General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29712, 4 January 1962, Page 8

General News

Ask No Questions Two men were occupied with a theodolite and measuring pegs in the northern half of Latimer square yesterday afternoon. Several passers-by stopped to ask the men what they were doing and received the reply: "We are taking the levels for the foundations of the town halt” However, when a reporter from “The Press” introduced himself and asked the two men what they were doing, he was told: “We are just checking the instrument to make sure it is recording accurately.” One of the men added: “When we started, we decided to tell any stickybeaks who asked questions that we were working on the foundation for the town halt” Scott Postmark Nearly 2000 envelopes for posting at Scott Base on January 18, the fiftieth anniversary of Captain R. F. Scott’s arrival at the South Pole, have been received by the chief postmaster. Christchurch. The envelopes, which must carry Ross Dependency stamps, must be received by him by tomorrow. The anniversary cancellation will include the head and shoulders of a man in the headdress used by Scott's expedition and the words "1912 Scott’s Polar Journey. 1962, Scott Base. Ross Dependency.” First Nectarines The first of the season’s nectarines from Clyde, Central Otago, were sold in Christchurch produce markets yesterday for Is to Is 3d a pound. They are selling in the shops for 3s a pound. The first field mushrooms are selling for 8s to 9s a pound. Blood Bank Busy The North Canterbury Blood Transfusion Service has been very busy since before Christmas, and has had to make several calls on donors for particular types of blood. Over the holidays, A+ and A— donors were called on, and yesterday 20 O+ donors were asked to attend. The mobile unit of the service will visit the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, on January 18 Radios On Beaches The British Home Secretary (Mr R. A. Butler) has made it easier to prosecute people who play radios on beaches. He has sent the Town Council of Eastbourne, a coastal resort popular with holiday makers and the home of retired people, a model proposed by-law under which it will only be necessary to prove that “reasonable annoyance was caused to others” instead of to a particular person which is the case at the present This has frustrated local authorities from prosecuting because few people agree to go to Court and testify.—(London. January 3.) Jellyfish Plague A highly poisonous variety of jellyfish has plagued Hawke’s Bay beaches during the last few days, stinging hundreds of bathers. They appeared in large schools at Waimarama, 12 miles from Hastings, on Saturday, clearing the surf. On Sunday they arrived at Clifton and again most people left the water St. Helens Births On hundred and forty-six patients were admitted to St. Helens Hospital last month, and 129 babies were delivered This compared with 156 admissions and 132 deliveries in December. 1960 During last month, four pairs of twins were delivered, and another pair was born on Wednesday Healthy City No cases of notifiable diseases were reported in the Christchurch health district during the week ended December 30. "I don't know whether there weren’t any cases in the district, or whether the few doctors on duty have been too busy so far to send in their reports,” commented the medical officer of health (Dr L F Jepson) yesterday. Royal Muffin Man Twenty-five tradesmen have been added tc the list of Royal warrant holders entitled to display Royal Arms and the legend “By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second ’ They include bespoke oagpipe makers a muffin man, yacht builders, champagne dealers, gold and dive' lacemen. reed vision dealers chimney sweeps and the shop round the corner that delivers papers to Buckingham Palace Altogether there are about 1000 warrant holders from the last four reigns listed in the London Gazette (London January 3.) Anniversary The Auckland St. John Ambulance Association will be 70 years old on February 23 Formed in 1892, the organisation introduced hand litters for transporting patients in 1902, Last year, 27 ambulances carried 64,016 patients a record total of 132,418 miles.—(P.A.) Trial Surface The hundreds of motorists who travel the busy Te PukeMatata State highway are helping to test experimental road sealing work On a 15-chain section a new type of sealing, a further development of the soil-eement method, has been laid Bitumen has replaced cement as the agent to bind the mixture of metal and pumice which has been laid to a depth of six inches. Ministry of Works officers, closely watching to see how the road is standing up to traffic, say they are not sure whether it will require a final “topping” coat of metal chips.— (PAI