General News

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28130, 20 November 1956, Page 14

General News

Excelsior A rather forlorn-looking broom was seen flying from a flagpole outside the Christchurch . Returned Services’ Association’s building in Gloucester street last evening. Questioned about this unusual emblem an officer of the association was unable to account for its presence and denied the suggestion that a witch hunt' was in progress. Neither is it believed that the raising of this strange device has any connexion with Admiral Blake’s victory over Van Tromp in June, 1653. Recruits for U.N. Force Up to midday yesterday 136 firm applications to join the New Zealand unit in the United Nations Middle East force had been received at Army recruiting offices throughout the South Island, an Army spokesman said. Only two applications have been received from territorial army officers. Auckland Potato Prices New potatoes, sold by the bag for the. first time this season in Auckland, brought 7£d to 8d per lb lor first grade in the markets yesterday. Bags weighing 601 b fetched 38s io 40s. Second grade potatoes averaged 13s a bag. The supplies came maini> from Pukekohe, with smaller lots from Waiuku and Mangere.—(P.A.) Rook Bounty Schemes

No more rooks’ eggs have been bought by the Paparua County Council in the last week—the fifth week of the council’s rook bounty scheme. The number of rooks’ heads taken, however, has brought the total to 1330, an increase of 108 heads on last week’s total. At the rate of 2s 6d for a dozen eggs, and Is for each head, the council has now paid out £73 ss. The Halswell County Council, which began the same scheme a week ago, has brought its total to 147 heads and no eggs, costing, to date, £7 7s, and the Malvern County Council expects to start a similar scheme within a week, as it has now received permission to begin from the Internal Affairs Department. Westland Air Service West Coast Airways yesterday ‘ took over the South Westland air service from the National Airways Corporation. The new company will act as agents for the corporation and will handle the turn round of the corporation’s aircraft at Hokitika. West Coast Airways, which is an independent subsidiary of Southern .Scenic Airways, made its first flight to Haast yesterday.—(F.O.O.R.) Corsair Bay Popular The bathing season has begun in earnest at Corsair Bay, and on the last two Sundays the beach has been crowded. The large parking area at the bay was full of cars on both days. Glacier Takes in Oil Fue’ The icebreaker Glacier moved to the Oil Wharf at Lyttelton yesterday to take in 700,000 United States gallons of fuel oil and 1500 gallons of lubricating oil. Before sailing for the Antarctic early next month, the Glacier will'take in big quantities of fresh provisions. chiefly vegetables, and about 350 gallons of milk. The ship’s fresh water tanks will be filled from the Lyttelton Borough Council’s supply. The Last Word During the hearing of a charge in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. a police witness said that beer was served in seven-ounce glasses at the Riccarton Racecourse. The defendant claimed five-ounce glasses were used. But the Magistrate. Mr Rex C. Abernethy. S.M.. had the final say. “You would hear the populace from the racecourse here if they were only five-ounce glasses,” he said. Litter in Antarctic “It's quite colourful at McMurdo Sound,’’ said Captain Ronald Chambler. Southern Military District signal

troop. Addington barracks, yesterday on his return from the Antarctic. “The snow is white, the sky is a beautiful blue, and the men are wearing brilliantly coloured suits—like those on aircraft carriers—in blue, red and green. But as the snow is disappearing—and it has been quite a bit—there is a lot of rubbish about. Much of it is debris from the building operations during the winter, and there are many rotting parachutes too.” Parachute Jumps Into Sea Two members of the Auckland Parachute Club jumped from heights of 1500 ft and 3000 ft last evening and splashed into the sea off Mission Bay, Auckland. The men, John Charnock and John Fullerton, had never taken such a high dive before. They were picked up by speedboats of the Auckland Water Ski Club, and transferred to an-R.N.Z.A.F. air-sea rescue launch. More than 2000 persons lined the beach and other vantage points. The display was part of the Auckland Aviation Week.—(P.A.)