General News

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 14

General News

Fire In Ship Put Out

Promi t action by the crew of the ship Silverpoint smothered a fire in one of her sulphur-laden after holds as she steamed into Auckland from Balboa yesterday morning. The ship has 11,000 tons of sulphur on board. A spark caused when the hatches were being raised is believed to have started the fire. The Auckland Harbour Board fire tug Te Awhina was alerted, and a fire engine sent to King’s wharf when news of the fire was received. But when a fire inspector went aboard the Silverpoint from, a customs launch the fire was out. The crew had shovelled more sulphur on the blaze and smothered it before it could gain a deepseated hold. —(P.A.) Malapropism A woman defendant in a civil claim set down for hearing m the Magistrate’s Court yesterday wrote a letter to the Court in which she explained that she was unable to attend because her 16-month-old baby was ill with a germ in the bell. “I am not familiar with anatomy. What is a bell?” asked Mr L. N. Ritchie. S.M., when the letter was shown to him. The Court Bailiff stepped forward. “With respect, sir, I think she means the bowel,” he said, amid laughter.

Toll Lines Restored All Canterbury toll lines which had been put out of service by high winds on Monday were restored by 3 p.m. yesterday. Extra men from the Christchurch branch of the Post and Telegraph Department were sent to the Kaikoura area, to attend the damage to the lines. The greatest damage was on the inland route, from Waiau to Kaikoura, mainly through falling trees. Decision Deferred ? “The secretary and I met with the Minister of Education a week or two ago to discuss the proposed new high school at Aranui,'* said the chairman of the Christchurch Post-primary Schools’ Council (Mr W. J. Cartwright) lastx evening. “No decision was made, and no indication was given as to when it would be made.” “You can be sure it won’t be made before November 30,” said Professor H. J. Hopkins. Repeated Offence Released a few days ago after serving a six weeks’ prison sentence for theft of an electric razor from a fellow guest at a Greymouth hotel, Alfred William Donaldson, aged 64, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday. He was sentenced by Messrs M. G. Kelly and W. E. Pring, Justices of the Peace, to two months’ imprisonment —for the theft of an electric razor from a fellow guest at a Greymouth hotel.— (F.0.0.R.) Nelson Thunderstorm After thunder and lightning on Saturday, when three cows at 88 Valley were killed. Nelson on Monday night had the most severe and prolonged thunderstorm for many years. One Nelson resident who counted the flashes of lightning said there were 1200 between 12.15 and 2.10 a.m. Telephone communication was cut and power supply interrupted. The electrical storm continued sporadically yesterday.—F.O.O.R. New Frigates Named The Royal New Zealand Navy’s two new fast anti-submarine frigates, at present being built in Britain. will be known as H.M.N.Z.S. Otago and H.M.N.Z.S. Taranaki. Yesterday, the Minister of Defence (Mr D. J. Eyre) said the selection of names had been difficult as there were many persons, places and events in New Zealand and its history that could appropriately give their names to New Zealand warships. All had strong claims and all had been considered carefully. Mr Eyre added that present plans were that the ships would be completed, commissioned. and on their way to New Zealand by mid-1960. (P.A.)

N.Z. Traffic Inspectors

A British visitor to New Zealand, Mr W. H. Darling, of Royston, near Cambridge, who is a Nuffield scholar, believes that New Zealand traffic inspectors could well take a leaf out of the book of London policemen, who are famed for. their courtesy. “I am rather amazed at the general lack of courtesy shown by traffic inspectors,” he I said in Christchurch. On point duty, he said, they showed impatience, and elsewhere they seemed to be more interested in laying a trap to catch the motorist than in trying to help the conscientious motorist. Globemaster Flights A United States Air Force Globemastser is flying a “shuttle service” between McMurdo Sound and Christchurch. The aircraft landed at Christchurch airport at 5 a.m. yesterday, and left again at 4 p.m. with Navy cargo for Antarctic bases. It is due back in Christchurch today. Capping Proceeds Final proceeds of the 1957 capping week held by the students of the University of Canterbury have been disbursed to a number of charitable organisations, the Students’ Association executive reported yesterday. Donations to the various bodies were:—Canter-bury-Westland branch of the Crippled Children Society, £77; Nurse Maude District Nursing Association, £77; Christchurch Deaf Club, £5O; and the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, £5O. These donations will be used for specific purposes for which the organisations would not normally have finance available. Bumper Apple Crop For the third year in succession an apple crop of more than one million bushels is likely to be harvested in Hawke’s Bay. The season gives promise of being the best ever for fruit production with the likelihood of apples, pears and stone fruit yields approaching a total of two million bushels. —(P.A.) Slip On Main Trunk A slip fell on the North Island main trunk railway line between Kakahi and Owhango at 11 a m. yesterday and blocked the line. Some goods trains were held up but the delays were not serious. The line was open again at 3 p.m. —4P.A.)