General News

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27680, 9 June 1955, Page 12

General News

Traffic Jam Cleared A 19-year-old trainee from Papakura Camp took over traffic control at one of Auckland’s busiest intersections after an accident at 5.15 p.m. on Tuesday and cleared a bad jam. Motorists and Transport Board bus drivers praised his work. He is Private Brian Austin, a movie theatre operator from Devonport, who is completing his 101 weeks’ compulsory military service, before being posted to the Ist Detachment Divisional Provost Company. Private Austin was accompanying Army convoys going to Papakura camp when he noticed the traffic jam. He dismounted from his motor-cycle and cleared double lanes of traffic in Mount Albert road and long lines in Three Kings road. He also found time to note the name and address of a bus driver who saw the accident, thus allowing the bus to move away.— (P.A.) Housewives Accept Tea Offer The Canterbury Housewives’ Union has accepted an offer of 1001 b of tea imported direct from Ceylon at less than 6s per lb, all freight included, to be shared and tested by its members. A supplied report from the union says members discussed prices at a recent meeting. They thought the Auckland Housewives’ Association had proved its case that first quality tea pays too big a tribute to the middle man.

Frogman Diver Mr L. Subritzky, of Auckland, is probably New Zealand’s first commercial frogman diver. After recovering a large steel plate dropped in the Auckland Harbour yesterday afternoon, he said he liked working under water. Formerly a marine engineer, Mr Subritzky finds there are enough jobs in Auckland to keep him working under water as often as ev6ry other day. He hopes that later he can make his job a full-time occupation. Claj in a rubberised stockinette frogman suit, with warm clothing underneath. and an aqualung on his back, Mr Subritzky clears ships’ propellers, makes hull inspections, and salvages cargo dropped into the water during the loading and unloading of ships. In his spare time he goes spearfishing and does underwater photography.—(P. A.) Sale of Quinnat Salmon The North Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation Societies netted from the Highbank tailrace up to May 18 last season 2151 fish, weighing 22,1541 b cleaned, for sale to the public. The net proceeds from the market so far was £1957 6s Bd, said a report presented to the council of the North Canterbury Society last evening. The report said that the society’s share of this sum was £978 13s 4d. From inis amount expenses had yet to be deducted.

Lottery Prize to N.Z. The first prize of £ 10.000 in a lottery drawn today went to ticket No. 143,065. in the name of Leo, Gisborne, New Zealand.—Melbourne, June 8.

Antarctic Applicants Because all applications for selection in the New Zealand party for the Commonwealth expedition to Antartica next year are referred to Wellington, Christchurch officers of the Mew Zealand Antarctic Society are unable to say how many of the 300 applications already received came from the Christchurch area. The president of the Christchurch branch of the society (Mr H. F. Griffiths) said yesterday that he personally knew of several Christchurch men who were interested in the expedition and he had no doubt that others had applied direct to the Dominion secretary of the society (Mr A. Helm) in Wellington, whose box number is 2110. While Mr Griffiths was giving this information over the telephone to a reporter, a young Christchurch surveyor walked into “The Press” office to ask where he should apply to have his name added to the list of applicants. 15,000-mile Journey to N.Z. An English electrical engineer plans to take his Westport wife the long way home —15,000 miles through seventeen countries, by car. The exigineer, Mr Anthony Field, and his wife were married in Eiland in January. They will set oCior New Zealand next Friday in a station waggon. The journey will take them through France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Jugoslavia, Greece, Turkey. Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. Pakistan, India, Ceylon, and Australia.—London, June 7. Relicensing Slow

Motor-vehicle owners are apparently just as tardy about relicensing their vehicles as they are about renewing their driving licences. In the last four days only 2548 of the total of 50,815 vehicles registered in Christchurch have been relicensed. Post Office officials at the motor registration branch in the Wentworth say that the rate will have to increase to more than twice its present pace fcr relicensing to be completed by June 39. Housing Shortage One member of the Tasman Empire Airways permanent crew in, Christchurch has good reason to know of the current housing shortage. Since he arrived in Christchurch four months ago with his wife and two children he has been living, in a private hotel, and has spent fAs spare time writing replies to advertisements. He has also tramped many miles to interview prospects and spent hours telephoning. Altogether, he estimates, he has replied to between 100 and 200 advertisements. And he and his family are still living in the hotel. Interest in School Committees The Canterbury School Committees’ Association had 78 delegates from its 81 affiliated committees at the annual meeting • last evening. Country branches have been formed during the year, and las* evening the rules were changed to admit West Coast committees. Snow Closeg Otira Road . Because of a heavy fall of snow overnight, the Otira Gorge highway was closed to traffic yesterday between Otira and Springfield. Chain of Office for Mayoress For the first time in the history of Palmertson North the Mayoress has a chain of office. The chain has been delivered—l 7 months late—to the Mayoress, Mrs G. Tremaine, but no date has been set yet for its first public wearing. Originally intended to grace the occasion of the Queen’s visit to Palmerston North in January last year, the chain was ordered six months before the visit, but was not ready in time. “No* Squabbling Now”

A unique event in the history of the Canterbury School Committees’ Association was the presentation last evening of long service certificates to Mr Donald Boyd and Mrs Gladys Boyd, husband and wife, ’ who have served on the Lyttelton Main Schoo! Committee for 12 years. “There can be no squabbling now,” said a delegate as the president (Mr R. K. Milne) conferred the honour.