General News

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 10

General News

Biter Eaten

Staff Sergeant Galala, on an “adventure training” exercise with soldiers of the Fiji Military Forces, fired two shots at a wild pig and missed. Disgusted, he engaged the pig in unarmed combat It counter-attacked and bit his finger, but Sergeant Galala captured it The finger got better. Roast pork was on the menu next day. Seasonal Labour A record number of 252 persons had gone this season from the Christchurch district office of the Labour Department to do seasonal work in the Nelson District said the district superintendent (Mr C. P. Collins) yesterday. Of this number, 73 were males. The previous record number to go to Nelson from Christchurch, he said, was 221 two years ago. The total last year was 193. Mr Collins said hop harvesting by machine had reduced female labour a little. Tunnel Souvenirs

About 800 official guests who attended the opening of the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel have received by mail unusual souvenirs of the occasion. There was a brochure about the tunnel (a leather-bound copy of which was presented to the Governor-General at the ceremony), a gold-printed piece of the ribbon which was cut, and the original invitation for the opening by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, prepared before her visit was cancelled. Some recipients wondered how the Road Tunnel Authority got enough pieces of ribbon but officials said the long length cut by Sir Bernard Fergusson provided enough and a little bit over. Music Teachers A meeting of the principals of four Christchurch secondary schools will be held next Monday to discuss the feasibility of pooling their resources to employ three fulltime music teachers. The schools involved are Mairehau, Avonside, Aranui, and Shirley.

Instrumental tuition is considered quite a problem for schools as well as for the itinerant teachers. If the scheme receives the approval of the Education Department it is hoped to put it into operation next year. Advanced Years Sir Edmund Hillary may not take part in the final assault on the unclimbed 21,700 ft Mount Tamsirku, when he takes an expedition to the Himalayas in September. He said in Hamilton yesterday: “I think it might be getting a bit tough for me in my advanced years.” Sir Edmund Hillary will be 45 this year. This will be his ninth expedition to the Himalayas since his first in 1951. (PA.) Mild Temperatures With a maximum temperature of 66deg. at Harewood between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and at 3 p.m. in the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch weather was mild yesterday. The temperature at Harewood at 6 a.m. was 53deg., rising to 64deg. by midday. A moderate easterly wind, with scattered light cloud, blew during the day.

Pahau River Bridge

Work has started on the new bridge over the Pahau river about two miles south of Culverden. The bridge will be 336 feet long, with six 56ft prestressed girder spans designed by the Ministry of Works. Wadey and Efford, Ltd., Rangiora, is the contractor. Port Congested The port of Lyttelton is still congested and labour short For the second successive evening there was a railway waggon shortage and this affected five discharging vessels, the Cape Town Maru and the Galway. There were two vessels in the stream last evening, the Port Denison, and the Hertford. Several vessels are due today and some will have to anchor. New Boards The Government caucus had discussed the choice of members for some eight boards that were in the process of being established, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) yesterday. The bodies included the Fish Board, which is to operate from Apri 1, and the Queen Elisabeth II Arts Council—(PA.)