General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 12

General News

Anxious At least three anxious school pupils spent two hours and a half waiting outside “The Press’’ office last evening to see the school certificate results in the first edition of "The Press.” They arrived from the Canterbury swimming championships at 10 45 pm. and arranged themselves in one of the niches of the building with a blanket and fish and chips Others arrived later. Heaviest Marlin Dr. T. J. McCormac, of Wellington, landed the heaviest striped marlin of the Bay of Islands season from the I launch Leilani yesterday. The fish weighed 3671 b This fish was only 51b lighter than the heaviest striped marlin caught last year.—(P.A.) Coconuts A small shipment of coconuts from the Pacific Islands | was sold in Christchurch produce markets yesterday They are selling in city shops for Is 6d each. Good Otago and local plums were in short supply and sold for up to 3s a pound. Field mushrooms are most plentiful and are selling for up to 6s a pound. Tanker Leaves The supply tanker Chattahoochee, is expected to sail from Lyttelton for McMurdo at daybreak today with nearly a million and a quarter gallons of fuel. This is the Chattahoochee’s third and last trip south for the season, and upon completion of discharge at the base, the tanker will return direct to the United States. Radiata For Poles The sale of radiata pine for telephone and electric power poles has been successfully developed during the last year by the Forest Service. More than 10,000 poles from 18ft to 28ft were produced from State forests in Canterbury. The Conservator of Forests, Mr H. V. Hinds, said yesterday that radiata, treated under pressure with preservatives, could compete in price and durability with eucalypts imported from Australia, though its strength was not as great. Larch and Douglas fir continue to be used for poles. The forests’ firewood market has fallen off. Handling costs make it expensive fuel, and kerosene and electric heaters have been hotly competitive. Solo Flight For the first time in about five years the British racing driver. Stirling Moss, flew solo in an aircraft yesterday. After a few familiarisation flights in a Canterbury Aero Club Tripacer with instructors. Moss took the aircraft up at 6.30 p.m, and flew it alone. On landing the club manager (Mr R. F. Short) presented Moss with the club badge and made him an honorary member. Mr B Webb, an instructor who worked with Moss and watched the solo, said the car driver’s handling of the aircraft was ‘‘pretty smooth." Opossum In Gardens A silver-grey opossum has been noticed about the Rolleston avenue frontage of the Botanic Gardens in the evenings recently. One evening it was seen on the ground outside the house of the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) and mistaken by his wife for a cat. Opossums are usually fond of eating roses, but the opossum has not so far done any damage in the rose garden. “As long as this opossum doesn't do any damage, we won’t worry about him,” said Mr Gilpin yesterday. Fish Supplies Good supplies of most varieties of fish were available in Christchurch fish shops yesterday. If the weather is fine today good supplies are expected again Prices a pound were: groper, 4s; crayfish. 4s 6d; gurnard, 2s 3d to 2s 6d: ling, 2s to 2s 3d; soles, kingfish, bream, and tarakihi, 3s; and flounders. 2s 8d to 3s 6d. Sharks At Bluff Sharks up to 15ft long have been seen in Bluff Harbour The sharks have been seen near the yacht shed on the foreshore and round the island harbour area A boyswimming off the yacht shed today turned round as ne was stepping out of the water to see a large shark within a few feet of him.—(P.A.)