General News

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28752, 25 November 1958, Page 14

General News

Pipes Only Sixth form boys at Britain’s most expensive school have been told by their headmaster that if they must smoke, it must be a i pipe. "Cigarettes are banned I until further notice.’’ he told i them, according to the “Daily j Mirror.” The edict came from Mr R. J. O Meyer, the headmaster of Millfield School, at Street. Somerset, where pupils’ fees average £550 a year.—London. November 24. Charitable Bequests A retired Ruakaka farmer, Mr W. P. S. Astley, who died on October 14, has bequeathed £5OO to the Beneficiaries and Old Folks’ Association in Whangarei, and an estimated £2OOO to the Papatoetoe Orphans’ Home. Other bequests are £250 to the St. John Ambulance Brigade at Whangarei. and £250 to the Nurses’ Cottage Fund at Green Lane Hospital, Auckland. Mr Astley was a single man who retired some years ago from farming to live with friends at Waipu. He served as a mounted trooper in World War I.—(P.A.) Power Boats On Lakes Power boats on Lake Pearson and other lakes along the road to the West Coast “are causing disturbance to fishermen and bird life” according to the Canterbury branch of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. It has asked the Canterbury University Council, which owns the land, to prohibit power boats and has offered the services of its honorary rangers. The university will investigate the legal position. Native Flowers Picked The wanton destruction of mountain lilies and ourisia, which are now coming into flower ar the summit of Arthur’s Pass, is causing concern to members of the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board. A recent inspection of the park had revealed that numbers of these native flowers had been picked, in some cases within sight of notices stating that the destruction of plants in the park was a serious offence. “The flowers will not last after they have been picked, and it reflects a very selfish attitude of individuals who remove the flowers and take them away for their own enjoyment when the flowers could stay in the park for the enjoyment of all members of the public.” said a spokesman for the board yesterday. Vegetable Supplies Supplies of most varieties of vegetables were plentiful at produce markets in Christchurch yesterday. Spring carrots were in demand and these were sold for 9s and 12s a dozen bunches. New season’s runner beans were on sale and these were also in demand. The beans are grown locally and were sold for 2s 3d per lb. Tomatoes were sold for 4s per lb. This was slightly cheaper than last week when they were 4s 6d. Magnetic Charts Magnetic charts of New Zealand were equal to the best he had seen, said Dr. P. H. Serson, a Canadian scientist. The charts are used for navigation and as a basis for aerial surveying and prospecting. Dr. Serson is leader of a team of Canadian scientists who are making a magnetic survey of the Pacific Ocean by air The Pacific is an area which has been neglected for a number of years, he said. Electras For T.E.A.L. Sir Richard Williams, a member of the board of directors of Tasman Empire Airways. Ltd., said yesterday that he thought Lockheed Electra turbo-prop aircraft would be flying to New Zealand in about 12 months. Sir Richard Williams arrived by T.E.A.L. aircraft from Melbourne to attend a meeting of the board of directors in Auckland today.—(P.A.) Hand Propelled Mr Sydney Ahern, aged 73, of Singers road, Korokoro, set off from home at 10.30 am. on Saturday for the garden party at the Hutt Hospital—by wheelchair. Virtually bedridden for the last 25 years, and confined to his wheelchair since 1951, Mr Ahern covered the four miles before lunch. “I just wanted to see if I could do it,” he said. He had to manipulate the wheelchair by hand all the way, but on the return journey he took a taxi for most of the way.