General News

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 12

General News

Queen Mother’s Message

Children who attended Mr R. H. Stillwell’s open-air celebration in honour of the Queen Mother, and who were disappointed when Her Majesty did not come, may be gratified to know they were not forgotten. Mr Stillwell has received a letter from one of Her Majesty’s ladies-in-waiting in which she writes: “I am commanded by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, to write and thank you for your kind letter. While Her Majesty much appreciates the thought which prompted you to put forward this invitation, I am afraid that Queen Elizabeth’s programme in New Zealand was so full that it was not possible for her to take advantage of your kindness.” Roads Reopened The Automobile Association, Auckland, reported last night that with one exception all main highways closed by flooding in the North Island were again open. The exception was the Te KuitiTaumarunui highway, which has been closed about 14 miles south of Te Kuiti by the subsidence 6f five chains of road.—(P.A.) Nutritious Her Majesty’s Customs may be having trouble deciding whether an imported skeleton should be classified as a surgical appliance or scientific equipment, but the National Library Service has no doubts whatsoever about the glassification for Aucklander James McNeish’s book ‘‘Tavern in the Town.” All drinking men will agree that it is correctly listed in the latest catalogue under the heading “Nutrition.” Fiji And Date Line The internatiohal date line is still causing confusion to some visitors to Fiji, according to a newsletter from the Fiji Visitors’ Bureau, Suva. The 180th meridian runs right through Fiji but for convenience it bends around the group so as not to confuse the issue. Otherwise where the line hits Tavenui the Fijians in one plantation would be knocking off work for the day because it was Sunday. On the plantation across the road they would be working because it was Saturday. Rare Coins Two of the oldest coins in existence, and certainly the oldest in New Zealand, make a valuable addition to the very extensive collection of the Otago Museum. They are about 2600 years old, and were obtained from the United States through a bequest fund. Both of silver, the coins—a stater and half-stater—were issued by Croesus, the fabulously wealthy King of Lydia, who was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia in 546 B.C. Hotel Praised Archie Scott-Brown, the wellknown English racing driver, has written a letter of high praise for a hotel on the outskirts of Christchurch. In a letter to the editor of “The Press” Mr Scott-Brown wrote: “The proprietor and his wife made us feel as near at home as was humanly possible—and the hotel itself was as nice as any we found in New Zealand.” Mr Scott-Brown was in Christchurch for the JLady Wigram Trophy race last January. Hotels For Fiji Plans for two large new hotels in Fiji were announced last month, according to a newsletter received from the Fiji Visitors' Bureau, Suva. A hotel of at least 80 rooms is planned for Suva and one of 100 rooms for a site near Nandi International Airport. A new company, South Seas Enterprises, Ltd., has been formed with headquarters in Canada, to start the project. Fishing Rivers According to advice received by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, the condition of the fishing rivers at noon yesterday was:—Ashley, Selwyn, Waiau and Waimakariri, clear and fishable; Halswell, clear and fishable subject to Catchment Board operations; Hurunui and Lower Rakaia, discoloured but fishable; Upper Rakaia, normal and slightly discoloured. The weather at Highbank and Lake Coleridge was calm and clear. Return Of Royalist The New Zealand cruiser Royalist, which is serving with the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve in Far-east Asia, will return to Auckland on July 4. This was announced by the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) yesterday. He said the Royalist would be succeeded by the frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti, which would leave Auckland on April 8. Mr Connolly said that since the Royalist left Auckland in May last year she had represented New Zealand with distinction in the Far East. In nine months she had steamed more than 23.000 miles and visited Australia, Singapore. Malaya, Japan, and Korea. The Royalist will leave Singapore on June 18 and will visit Cairns for fuel on her passage home.—(P.A.)