General News

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28153, 17 December 1956, Page 14

General News

Britannia’s Wheel The small steering wheel of the Royal Yacht Britannia has a history of its own. It was originally the wheel of the J class racing, yacht Britannia, owned and often raced by King George V. As is usual with British naval vessels, the steering flat of the Britannia is enclosed and the quartermaster at the helm receives directions by voice-pipe from the bridge immediately above. Facing him as he stands at the wheel is a large picture showing King George V at the helm of the racing yacht Britannia. Charlotte Jane Signal As has become the practice on December 16 (Anniversary Day) in recent years, the signal that the ship Charlotte Jane had been sighted and was coming into port was flown from the Lyttelton Harbour Board's signal station at the timeball yesterday. Polio at Fairlie

Eight positive and six suspected cases of poliomyelitis have been reported by the Department of Health in the Fairlie district. Most of the cases are in the Sherwood and Ashwick Flat areas. No positive cases have been reported in the township. Size of Royal Yacht

Before the Royal Yacht Britannia came into sight off Lyttelton Heads *on Saturday morning most of the discussion among those waiting for her arrival was on her size. Nearly as big as the ferry, even bigger, perhaps just half that size, were estimates. Captain H. L. Cryer, R.N., the flag officer’s secretary, gave the answers later in the morning. The Britannia displaces 4790 tons deadweight, or the comparable measurement for liners—s7oo tons gross. The Rangatira, the smallest of the inter-island steamers, is 6152 tons gross, and the largest, the Maori, is 8303 tons gross. Raspberry Prices

There are no increases in the minimum raspberry prices announced by the Canterbury Raspberry Marketing Committee for this season. Until January 14, the price for sales direct to the public is 25s for 12 lbs and the wholesale price for sales at the farm gate is 22s for 12 lbs. Deep-freeze factories will buy raspberries in bulk at Is 9d per lb and 2s per lb for dessert quality fruit in packs of two pounds or under. Last season, punnets usually containing a pound of fruit were sold by the growers at 2s 2d to 3s 6d and were retailed at prices from 3s 6d to ss. Women Public Servants’ Status To date, the Public Service Appeal Board has allowed nine out of 11 possible effective appeals by women against the appointment over them of adult males from outside the service. This is stated in the latest issue of the “Public Service Journal.”—(P.A.) Museum Board’s Activities The Paparua County Council had never asked him for a report on the Museum Trust Board’s activities, said Mr P. O. Evans yesterday. Mr Evans, who, with Mr J. C. Hollis, has represented the counties of Heathcote, Paparua, Halswell and Waimairi and the boroughs .of Riccarton and Lyttelton on the board, was commenting on the Paparua County Council’s “protest’’ nomination of Mr R. C. Gilberthorpe as a representative because it had received no report for three years. “If I had known the council wanted a report it could have got one quite easily.” Mr Evans said. N.Z. House Plans Supported The president of the Royal Society of British Artists (Mr Edward Halliday) has added his influential support to the large body of expert opinion which approves the proposed design of the new New Zealand House in London. In a letter to “The Times” he writes: “The true tradition of good architecture has always been for contemporary building to take a bold step forward. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Commissioners of Crown Lands will approve one or other of Professor Matthew’s designs for the development of the corner of the Haymarket and Pall Mall. As your architectural correspondent said in his article on December 1, the status quo in this part of London hardly deserves to be preserved for ever, and here is an opportunity to embrace in the heart of the Commonwealth the new and vigorous thought of the Government of New Zealand. It is tragic to think that were New Zealand House to have no tower, and if the architect were to lard his frontages with Corinthian columns, no official voices would be raised in protest.” Thefts from Oamaru Store

Goods valued at £2OO were stolen from the hardware store of H. B. Burton and Son. Ltd., in Thames street, .Oamaru, on Saturday night. The thieves cut open a skylight at the rear of the premises. The safe had been left open, with no money in it, but the thieves ransacked every drawer in the. office. They found nothing of value. In the store itself, they packed two suitcases with goods, including two canteens of cutlery, valued at £45 each. The thefts were discovered by the managing director of the firm, Mr H. B. Burton, when he visited the store at 1 p.m. yesterday. Plea for School of Painting A plea for a New Zealand school of painting was put forward by Mr Arthur Hipwell when opening in Auckland an exhibition of work by members of the Adult Education art groups. Commenting that no New Zealand artist could earn his livelihood by painting, Mr Hipwell said, “There is a tendency to say that no good comes out of Nazareth, but this shouldering off of New Zealand painting has to be combated. We have in Maori art alone one of the finest forms of decorative art in- the world, yet New Zealanders are insensitive to it. Here we are neglecting a- unique opportunity of producing a New Zealand art.” Expansion at Kawerau A second newsprint machine is to be ordered by the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company. It is to be operating by 1962. The present £1,000,000 machine, which has a potential of 75.000 tons of newsprint a year, produced 12.000 tons, worth £750.000, last financial year. The purchase of a second machine has been under consideration for 19 months. The pulp potential from the Kaingaroa forest is said to be enough to support nine machines. — (P.A.)