General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 12

General News

Go-Karters Honoured The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had accepted an invitation to attend the North Island v. lsland teams match to be conducted by the Mana 61ub at Paremata next ■week-end, announced the president of the New Zealand Go-Kart Federation (Mr B. H. Paton) to delegates who attended the second annual conference of the South Island Go-Kart Association at Geraldine at the week-end. This would be the first time a Prime Minister had attended a gokart meeting in his official capacity, Mr Paton said, and go-karters would appreciate this honour to their sport. The announcement was greeted with applause.— (P.A.) Distinctive Uniform

“You may wonder why we American boy scouts are dressed up like German Christmas .trees, hangings and bangles and all,” said the Rev. M. Punnett, showing off his bright red uniform to Canterbury scouters on Sat-i urday. "We have to go out in the woods at all times of year, but others also go out. and anything moving in the woods is liable to look like a deer unless it is distinctively coloured,” he explained. Wagers Watered Down

Dumbfounded racing fans watched their bets literally float away yesterday when Puss in Boots, leading the field by two lengths in the Straight, suddenly galloped i off the course and plunged; into a lake, pursued by its jockey, a rowing boat full of track officials, five stableboys, and three grooms. The horse, egged on by the encouragement of fans who wagered on other entries, swam about 200 yards and stayed in the water for six minutes. The grooms eventually caught up with the horse and coaxed it ashore. Puss in Boots had carried 17.335 dollars.—(Forterie, Ontario, September 3.) Walker In Wellington Mr Percy Thomas, who is walking from Cape Reinga to Bluff in an endeavour to rectify a leg disability,; reached Wellington on Saturday after having taken i two months on the walk • from Cape Reinga. Mr Thomas, who is 36, will havethe plaster on his “good" leg' changed at Wellington Hos-! pital, and will leave for Pic-1 ton later in the week to con-| tinue his walk south. He said last evening that he already felt an improvement in his disabled leg as the result of the exercise.—(P.A.) Weedens? Weedons was named after “Teddy Weedon.” driver of the first stage coach through the area, said Mr L. R. Ellis, a former teacher at Weedons School, at the school’s ninetieth anniversary celebrations on Saturday. “He didn’t know if his name was spelt ’Weedon’ or ‘Weeden’,” said Mr Ellis. By Hand Bowser attendants at petrol stations had good reason to regret the power failures on Saturday evening. There was the usual run of business from motorists returning from Saturday outings orpreparing for Sunday trips, but with the power off, it was not just a matter of pressing the switch at the hose nozzle. Each bowser had to be hand cranked many times to pump each gallon of petrol. “Rescue” From Sea Hundreds of visitors to the Australian aircraft carrier, Melbourne, in Auckland yesterday saw a helicopter “rescue” a man from the sea. Twice during the afternoon the Australians put on this special display for the thousands who tramped through the ship. An esti--mated 7000 people saw the carrier yesterday and about 5000 on Saturday. Across the harbour at Devonport Naval Base the Australian destroyer, Anzac, had about 1200 visitors in the two days it was open to the public. Both the Australian ships together with the New Zealand frigate. Otago, will sail at 9 a.m. today for Wellington where they will arrive on Wednesday.—(P.A.)