General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29838, 2 June 1962, Page 10

General News

100 Years Ago The dinner held at the Sign of the Takahe last evening to celebrate the centenary of the telegraph service in New Zealand, began with a quotation from "The Press”—“a paper that is a very reliable source of information,” said the DirectorGeneral of the Post Office (Mr D. Donaldson). Quoting from a report in “The Press” of a dinner held to celebrate the inauguration ot the telegraph service 100 years ago, Mr Donaldson read: “The dinner was a sumptuous one..and was done full justice to by upwards of 60 guests.” "We hope this one will be the same,” Mr Donaldson said —even though the menu might not emulate that of the 1862 dinner, when there were at least five types of soup, 11 different entrees, 11 main courses, 18 sweets, and "wines unlimited.” £l2OO Raised About £l2OO was raised in the street appeal held for the Cholmondeley Memorial Children’s Home yesterday. A tew suburban collectors’ boxes were still to come in when counting finished last 1 evening. Nearly 300 collec- . tors took part, including employees of 12 city firms who took turns manning 1 pouits outside their office i buildings. The collection raised more than that of 1960.

Visit From Choir The Negro soprano, Miss Camilla Williams, was visited ( at her hotel by the Cathedral Boys’ Choir, who went to bid her farewell before she left Christchurch yesterday. Miss Williams called on the choir earlier in the week. “Miss Williams showed the boys one or two things in regard to singing Negro spirituals. . and it was a wonderful thrill for the choir to meet and 1 hear such a superb artist,’’ said the choirmaster (Mr C. Foster Browne). “My Fair Lady” Sets The sets, costumes and properties of the J. C. Williamson production of “My Fair Lady" had been bought for use in South ’Africa, a managing-director of the company, Mr John McCallum, said in Christchurch yesterday Some of the cast might also go but that was a matter for negotiation between the cast and the South African company. The closing date in Christchurch for the production had not yet been decided definitely, but w’ould be some time in July, he said Welcome Inquiries Inquiries had been made within the last week by two Australian firms concerning the establishment of light industries in Christchurch, said the secretary of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr R. T. Alston) yesterday. The men concerned , had both based their interest on conclusions that land, ' building materials and labour were easier to obtain, and , less costly, in Canterbury , than in the North Island, said Mr Alston, The Canterbury > public relations officer (Mr [ E G. Beckett) was preparing facts and figures for the two companies. “It seems ! that there will be an influx t of industries into Canterbury [ within the next few years, particularly in View of the ’ Comalco developments in the • Invercargill area.” Mr Alston . said

Epilepsy Clubrooms The official opening of the new clubrooms of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Epilepsy Association will be performed on June 26 by the Mayor (Mr G Manning) The rooms, which will be rented from the Christchurch City Council. are in the Sydenham Public Library building They will be the first permanent “home" the branch has had Ground Lighting Authority has been received by the North Canterbury Hospital Board to call tenders for ground lighting for the Princess Margaret Hospital. The lamps will all be of the mushroom type, with shades which will direct the light on to the ground and prevent any disturbance of the patients. The car park will have two lamps at a greater height than in the rest of the grounds. Al) the wiring will be underground. The lighting will be by incandescent glass bulbs Nicotine Sulphate Authority has been given for nicotine sulphate to remain on sale to the general public until December 31, the Christchurch senior health inspector (Mr J B Snoad) said yesterday Originally, it had been intended that the chemical would be withdrawn as from 4une 30. Nicotine sulphate is a poison used predominantly in agricultural sprays. It will remain available to commercial growers after it Is withdrawn from genera] sale. Some Christchurch, retailers said they still had small stocks of the chemical while others said they had already sold out. No more would be imported in small quantities.