General News

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30007, 17 December 1962, Page 12

General News

Long Swim An American long-distar.ee swimmer, F. Baldasare, has swum the Straits of Gibraltar underwater, according to reports from Tanfa. in Spain. Baldasare was said to have covered the distance of nearly 22 miles from Tarifa to the Moroccan coast in a continuous swim lasting seven and three-quarter hours. This is believed to be toe first tone toe feat has been accomplished.—(Gibraltar, December 16). Onions For Japan Fifty tons of New Zealand onions have recently been sold on toe Japanese market. They fetched a higher price than did toe Australian onions sold about toe same time. The pack was considered to be of a very good type, toe open mesh being particularly attractive to buyers as it enabled most of toe bag’s contents to be seen It is hoped New Zealand onions will become a regular feature on toe Japanese market. . Champion Bedmaker Hearty cheers greeted the most popular award winner at the Queen Victoria School (Auckland) prize-giving ceremony The girl who earned the applause was Tilda Anderson, aged 14, a form IV girl, from Hamilton. Her award, a silver cup, was made for being “the champion bedmaker’’ The cup is keenly contested by the girls and was given by a former matron. Sister C Maris Clark New York Dolls A New York toy store is selling a doll which resembles a member of the Royal Family, says the “Financial Times.” She is a 20in doll, fully jointed in the arms and legs for an ever-graceful posture, and is dressed in a court gown of brocade decorated with a sash of the Order of the Bath. The rest of her clothes can be interchanged with those of the Jackie Kennedy doll.—London, December 14. Long Bar Opened What is claimed to be toe longest hotel bar in New Zealand, at 90ft 6in, was opened at toe Mandeville Hotel, Kaiapoi. on Saturday afternoon by Mr J. Mathison, member of Parliament for Avon. About 400 persons packed toe long bar and another big lounge bar (47ft Bin long) for the ceremony. “It was the biggest crowd I've ever had here.” said toe licensee (Mr R. H. Bates). After toe long bar’s opening, everybody had two rounds of drinks “on the house,” with a few further “shouts” during the afternoon. Police Barracks The biggest building project yet completed for New Zealand police—toe new £150,000 barracks in Buckle street, Wellington—was officially opened on Friday Naming the building Holland House after the late Sir Sidney Holland, he paid tribute to a man of vision who had appreciated future needs of the police, said the Minister of Police (Mr Eyre). “He increased the pay scale, recruiting figures, and the number of police motor-vehicles. He expanded the building programme and introduced police dogs into this country. —(PA.) Scout Calendar An official calendar for scouts throughout the Dominion has been introduced thir year. The subject for the 1963 calendar is an original oil painting by the American artist, Norman Rockwell Entitled “A Good Sign All Over the World," the picture shows scouts from different nations gathered together in unity. The calendar is illustrated with photographs and information about cub and scout training. The calendars are sponsored by leading business firms on a scout district basis and have tot name of each cub and scout. Made His Mark When Richard Nannestad, an 18-year-old form 6A pupil at the Westlake Boys’ High School, left school for the last time his work in art remained on the outside wall of toe main block. It is a 9ft by 4ft mural depicting toe evolution of man. The principal (Mr W. H. Thomson) has a policy of displaying pupils’ sculpture and paintings around the school. The mural will be lighted at night.