General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 10

General News

Germs in Antarctica Tetanus germs left in the Antarctic by Captain Scott’s horses have been found, not killed by the intense cold of polar winters of nearly half a century, but merely dormant. This is one of the findings announced by an American Navy bacteriologist who made soil tests at Cape Evans, where Scott established his winter quarters in 1912. The officer — Lieutenant-Commander Isaac Taylor, the McMurdo Sound base doctor—says that the discovery refutes long-held claims about Antarctic cold killing gem*s. Dr. Taylor said he found many other organisms which were left behind by members of Scott’s party. Long Visit

Anthony McCawley, aged 55, an ; iron worker, described by his lawyer as “a very patient guy,” filed suit for divorce today after waiting 30 years for his wife to return from a visit to Scotland. Mr McCawley contended that he married Mrs Joanne Wood . McCawley on October 20, 1927, a few days after she had arrived at New York from Glasgow. He said that she left for a visit to Scotland on December 23, 1927, and he had not heard from her since. —Chicago, April 25. New Pasture Pest A new grassland pest has made its appearance in the Wairarapa. Millions of caterpillars (known as soldier worms) are eating every vestige of green grass from the hills near the coast and are gradually spreading inland. Their spread north appears to be prevented by the Pahaoa river. The land ravaged by these caterpillars has every appearance of being drought-stricken. No feed whatever is left after caterpillars have passed.—(P.A.) £lO,OOO Prize to N.Z. New Zealand kept up its lucky average in Australian lottery wins with another first prize in a Melbourne draw today. The £lO,OOO prize was won by “13 and 22,” Wellington (ticket No. 109799). Melbourne, April 26. Churchill Farms Sale Sir Winston Churchill advertised the sale of two of his farms - at Chartwell, his home near : Westerham, Kent, in “The Times” today. Mr Percy Cox, the former - Prime Minister’s agent, said 1 earlier this year that his herds of • Jersey cattle and Landrace pigs would be put up for sale in i August. The farms, which Sir 1 Winston Churchill bought 10 : years ago, will be sold by auction. They include 180 acres of land and some 10 houses and cottages. No reason for the sale was given.— London, April 25. Radio Contact with Raft

The raft Tahiti Nui, about which little has been heard since it left Tahiti about six months ago in an attempt to reach Chile, was reported yesterday to be about 800 miles south-east of Easter Island. This information was received by a Christchurch amateur radio operator, Mr H. J. Rowe, who made contact with the raft about 9.30 p.m. yesterday. A member of the crew told him that they were confident of reaching their destination, but > gave no further information. According to a cablegram from Paris, the leader of the expedition, Eric Blisschop, reported on Thursday that all the men were well, and they hoped to reach Chile by the end of May. On its position last evening the raft had about 2300 miles to sail to reach Valparaiso, the nearest port in Chile. The expedition is attempting to prove that Polynesians may have sailed to South America as early as 500 B.C. Pet Hen Found Henrietta, the pet Rhode Island Red hen of a Christchurch public building, which disappeared from her pen on Wednesday night, was found in the Botanic Gardens—some streets and a river away. The hen was taken to a Riccarton house, where it was put into the fowlhouse until claimed. Haka in the Square The ‘‘haka party” of Canterbury University College made its first appearance this term when its members, arrayed in the inevitable shiny top hats and grass skirts, performed a haka near the tramways office in Cathedral square last evening. The highspirited noise attracted a crowd of about 200, but it soon dispersed when the students cavorted down Worcester street. The excursion was evidently a prelude to the students’ revue, which will break with tradition this year and give its first performance in Methven. The revue is to be called ‘‘Up the Pole.” Fishing Rivers According to advice received from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, the condition of the fishing rivers at noon yesterday was: Ashley, slightly discoloured but fishable; Halswell, clear and fishable, subject to Catchment Board operations; Selwyn and Waiau, dirty but clearing; Hurunui and Waimakanri, dirty and unfishable; lower Rakaia, discoloured but fishable, with a possibility of deterioration; upper Rakaia, above normal and discoloured. The weather at Lake Coleridge was cloudy with a north-west wind. At Highbank, it was clear, with a light north'-west wind.