west. Cars on the road stopped, pedestrians into the nearest houses and gardens for cover, and mothers went outdoors to take their childfen inside. The black mass of bees disappeared to the north. Apart from v a few stings suf- , fered bv children no casualties were reported Unusual Fislfing\Catch A green turtle dearly three feet long and estimated to weigh 601 b was caught on a | fishing line off Whenuapai wharf on Saturday night. It was taken to tfie Auckland Zoo, i where it attracted! considerable attention and where ij will be kept if it thrives. Should itpnd captivity not to its liking it will be returned to the sea. The greed turtle is a rare visitor to New Zealand waters. It Is usually found in tropical waters.— (P.A.) Daylight Sailings to Wellington The inter-island, steamer express Maori made a daylight trip from Wellington to .Lyttelton yesterday, and sailed from Lyttelton again' last evening on the return trip. Both the Hinemoa and the Maori wiH make extra daylight trips on Friday. On Sunday, the Maori will make an extra trip from Lyttelton, and will sail on the arrival of the 7.10 p.m. train. The Hinemoa will make a similar trib from Wellington pn Sunday evening, and will arrive ht Lyttelton on Mon4aj morning. ■ I ■ 1.