General News

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 8

General News

Nurse Maude Appeal Eraving cold south-westerly weather yesterday, with heavy showers of rain late in the afternoon, more than 250 helpers manning street corners in Christchurch collected more than £2300 for the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association appeal. At 9 o’clock last evening, with several boxes still to be counted, the total was £2364. £2OO more than the figure at that time last year. Two stalls selling produce also contributed to the fund. Cne was in Cathedral square, and the other in the Madras street rooms of the association. Meat companies and farmers gave lambs for sale, and a retired butcher spent much time preparing the meat for sale. Clergy at Cricket The conductor on a bus to Lord’s Cricket Ground had not heard of any important game that day, says the “Daily Express.” A passenger, a clergyman, explained that the clergy of London were playing the clergy of Southwark. The story-teller at a church assembly meeting in London said that the copductor then paused and asked. "Do they use a hard ball?”—London. June 22. Divided Loyalties . An invitation to attend the opening of the new manual training centre at the New Brighton District High School on the afternoon of Julv 18 was received by the Canterbury Ed”n ation Board yesterday. Mr G. C Warren said that a meeting of a board committee could be held in the evening to allow members to go to New Brighton. “The Chris+’s CollegeBoys’ High School football match occurs that afternoon.” said the chairman (Mr S. J. Irwin). “I should like to be there.” said Mr A. S. Murray (North Canterbury). “The Springboks also play at Timaru,” said Mr A. Manning (South Canterbury). Theboard thought it would be a good idea to move the committee meeting Opossums in Museum The invention of a new type of opossum trap by Mr Dick Morris, reported last Saturday, has brought inquiries from Banks Peninsula and South Westland, where the animals abound, but the most surprising has come from the Canterbury Museum. It was learned yesterday that opossums have long been a nest there. Although they have never been seen, zoologists on the staff have had no trouble in identifying opossums as the cause o f soiling and damage. It is believed that they enter from the spire louvres or other places hard to locate. Baffles will probably be installed during the present renovations, but in the meantime the museum has set two of Mr Morris’s traps—so far without result. The Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) said last evenine that there had been trouble with opossums in the Botanic Gardens. National Party Train A special train has been chartered by the National Party to take delegates from Wellington to the party’s annual Dominion conference in Auckland on August 18 and 20. Delegates will also return by special train. Delegates will leave Wellington on the morning of August 17. The train will also carry ordinary fare-paying passengers.—(P.A.) Education Act Consolidation The Director of Education (Mr C. E. Beeby) told a recent meeting of education boards in Wellington that work is in progress on the consolidation of the Education Act and that a draft will be submitted to the boards’ conference at Invercargill in September. Roads Report Today and tomorrow, a four-wheel-drive utility vehicle of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) will patrol <he main west road between Bealev and Porter’s Pass to assist motorists in difficulty on sections of the road covered bv snow or ice. At 5 p.m. vesterdav snow was falling at Eealey. but it did not settle. The route was open, but motorists using the road today are advised to carry chains and be prepared for patches of ice. The condition of other roads at 5 p.m. yesterday was: Lewis Pass, open, with chains not necessary; Lindis Pass, not' advised for tourist traffic because of heavy snow. Chimes in Aircraft The National Airways Corporation has fitted a two-(one chime warning system into its DC-3 airliners to let dozing or book-reading passengers know when rough weather or an expected landing calls for the fastening of safety belts. In the past a warning light has flashed on. That has proved inadequate. Teachers’ College Roll The opinion that the roll of the Christchurch Teachers’ College is too large for present accommodation has been expressed bv the principal (Mr George Guy) and he has suggested to the Canterbury Education Board that the annual entry of ordinary primary trainees should be limited to 200 so long as the university studentships continue. The present roll is:—primary first year students. 223; second year. 226; third year, 44; post-primary trainees, 113; university studentship bursars 48; island students, two; total, 656. The board decided that because of the shortage of teachers a smaller entry could not be recommended. Instrumental Classes For Children The instrumental classes for school children on Saturday mornings, inaugurated at the Christchurch Teachers’ College, are expanding rapidly. Approval has been riven for five more, making a total of 10 at the college, and five will be started at the Papanui High School.