General News

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 8

General News

Aurora Australis A resident of Mt. Pleasant, seeing a bright red glow over a hill to the south-west about 10 p.m. yesterday, ran out into the night thinking the whole hillside was on fire but was relieved to find that it was an aurora australis painting rays of red light in the sky. The aurora described by a meterologist as “an electrical discharge thought to be caused by radiation from sun-spots,” could also be seen from Christchurch. The phenomenon continually changed shape and direction and finally moved over Banks Peninsula towards Akaroa. Frequently seen in the Antarctic, the aurora australis occasionally occurs in New Zealand skies but is often obscured by cloud. By-Pass Roads Engineers of the National Roads Board were five years ahead of most other people in New Zealand in their thinking for the future, the motorists’ representative (Mr P. W. Breen) told the South Island Motor Union conference in Christchurch last evening. They were planning roads to by-pass almost every major town so that through traffic would be unimpeded. This action was being taken because in 10 to 15 years the big cities and towns would not be able to handle the through traffic. Nelson Potatoes Regular quantities of new potatoes and peas from Nelson are arriving at Christchurch produce markets. They were selling in the shops yesterday for Is and 2s per lb respectively. Six and a half dozen bunches of asparagus were also received yesterday. It was mainly from Nelson, but some was grown in New Brighton and Kaiapoi. The price in the shops was 3s 6d to 5s 6d a bunch. Oyster Shortage > Only one small consignment of oysters from Bluff was received at the Christchurch fish market this week. Because of bad weather and south-west winds the oyster boats have remained in port. Further supplies of oysters are not expected until next Week. Aircraft Inspection Between 1 p.m. and 3 pun. on Sunday visitors to the United States Navy aircraft display at R.N.Z.A.F. station. Wigram,’ will have the opportunity of going through the Navy’s Super Constel- ■ lation airliner and Rear-Admiral George J. Dufek's command Skymaster. The Navy yesterday obtained ramps for the public to enter the aircraft. The full crews of the aircraft will be on hand to answer questions. Earthquakes Study of data recorded during 1000 x earthquakes in Antarctica last year by the New Zealand , expedition had shown the crust of the earth below the icecap to be a continent, the Dominion’s chief polar scientist (Dr. Trevor Hatherton) said in Christchurch yesterday. Dr. Hatherton said the thickness of the icecap was 35 kilometres, according to the data. That was a “cut and dried” project about which a paper was in preparation for publication; but study of other scientific disciplines in the Antarctic in 1957 had not been sufficiently advanced for conclusions to be drawn, he said.

Children’s Library 7 Stocked with about 1000 books, a new library for pupils of the Sydenham primary school will be opened today by the chairman of the school committee, Mr G. F. Murray. Originally the old theatre of the school, it has taken two months to renovate. The work has been done during week-ends by members of the school committee and interested parents. The floor has been sanded, new linoleum laid, and fluorescent lighting installed. Wool Prices A table of average prices paid for greasy wool sold at auction in New Zealand since 1921-22. which is included in the 58th annual review of Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd., shows the variable nature of the wool market In 1921-22 the average price per lb was 7.74 d or £9 a bale. The lowest prices recorded since that time were in 1931-32 and 1932-33 when the averages per lb. were 5.26 d and 5.168 d respectively and in each season the average figure for a bale was £7 10s sd. At the other end of the scale the highest average price per lb was 87.796 d paid in 1950-51 when the average price a bale was £122 3s lid. In that year the value of the country’s clip exceeded £lo7m. In the most recent season the average price per lb was 41.068 d and the average a bale £57 12s 7d. Tablets Missing Police warnings—directed particularly at children —were broadcast yesterday when two bottles of medicinal tablets disappeared from a package dropped on the road in Selwyn street. The package, containing bottles of peritrate tablets, fell from the back of a wholesale druggist’s delivery van at 10.30 a.m. The driver did not notice his loss until he had travelled some distance further. When he returned he found that two of the bottles were missing. As there were no fragments of broken glass on the road to indicate that they had broken, the police were notified. The tablets are said to be dangerous if taken not according to prescription. The bottles had not been returned to the police last evening