General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 10

General News

End Seemed Near The earthquake shocks at Westport came as a weird and rather terrifying experience to some people, in particular a monumental mason who went ti> the Buller district in recent years from Europa. He was working at Orowaiti cemetery when he felt the earthquake, his first. His first thought was that the world was coming to an end, and that he had selected an appropriate place for that final event in the history of mankind. Later he realised what had happened, but was shaken by the experience.— (F.0.0.R.) M.P. To Shift An announcement that he had bought a house in Oamaru and would be shifting there on Monday was made this week by Mr A. D. Dick, M.P. for Waitaki. Mr Dick said he would then be in a better position to attend to local problems. He has a farm at Lake Tekapo. Yesterday’s Frost A three-degree frost was recorded at the Botanic Gardens, and a 2.8 degree frost at Harewood yesterday morning. It was the second frost this winter, the first being on April 26, when the recording was 1.8 degrees, at Harewood. First Earthquake A Dutch family of eight, who had travelled from Nelson to Westport in the afternoon without fully realising that there had been an earthquake on the West Coast, booked into one of the leading Westport hotels on arrival on Thursday, and were given rooms upstairs. They were enjoying dinner when a severe shake occurred at 6.50 pun. The dining-room was a scene of chaos, with the Dutch children in a panic. They, with other visitors, immediately booked out to get accommodation in a motor camp at Carters Beach. It was their first experience of an earthquake.— (F.0.0.R.) School Shop About 20 boys in the fifthform building class of the Bumside High School will erect a school shop next term. The board of governors seemed to think it was an ambitious project; but the headmaster (Mr C. Cross) said it was within the capacity of the class and would give much more meaningful training than just making model plans and joints. Clergy School The annual clergy school of the Diocese of Christchurch will be held from May 14 to 17. The Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) will open the school and give a lecture on the World Council of Churches conference at New Delhi. Other subjects to be studied will be the Prayer Book from 1662 to 1962, the church and the family, and contemporary threats to family life. Poison Pamphlet A poison-warning pamphlet intended to be posted in a prominent place in every home has been prepared by the Department of Health. It is entitled “Protect Your Family Against Poisoning,” and was originally compiled by the United States Department of Health. Education, and Welfare The pamphlet details precautions against many forms of accidental household poisoning, especially of children. Numbered 111, it will be available soon from any district office of the Health Department. Kumeras Cheap Kumeras which sold for Is a pound in city fruit and vegetable markets yesterdav. were cheaper than last week when they sold for Is 8d a pound Cauliflowers were from 9d to Is 6d each, and second-rate bananas were from 8d to Is a pound Pig Unclaimed A weaner pig. which was seized by the ranger on May 4 at McCormack's Bav and impounded at the Wa’imairi County pound, has not been claimed by its owner. It will be offered for sale by public auction at noon on Monday if it is still unclaimed. Greenstone Gift The Maori people of Arahura. on the West Coast, for many centuries guardians of the greenstone territory and skilled workers of the prized material, have sent a large piece as a gift to King Koriki. The stone was brought to Turangawaewae Pa. Ngaruaw’ahia. by South Island Maoris who arrived attend the Anglican Maori gathering being held there.— (P.A.)

Seafaring Children Otahuhu children have been helping themselves to parts of cars, bathtubs and anything that would float from the borough tip. Thev have then got into difficulties trying to sail across the Tamaki estuary. The Otahuhu Borough Council said that in future the tip attendant was to use the council bulldozer to break up or puncture anything that was likely to float.

Representative Nominations will close on May 2t> for the election of a representative of postpnmary school boards on the Canterbury University Council This is a new seat under the new constitution of the - At Burnside Schoo] board's meetin e Mr A F Foley suggested that electing bodies should confer through the Christ, churcn Post-Primary Schools’ Council to avoid submitting perhaps a dozen nominations and dividing votes unduly.

Property Sold.—A flveroomed house on 30 perches of land at 244 Gresford street, St. Albans, was sold at auction yesterday for £1750.