General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30005, 14 December 1962, Page 12

General News

Warm At The Pole While Christchurch has been the hottest city in New Zealand for three days this week the Antarctic has also had a minor heat wave. The -.emperature at the South Pole yesterday was minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. McMurdo Station was really warm, the temperature there was 21 degrees. There was “no snow m town” and water was flowing down the streets which slope towards McMurdo Sound. “Justice Is Done” Mr E. C. Champion, chairman of the Joint Standing Committee of the North and South Island Motor Unions, and a member of the council of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) was congratulated on his appointment to the committee set up by the Government to consider the principle of absolute liability in motor accidents, when the Canterbury association’s council met last evening. “At last justice is done,” said Mr F. W. Freeman. New Bridge Ready Traffic will be permitted to drive over the new overhead bridge at Lyttelton tomorrow The bridge is already being used by pedestrians. At present no opening ceremony has been mooted. Staff from the old wooden Railway goods office next to the bridge will move into the former Harbour Board building next door, which has been renovated. Betjeman’s Show Drawing curious crowds to the West End Gallery is an exhibition of iron coal-hole covers between 100 and 200-years-old, each with a different decorative design. The exhibition was opened by the lover of Victoriana, Mr John Betjeman, author and poet, who said the coal-hole covers “are marvellous because they show ingenuity can be put into working an attractive design in a circle. The best place for coal-holes is Bloomsbury. They are in Kensington too. and there are some lovely ones in Oxford street. I always look for them when I'm walking. Oh, I do like cast iron, think of how much work went into them.” Off Coats Members of the Heathcote County Council were invited by their chairman (Mr J. C. Hollis) to remove their coats, last evening, and they all did. “This is something you can’t do in Parliament.” said Cr. W. E. McGavick. Airport Tree A large Christmas tree handsomely decorated was placed in the foyer of the Christchurch airport terminal building last evening. Decorated by the airport management staff in their own time it will remain there over the holiday period. Contributions placed in the box at the foot of the tree will this year go to the Oholmondeley Home. Museum Sound Films The Little Film Society and the Christchurch Movie Club, both of which use the Canterbury Museum theatre for screenings, have complained that the sound system leaves much to be desired. They say the speaker is improperly placed and that “sound would be improved by another one. Noise from the projection room is also claimed to be excessive. The Museum Trust Board will investigate. Reduction When the Heathcote county clerk (Mr W. H. Scrimgeour) refused to accept a contractor’s quotation of £7OO for erecting street lamps the contractor gave a revised quotation of £lB9 for the same job, Mr Scrimgeour told the council last evening. He had accepted the revised quotation, he said. Attitude To Work "A true spirit of work is essential if success is to be achieved in anything, and in the present age one wonders if the schools are not fighting a losing battle.” the Rev Brother Calistus told the annual prize-giving ceremony of the Edmund Campion College held last evening. “To many young people, work appears as a burden placed on their unwilling shoulders. Even recreation requires little or no mental or physical activity There is a definite tendency to make our youth feel they are being imposed upon when active participation is called for.” Expensive Motoring Yesterday’s session of the Magistrate’s Court proved most expensive for 177 offending motorists. Fines and costs imposed by the Court from charges brought by the Police and Transport Department totalled £974. Of this sum £707 was fines and £26" costs. The highest fine imposed was £3O. £43 For Blind A contribution of £43 14s towairds the annual children's party of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind has been made by patrons of the Leeston Hotel. The money was collected in a 44-gallcn drum in the public bar. It brings to £92 file amount given to the foundation in this way by the hotel patrons this financial year. In all, the foundation has received more than - £3OO from the Leeston Hotel in three years, the money coming either from the drum or through ordinary collecting boxes The children's party will be held at the foundation’s Christchurch headquarters in Bristol street on Saturday afternoon.