General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 10

General News

First Casualty Cricket teams do not often ; suffer casualties at the rate common with Rugby teams, but the New Zealand cricketera who left Christchurch yesterday for their South African tour had with them one bandaged player. He was the vice-captain, M. E. Chapple, who has injured the middle finger of his right hand. Chapple was making a gate at his home in Shirley, about 48 hours before the departure of the team. With the last blow at the last nail, he hit his right hand with the hammer, and injured the top joint of the middle finger. Chapple bats right-handed, but bowls, and hammers, with his left. £7540 Ram A Merino ram fetched a record Australian price of SOOOgns at auction in Western Australia yesterday. This price—equivalent to £7540 in New Zealand currency—is also believed to be a world record. A two-year-old ram from Mount Bryan, South Australia, the ram was bought by another South Australian stud, W. B. Ashby and Sons, Ltd., which is only 25 miles away from the vendor’s stud. The previous Australian record was 8300gns, in Sydney last year. —Perth, October 6. Mowers And TV Twenty motor-mowers tested by the Consumer Service were also tested by Post Office ’engineers to see if they interfered with radio or television reception, says the “Consumer,” the official journal of the service. All were satisfactory but one. which caused slight interference on Channel 1 television frequency in Auckland and “fairly pronounced interference” on Channel 3 in Christchurch. The “Consumer” says the fitting of a standard spark plug suppressor eliminated the trouble. Power No Dearer Increased electricity charges will not apply to Greymouth and other areas controlled by the Grey Electric Power Board. When it was announced that the Government would increase the price of bulk power under an agreement with the supply authorities, the Grey Electric Power Board announced that the savings effected by the load-control equipment would take care of the rise in price, which the board would be able to carry itself.—(F.O.O.R.) Government Tenders The new Government policy of advertising tne successful tenderer for civil engineering and building contracts valued at £lO,OOO and more has resulted in a notice in the Gazette this week of four tenders. The biggest is £53,644 for a West Taupo access road. The successful tender of £42,736 for the Kamo post-primary school, Nelson type block 4, is also reported. X-Ray Figures The Health Department’s two mobile units and one static unit X-rayed 625 persons in Christchurch yesterday. Since the scheme came into operation in the city 31,021 persons have been X-rayed. Hospital Generator A standby electrical generating plant is to be installed at the Princess Margaret Hospital to take over the minimum demand load in an emergency. The North Canterbury Hospital Board has been authorised by the Department of Health to accept the tender of Turnbull and Jones, Ltd., for the work. The generator will be dieseldriven and will generate three phases at 410 volts with a capacity of 150 kilovoltamps. Made in Wolverhampton, England, it is expected to be installed within about nine months. Fishing Rivers The Waiau, Hurunui, and Waimakariri fivers were reported as dirty at 9 a.m. yesterday by the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. The Rakaia gorge and the Ashley river were discoloured, and the Rakaia mouth and the Selwyn river were clear and fishable. The Halswell river was clear and fishable, subject to Catchment Board operations.