General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29707, 28 December 1961, Page 8

General News

Did His Scone Having a picnic lunch in the back of a dormobile on holiday in Scotland, Mr W B Laing, a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, offered a scone to a sheep standing near No nervous sheep this. It came across to the van, pu’ its feet on the tailboard and gobbled up the scone Three scones later Mr Laing took a picture of the sheep Mr Laing arrived back last week after eight and ahalf months overseas in Scotland and England. Hungry Pigeons One hundred New Zealand native pigeons recently landed in a paddock on the Fox river flats in South Westland, according to the New Zealand Forest Service newsletter. The pigeons were seen eating a large portion of a turnip crop. They make seasonal migratory movements and come down to the lower country during the late winter when there are no berries m their feeding grounds, the newsletter said. Record Claimed A 70-year-old Jugoslav rope winder, Cedomir Radojevic, claims a world record in walking backward more than 24.840 miles. He does about three miles each day. twisting rope strands together as he goes, and has been walking backwards for the last 50 years, the Associated Press reported.—(Belgrade. December 27 ) Carrots Dear Spring carrots at Is 9d a bunch, in the produce markets yesterday. were 9d dearer than last week. They are selling in the shops for up to 2s 5d a bunch Tomatoes were plentiful and cheaner at 2s to 3s a pound in the shops. Marrows were also plentiful and sold for Is 6d to 2s 6d each. Watch Burns Those who do their own repair work on the family car should first remove their wrist watches for safety's sake, says the Health Department’s bulletin. One man recently short-circuited his ear's battery, by means of the metal band of his wrist watch, while he was working on his car. The band became red hot and left an imprint on the back of his wrist where the skin received a severe burn The results of such an accidental contact of a watch band (or/ a ring) could be serious I Fish Scarce Fish was scarce in city shops yesterday because little fishing was done during Christmas. Most of the boats were out yesterday and good supplies of most varieties are expected in the shops today. Fashion Disease An ailment which has been reported by the British Medical journal to be increasing is “winkle-picker’s” disease —a foot condition which have been so much swelling in the tendon of the big toe This relatively uncommon ailment has become more prevalent sin e the introduction of the long, narrow, and pointed shoes which have tbeen so much in vogue in the last two years The irritation caused by the rim of the shoe constricting the top of the big toe is particularly noticeable when breaking in a new pair of shoes This condition can be cured quite simply—by wearing a less extreme style of shoe. Equine Habits An American missionary in Molina. Chile, Father T J Plunkett, is advising fellow missionaries to investigate the previous owner before buying a horse if they wish to avoid embarrassment The proud buyer of a fine stallion. Father Plunkett was surprised to find his horse pulling to a dead stop in front of every saloon in town On checking with the horse trader, he discovered that the stallion's previous owner was the town’s heaviest drinker