General News

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30512, 6 August 1964, Page 16

General News

Well Spoken

“I have always thought my accent a bit off,” said the new Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. Dr. B. P. Ashby) at his public reception in the Civic Theatre last evening. “It is a mixture of honest Kiwi and overtones of trying to be extra precise in teaching Asiatics English in Rome," he said. “So I was surprised recently to be told by a nonKiwi who knows New Zealand well but who did not know me: ‘You’ve got a Christchurch accent’.” Stamp Sales Sales of health stamps in the Christchurch area yesterday were down on last year’s figures, about £BBOO worth of stamps being sold compared with £9700. Yesterday was the first day of health stamp sales, which will end in November. Pre-issue canvass sales, at £4700. were £5OO up on last year. The Chief Postmaster (Mr J. W. Lincoln) said last evening the final figure for the first day might be slightly above £BBOO, as there were a few returns still to come in. Tulip And Chips Florists and fish and chip shops have the lowest yearly turn-overs among New Zealand retail stores, says the Department of Statistics in its current survey of distribution. Last year florists averaged £5694 and fish and chip shops £6354. Labour Surplus There was a surplus of 302 watersiders at Lyttelton yesterday morning whe men reported for work. On the previous evening a shortage of railway waggons had forced work to stop on some discharging vessels. There were sufficient waggons for overtime last evening but by that time most of the vessels had sailed. One coastal vessel and two overseas vessels, apart from the Hinemoa, are due today. Free Birds An Auckland department store is giving away budgerigars to customers buying bird cages. Trees And Stars To replace shrubs and trees which succumbed to the effects of sheep, rabbits and weather at the Joyce Observatory, at West Melton, the Canterbury Astronomical Society is planning another tree-planting ceremony on August 22. The trees will be bought in bulk.