General News

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29352, 3 November 1960, Page 16

General News

Manapouri “Give me £1,152,000 and I will make sure that no Government can do anything to Manapouri except perhaps take a bath in it.” said Professor L. W. McCaskill, associate professor of rural education at Canterbury Agricultural College to a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand last evening. Professor McCaskill was comparing the amount given in Great Britain towards the preservation of scenery to that given by the Government in New Zealand. 93-Octane Petrol The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Holloway) is expected to announce details of the introduction of premium-grade. 93-octane petrol this week. He denied yesterday that its introduction would be delayed until April or May. As far as the Government was aware, he said, the new petrol would still be introduced from March 1. Tankers overseas are reported to be already loading the new petrol. It is expected to cost 3id or 4d more than standard grade. —(F.0.0.R.) Candid Diplomat A candid diplomat arrived at Wellington airport yesterday. When he was asked if he were pleased to be posted to New Zealand he replied: “Yes, but I would have been better pleased to have remained with my wife and family in Moscow.” He is Mr Nicolai Ivanov, new Charge d’Affaires at the Soviet Legation, who comes to New Zealand with a long record of diplomatic experience, a great deal of it in Germany.—(P.A.) Tsuba In ths East a tsuba is the 36 square feet covered by two sleeping mats. It is also a measure of land. Mr J. Roy Smith, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, heard that a tsuba in the centre of Hong Kong cost £lOOO and in Tokyo £2500 so great was the demand for major building sites. Coast Whitebait After a lull in catches for some weeks, whitebait fishermen in South Westland have reaped a rich harvest in the last few days during which- there have been some large runs. Seventy-two tins and boxes with a total weight of 1 ton scwt were railed to Christchurch from Greymouth last evening.—F.0.0.R. Mount Pleasant Slip The Mount Pleasant Boating Club will be supplied with a quantity of second-hand timber, not exceeding £5O in value, by the Lyttelton Harbour Board as assistance towards the building of a new slipway. Tongariro’s Power “There must be an awful lot of geothermal power going to waste there,” said Professor L. W. McCaskill to a meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand last evening. Professor McCaskill was looking at a slide of smoke coming out of the top of Mount Tongariro. He had just been commenting on the Manapouri power scheme, of which he disapproves. Wrong Address An application from a tenderer for the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel contract has applied to the Lyttelton Harbour Board for an area for the disposal of spoil in Lyttelton. The board decided that it will only consider such applications if they’ are forwarded through the Road Tunnel Authority.' Hotel Tariff Reduction Wellington hotels will give a 20 per cent reduction on tariffs between December 15 and January 12 as one step in the forthcoming promotion of Wellington as a holiday centre. Hotels as distant from Wellington itself as Paraparaumu and Eastbourne will support the reductions to encourage visitors to the city. ■ , Handling Of Cattle Facilities at Lyttelton for the handling of livestock were discussed in a letter from the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to the Harbour Board. The board decided yesterday, on the recommendation of the works committee, to advise the society that loading ramps were already provided. but that the handling of stock and provisions for handling were the responsibilities of shipping companies. k Like A Bride There were gasps and cries at the number of bouquets and sprays presented tb Miss M. B. Howard before she opened her election campaign for the Sydenham seat in the Hastings Street Hall last evening. Dressed in a powder blue frock with a choker of pearls. Miss Howard stood on the platform, her arms full of flowers. “I’ve never had so many in my life,” she said. “I don’t really know how a bride would feel—but I feel like a bride.” Distraction A defendant giving evidence jn a civil claim in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday gave as reasons for not seeing a motor-cyclist, whom his car struck in a city street, that the motor-cyclist must have been hidden from view behind a woman cyclist. The woman had a billowing skirt, and there was a wind blowing, he said. Mr N. M. Izard, S.M.: Perhaps your attention was distracted by the lady’s dress. Aluminum Formosa An aluminium relief model of the island of Formosa (which fits the palm of the hand) is the most unusual souvenir brought back by Mr J. Roy Smith from his recent tour. It shows all the mountains, rivers, and coastal deltas and was produced by the island’s own aluminium industry.

Hodges Paintings The loan by the Admiralty of oil paintings by William Hodges has been extended one year, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Anderton) said yesterday. The paintings by Hodges, who was artist to Captain Cook on his second voyage, were lent to New Zealand 18 months ago and have visited several centres. They are at present on display at the Turnbull Library. Wellington—(P. A.)