General News

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 10

General News

' “The Press” Classified Advertising “The Press” has introduced another .telephone number, 64-062, as a direct ’ line for the convenience of those inserting classified advertisements. This • has been done to relieve the heavy de- : mand on the main switchboard, with : the ever increasing volume of classified advertising. Dialling of the new number. 64-062, will facilitate conIsiderably the service given to users of i these advertisement columns. The new ■ system is already in use. Dive Bombed I A bird swooped down on the car of Mr Albert Jacobson today and dropped an egg on the windshield before the ! startled motorist had a chance to drive ; for cover. Mr Jacobson had to pull in to the side of the road and wash the ; glass.—Bismarck (North Dakota), July 16. £2,500.000 Contract Signed i The Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board and the French engineering firm Etudes et Entreprises signed a £2.500.000 contract yesterday, for the Manakau drainage scheme. The document was a variation of a contract originally awarded to the firm for thefirst part of the Brown’s Island scheme. The signing of the document not only set the legal seal on the variations of the original contract, but i it was also the act by which the contractors relinquished any claims they may have had for damages and loss of profits as a result of the abandoned Brown’s Island scheme. —(P.A.)

Boot With a History A wooden boot which hung outside the boot repair shop of Mr G. Blaker in Lambton quay. Wellington, from early in the 1830’s, is now mounted on the veranda of a house in Washington avenue, Brooklyn. The knee boot, complete with wooden tasse] and painted to resemble rich, red leather, was carved by a Chinese who had premises in Lambton quay about 100 years ago. An apprentice of Mr Blaker who started business as a boot repairer on his own account was presented with the boot as a farewell gift, and it hung outside his shop in Cuba street for many years. It was then presented to another apprentice. Mr George Petherick, and from 1900 until a few years ago it hung outside his shop in Vivian street. A friend of Mr Petherick, Mr A. J, Riddell, became the owner of the boot when Mr Petherick died in 1952, and it is on his veranda that it is now installed, attracting considerable attention. Theatrical Association Last week a gold wristlet watch changed hands. It was engraved: “Edgar Benyon to Les Flowers. 19151955.” Forty years ago Mr Benyon made his first stage appearance as a youth in Christchurch, and he was encouraged by Mr Flowers, who was then stage manager at Fullers Opera House. When Mr Benyon made his farewell appearance in Christchurch last week after an overseas career as a magician. Mr Flowers was behind the scenes as manager of the Civic Theatre. Appeals on Film Censorship Two appeals against decisions of the Censor of Films (Mr Gordon Mirams) were considered by the Cinematograph Films Appeal Board, one being upheld and the other being refused. The films were “The Wild One” and “Garden of Eden.” both of which had been refused certificates of approval. The board has upheld the decision of the censor on “The Wild One” and has allowed the appeal on “Garden of Eden.” This film has now been given a certificate for general exhibition. The board consists of Mr A. A. McLachlan. Mrs B. Reid, and Sir William Appleton.—(P.A.) “Hotbox” for Grand Piano An air-conditioned cabinet is being built on the Auckland Town Hall stage to house the City Council’s valuable concert grand piano, which is believed to be suffering from the extremes in the city's temperature and humidity. The cabinet, which has been dubbed a “hotbox.” is being fitted with a thermo-stat-controlled heater, and will be kept at a summer temperature of between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Steel runners have been screwed to the floor so that the piano, which cost £2300 can be pushed in and out without bumping it. Missing Friend Easily Found The Mayor of Auckland (Mr J. H. Luxford) receives many appeals from overseas to trace missing friends. Usually, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. This week an inquiry arrived from Mrs Mary Cross, of Lancaster, England, for a friend she last saw 50 years ago. She believed he was in business in Auckland and asked the Mayor to advertise on her behalf. The Mayor did not have to advertise. The missing friend, Mr F. Ambler, sits with him in the Town Hall as a member of the City Council. Mrs Cross was the daughter of Mr Ambler’s Sunday school superintendent in England 50 years ago. Widows’ and Widowers’ Club The first widows’ and widowers’ club in New Zealand has been formed at New Plymouth Left out of many community activities, members meet with the sole purpose of enjoying themselves. The club was formed on the same pattern as one at Melbourne, which came into existence as the result of a small advertisement in a newspaper. So did the New Plymouth club. To her advertisement, Mrs C. V. Burgess, who has become the club’s first president, had 22 written replies. Membership of the club now. exceeds 40. It seems, however, that there are more widows than widowers. Deflationary “Chilling news for politicians.*’ says the “Manchester Guardian,*’ in reporting that the audience research department of the British Broadcasting I Corporation finds that the average audience for the seven television broadcasts during the recent General Election campaign was only 14 per cent, of the adult population. The average for sound broadcasts was 15 per cent. Mr Herbert Morrison drew the biggest audience on television—because he preceded the popular programme “The Grove Family.” The Foreign Secretary (Mr Harold Macmillan) drew the lowest. The programme that followed him was an outside broadcast showing a new liner being completed in Scotland, which aroused fairly faint interest. “So, as we remarked at the time-*-television took a small part in the General Election—a somewhat deflationary document,*’ says “The Times,” commenting on the B.B.C’s report.—London, July 7.