General News

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 10

General News

Pub With No Lounge Akaroa residents are wondering about a letter received by Mr G. Ross, manager of the Bruce Hotel, from Mr D. C. Williams, official secretary to the Governor-General. The letter stated that the Gover-nor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson) and Lady Fergusson would be visiting Akaroa on June 10, and would like a small lounge and two rooms put at the disposal of the Vice-Regal party. But the Bruce Hotel, almost wholly destroyed by fire on November 2, 1962, has nothing to offer but a beer garden—and the public bar and adjoining bar lounge, all that is left of the original building. The hotel has a temporary licence for the bars, pending rebuilding. Admiral Leaves The commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy) left Christchurch last evening by air for the United States. With him went key staff from his headquarters at Harewood. Aboard the Navy Super Constellation were 41 persons including the crew. The plane will fly by way of Auckland, Tahiti and Honolulu. A larger than usual crowd bade the admiral farewell. He will return in October to begin next summer season’s activities. 2002 Patients A total of 10,635 miles was covered by St. John ambulances in Christchurch during March, the secretary (Mr G. A. Brown) said yesterday. This is 1500 more than March last year, when the distance covered was 9151 miles. The number of patients carried was 2002, compared with 1492 last March. The patients included 79 involved in a total of 73 motor accidents. The Birds Poison laid at Christchurch airport last Tuesday seems to have had its effect on the local bird population. Yesterday the runways were freer of gulls and rooks than at any time in the last • seven days. Since the laying of the poison about 85 birds—mainly seagulls—have been killed. According to the airport manager (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson) a week is now to be allowed to pass to watch the reaction of birds. “If the incidence is as low as at present then we will take no further action,” he said. In addition to grass grubs, swarms of daddy longlegs have also been attracting birds to the airport recently.

Track Popular Saturation point for Milford Track bookings could be reached in two years, the district manager of the Government Tourist Bureau at Dunedin (Mr R. G. Sincock) said yesterday. He was reporting that a record 2404 bookings had been made by people wanting to walk the track this season, which will close for the winter tomorrow. About 5 per cent of the walkers were from overseas, Australians in the main and Americans and British.— (P.A.) Student Talks Two New Zealand University Students’ Association representatives are oh their way to Britain and Europe to prepare for a possible international student conference in New Zealand in August. They are the president of the association, Mr M. J. Moriarty, of Wellington, and a vice-presi-dent, Mr W. J. Strevens, of Auckland, who will have discussions with student organisations in Europe.—(P.A.)