General News

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28025, 20 July 1956, Page 12

General News

Women’s Tastes in Men’s Hats Women prefer their men to wear hats, according to a nation-wide survey by the Hatters’ Information centre, but women are more conservative than their men in their tastes, for men’s hats. They like darker rather than lighter co’ours. The most popular hat with men is a light fawn trilby with a multi-coloured band. Women prefer a conservative dark grey trilby. Some men do not like wearing hats at all. One asked when he thought a man should begin wearing a hat. replied tersely: “When he’s going bald.”— London. July 19. Barrier Gates Fail to Rise Traffic at the Ensor’s road level crossing was held up for a short period ' esterday afternoon when the barrier gates descended to allow a train to n?ss. but failed to. rise. Within 10 minutes railway engineers had found the cause. Peak newer loading had reduced the current and prevented the relays from working. Precedent Two detectives of the Criminal Investigation branch of the Police Department were married at Kelburn yesterdav. The groom was Mr James Macpherson Fleming, of Dunedin. who has latterly been stationed in Wellington. and his bride formerly Miss Nancy Irwin, daughter of Constable and Mrs Irwin, Kimbolton The young couple have created a pre cedent in the New Zealand Police Force, becoming the first detective to marry a detective. Mrs Fleming was made a detective this year. Admirals Ashore Only 14 of the Royal Navy’s 98 admirals are sea-going, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr George Ward) told the House of Commons today. Of the landlubbers, 52 were on active duties in the executive branch, five were awaiting appoint ments. and 27 served in the profes sional and technical branches.—London. July 19. Unique Flax Pounder A unique artifact received recently by the Canterbury Museum is an amulet made of dark green serpentine which is apparently a ceremonial version of a flax fibre pounder Ori"inallv ploughed up by the owner’s grandfather (Mr Elijah Smart) near Simone Pass in the Mackenzie Country in 1876. it has now been deposited in the museum bv Mrs W. B. Manning after being in the possession of the family for 80 years. It will be exhibited in the moa hunter section of the Maori collection.

Blenheim Road Link Correspondents writing to the editor of “The Press” have lately expressed concern at the possibility of part of south Hagley Park being used for a motor road joining the new Blenheim road highway. It was stated in Christchurch yesterday that a direct youte. across the park from the junction of the new highway with Deans avenue to St. Asaph street or thereabouts was unlikely to be seriously considered. It was Ukelv that the new highway would be linked with Moorhouse avenue and some widening of Deans avenue might be necessary so that this section of the road would have the same traffic width as Moorhouse avenue and Blenheim road. In this case the loss of parkland was unlikelv to be more than about a chain width Property Sale at Timaru One of the largest property sales in Timaru for several years was concluded yesterday when Calder Mackay Company. Ltd., purchased the premises and retail business of Shackells (Timaru). Ltd. The shop, which is situated in Stafford street, has an area of 9000 square feet with a wide street frontage. The price was not disclosed. Shackells (Timaru). Ltd. was founded by Mr C. H. Shackell 28 vears ago and will continue as a furniture manufacturing business.— (F.0.0.R.) Tickets for Springbok Match Several tickets are still being advertised for the Rugby mat"h between Canterbury and the Springboks tomorrow. Most are being sold to the highest bidders, and some are bringing their owners a profit of £4 each. Those selling tickets today are expecting to receive even higher prices. 50 Years “Twilight” Ends

Since the resumption of school classes in June more than 3500 children have had the opportunity again for lessons in the Canterbury Museum. “They have been so keenly interested that the distractions of carpenters and painters were insufficient to take their attention from the things they had come to see.” the education officer (Mr H. W. Beaumont) reported to the Canterbury Museum Trust Board yesterday. “The transformation of the mammal room into a place of light and warmth has enabled us to display clearly animals which previously have been so hidden in the deep recesses of unlighted cases as to be almost lost to view. Wolf, antelope, dormouse, porcupine, mole and raccoon are amongst those which have recently emerged from half a century of twilight to meet the inquiring gaze of thousands of. curious children.” Mr Beaumont said.

Autograph Hunters Within a few minutes of the Springboks’ arrival at their hotel yesterday morning, 18 autograph books were handed into the office to be distributed to players. Dr. Danie Craven had quite a large bundle of mail and other letters waiting for him. Among the correspondence he received was a record entitled “Welcome Springboks.” which had been composed by Mr J. Urlwin. of Christchurch. Local Body Finance The cost of metalling a portion of Cashmere road, which was recently widened to one chain on one side only, was discussed at a meeting of the Halswell County Council yesterday. The chairman (Mr J. Mackenzie) asked if the council wished to act upon the information it had received, or merely receive the correspondence and reply that consideration of the matter had been deferred. Th? cost of metalling the road would be £2500, he said. Cr. J H. Williamson: What would be the council’s share of that? Mr Mackenzie; The lot. Cr. Williamson: We’ll receive it. Advice to Vodka Drinkers “If you want to cope with the Russians’ lavish vodka hospitality, gel well-oiled beforehand—by drinking olive oil.” This advice was given to a goodwill mission before it left for Moscow. The mission, from the City of Bristol, is led by the Lord Mayor (Aiderman G. A. Watson-Allan). The advice came from Bristol’s Town Clerk, who said he got the tip from a traveller recently back from Russia.—London. July 19.