General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29819, 11 May 1962, Page 12

General News

They Danced On Competitors in the Westport Competitions Society’s festival danced on during one severe earthquake jolt yesterday afternoon. The main shock came during the competitions luncheon interval, but in spite of many withdrawals, and some visiting competitors leaving hurriedly for their homes, it was decided to carry on the programme during the afternoon. The competitions are being held in the Holland Hall, part of one of Westport’s strongest buildings.— (F.0.0JR.) Fog At Harewood Fairly heavy fog was experienced in Harewood, Fendalton, and areas near the Avon river last evening. According to the weather office at Harewood there was a ground frost about 6.45 p.m., and a westerly drift about 8.45 p.m. brought fog to the Harewood district. The airport was closed after 8.45 p.m. but this did not affect air services, as the last passenger plane had left at 8.15 p.m. There was very little fog in the city area, and none at Lyttelton. Out Of The Bin “We have to get our heads out of the compost bins and look to the farms and gardens where food is grown,” Mr A. J. Bristow, newlyelected president of the New Zealand Organic Compost Society, told the annual conference yesterday. “We will have to make our meetings more interesting and attract more members if we want

our movement to grow,” he said. Mercy Flight At first light today, a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hastings will leave Whenuapai on a 3760-mile dash across the Pacific in an attempt to save a man’s life. The man, aged 30, is in the Rarotonga Hospital desperately ill and in need of special surgical treatment. At present he is being fed intravenously. Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, is the nearest hospital with the necessary facilities. The Hastings will have on board an Air Force doctor and a nursing sister. On arrival at Whenuapai the man will be taken to Green Lane for an operation.—(P.A.) Under Par The £NZ is worth less than 18s (sterling) in Hong Kong. Selling rates for currency notes on April 7 quoted by Hong Kong exchange dealers are published in the latest edition of the “Far Eastern Economic Review.” The £ sterling is selling for 16.0 Hong Kong dollars, the Australian £ at 12.8 dollars and the New Zealand £ at 14.3 dollars. This places a value of 16s (the official rate of exchange) on the Australian £ and 17s lid- (compared with the official rate of 20s) on the New Zealand £. Retired The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) is released from his military obligations by a notice gazetted this week by die Army Department. Under the list of retirements, Major the Hon. J. R. Marshall is posted to the retired list from March 5, 1962. Mr Marshall enlisted as a private in 1940 and went to the Pacific with the sixth reinforcements. He was commissioned in the 36th Battalion and served in the Solomons campaign. Later, he served in the Middle East and Italy as a squadron leader in the Divisional Cavalry.