General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28268, 4 May 1957, Page 10

General News

Road to Fame “The music business is like a bath. When you’ve been in it for some time it’s not so hot, ’ said Mr Leslie Osborne, chairman ■ of the Song Pluggers’ Association dinner. “It took one song writer I know 15 years to find out he had no talent. By that time he couldn’t give it up. He was too famous.” —London, May 3. •‘Pen-Pusher’’ A letter from the Education Department pointed out that the Christchurch Technical College was seven half-days overstaffed, said the principal (Mr D. W Lyall) at a meeting of the college board of managers last evening. That amounted to about threequarters of a teacher, or 1| per cent., in the case of the Technical College, which had 50 teachers. “Although the letter is in Mr Beeby’s name, it is not his handwriting. What makes me wild is that some tuppenny hapenny penpusher in Wellington can write Mr Beeby’s name and get away with it.’’ Premature Admiral of the Fleet Mountbatten, discussing the expected strength of naval forces in 1965, reminded officers at the Commonwealth naval conference yesterday that by then one of them would be occupying his position at the Admiralty, the “News Chronicle’’ said today. As the officers were leaving, the First Sea Lord buttonholed a captain and said: “You took me very seriously. That’s my hat you’re putting on.”—London, May 3. Power Across the Channel The British and French crosschannel power cable is expected to be in service by the spring of 1961, says “The Times.” It will help to meet peak demands for electricity in each country, since the periods of greatest need do not coincide. The new route being planned will increase the total length of cable from 26 miles to 31 miles between the two terminals. This change has been decided for navigational reasons, and because it will place the link ! further away from popular fish- '■ ing grounds. Experience has [ shown a submarine cable in these waters might expect to receive ’ damage from ship’s anchors, • trawls, or other navigational I hazards, perhaps once a year, but it is hoped that the power cable would be more fortunate.—Lon- : don, May 3. Industrial Site Sold for £3700 A light industrial site of 28 i perches in Lichfield street was sold for £3700 at an auction in Christchurch yesterday. The site was offered on account of the trustees of the estate of the late Mr W. Robinson. There is a six-roomed wooden house on the site. Bidding began at £2500, and 1 rose by 10 bids of £lOO, two of £5O, and four of £25. Opticians’ Seminar

A study week-end for some 35 registered opticians from Otago and Canterbury is being held in Timaru this week-end. Members ; of the South Canterbury branch of the N6w Zealand Institute of Opticians are hosts to the seminar, which will be conducted on a pattern similar to one held in Hamilton last year. Three papers will be read to the seminar by Messrs J. Fairmaid, of Dunedin, M Cholerton, of Christchurch, and G. E. Cox, of Wellington. The president of the New Zealand Institute of Opticians, Mr E. Grocott, of Hamilton, will be present. Hail Damage to Pines A 20-acre plantation of Pinus Ponderosa at Homebush; belonging to the Selwyn Plantation Board, is showing severe damage as a result of a violent hailstorm on December 23 last year. Mr James Deans, chairman of the plantation board, considers that probably 70 per cent, of the trees have been affected, damage being most evident in the south-east area of the plantation. Mr Deans said that after the hail, which was up to two and a half inches in diameter, had bruised the branches, a disease entered, and many trees appeared to be dying. It was too soon, however, to tell what the final result would be, as some trees showed signs of recovery. Mr Deans said that some years ago a similar disease attacked Pinus ponderosa in a mixed plantation, after hail, leaving other trees untouched. Quick Response

The Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade has a reputation for smart turn-outs at all hours. No members of the brigade are at the station during the day, firemen having to come from their work on the waterfront and different parts of the town. When an alarm was given ; esterday afternoon an observer timed the turnout. The first engine was away in 54 seconds. The second engine, which waited for the other firemen, left a little more than a minute later. Fresh Water from the Sea

Britain and six other countries are backing a Dutch project to produce fresh water cheaply from sea water. The method, to be tested at Schveningen, uses elec-tro-dialysis, which draws the salt through filtering membranes. Fresh water could be produced for about 3s a cubic metre, it is claimed, compared with between 4s and 8s by the simpler condensation or chemical filtration methods. The Netherlands Institute for Applied Physical Research, employing 2800 people, is working on it. Greece has asked for a desigh for a large plant; France may use the method to develop the Sahara; South Africa and Australia may use it for sheep farms; Israel and Pakistan support the project too.—The Hague, May 2. Cow Shot in Street A frightened cow, breaking loose from Stortford Lodge saleyards, terrorised pedestrians, cyclists and motorists before being shot dead in Heretaunga street, Hastings, on Thursday. In its brief spell of liberty the cow sent people scattering for safety, kicked headlights from two cars, knocked over a small boy, and disrupted main-street traffic. The police were notified and Sergeant J. R. Adams and Constable N. G. Cooper arrived in a police car. Sergeant Adams, waiting until there was a concrete wall behind the cow, dropped it with his first shot. The cow was originally frightened by a fire engine racing to a call.