General News

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28660, 9 August 1958, Page 12

General News

Cat’s Paradise A stray Tennessee cat yesterday wandered into the Oak Ridge National Laboratory containing more than 150,000 mice. But he had managed to catch and devour only eight mice running loose in a hall before he, in turn, was caught by employees. Nuclear scientists use the mice in studying the genetic effects of atomic radiation.—Oak Ridge, August 8. 20th “Doing Well” A 47-year-old Maori woman. Mrs Ngawiki Harrison, gave birth to her 20th child—a girl weighing 71b- loz—shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday, at the National Women’s Hospital, Auckland. Both the mother and child are reported to be “doing well.” The girl is to be named Mihihara. Mrs Harrison had * tier first child when she was 17. Thirteen of her children are living, and she has 16 grandchildren.—(P.A.) Spring Vegetables Spring vegetables are arriving earlier than usual in Christchurch produce markets this month, because of the recent mild weather. New potatoes and green peas from Nelson were on sale yesterday at Is per lb and 2s 6d per lb respectively. Hothouse lettuce were on sale at 2s ’ each. North Island tomatoes, grown indoors, were selling at 3s per lb, and locallygrown at 6s per lb. 70-Volume Bible A New Zealand theologian, Mr David Outram, had to have his Bible weighed at Essendon airport today before he could board an aircraft for Launceston. It was a braille copy of 70 volumes locked in four large cases. They weighed 1501 b. Mr Outram, a retired Auckland tea seller, who went blind when he was six, is having six months’ holiday in Australia with his wife. He is an authority on braille, and transcribed his own copy of the Bible. Mr Outram said that most of his spare time was devoted to the study of the Bible.—Melbourne, August 8. Waterfront Slack There was little work available on the waterfront at Lyttelton yesterday, and 331 watefsiders returned home. The Karamu, with wheat from Port Lincoln, arrived in the afternoon. At present, 12 vessels are expected to arrive during the week-end, and most of the labour should be employed on Monday. School Cadets’ Course Four-hundred and fifty boys from 45 South' Island secondary schools will attend a six-day pren.c.o. course at Burnham Military Camp during the August school holidays. The epurse commandant, Major R. E. Johnston, will be assisted by 11 school cadet officers, 30 cadet n.c.o.’s as well as members of the Regular Force. The cadets will be instructed in rifle drill, including shooting, and fieldcraft, and will have lectures on sundry organisations. Niue Island Kumeras Kumeras from Niue Island will be on sale in Christchurch next week. A consignment of 300 bags was transhipped from' the Tofua at Auckland and should arrive at Lyttelton early in the week. Fish Scarcity Groper, gurnet, flounder and sole were in short supply at the Christchurch fish market yesterday because of poor catches. Reasonable supplies of tarakihi were selling at 2s 3d per lb. Qrayfish were selling at 3s 6d per lb. Oysters were scarce because of bad weather at Bluff. More Bankruptcies There were 413 bankruptcies in New Zealand last year, nearly twice as n _ny as in 1955, according to the annual report *of the Justice Department There were 214 in 1955 and 277 in 1956. Company liquidations ordered by the Supreme Court dropped from, 19 in 1956 to 16 last year. There were 11 in 1955 and nine in 1954. Prison Industries Tailoring, furniture and concrete block ,making are being considered as’additional industries at Paparua Prison, according to the annual report of th" Justice Department. A large workshop is to be erected to provide for the furniture factory and tailoring. A further increase in the poultry buildings is also proposed. There are 2149 birds in the poultry flock compared with 1200 in 1939.