General News

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 12

General News

Mount Cook The 12,349 ft Mount Cook was conquered for the first time 70 years ago yesterday. Various attempts had been made from 1882; but local climbers’ determination increased when news arrived that an English climber with a Swiss guide was to attempt the mountain. After some attempts had almost succeeded in November and December, Tom Fyfe, George Graham and Jack Clarke succeeded on Christmas Day, 1894, having approached the mountain by a new route in the upper Hooker. An ascent by this difficult route was not repeated for 61 years. Still Time A flock of 35 table geese raised by a Rakaia breeder apparently feared for their lives early this week with the approach of Christmas. They disappeared on Monday morning. A search of the area was unsuccessful, and the farmer advertised them as missing. They were finally located on Christmas Eve, having strayed about half a mile away to another farm. The geese have still time to plan their escape, however—they are being fattened for the table next Easter. Waterfront Work Lyttelton waterfront work officially stopped at noon on Thursday for the holiday period, but finishing vessels were worked in the afternoon. Normal work will not resume until Tuesday morning, but limited labour may be available today for finishing vessels. Routine handling of passengers’ cars, luggage, and mails aboard inter-island steamers is continuing. £3OOO Legacy C.0.R.5.0. has received a legacy of £3OOO from an estate in Gisborne. One of the biggest bequests in the organisation’s history, the gift brought the national total for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign fund this year to £296,100. Latest donations included £2OO from a group of teen-agers who raised the money with a dance in the Dunedin Town Hall.—(P.A.) Wire Rope Export A £3OOO export order for galvanised marine rope has been won by New Zealand’s only wire rope manufacturer, Cookes New Zealand Wire Rope Ltd., Auckland. The rope, the first to be exported to Australia, will be shipped from Auckland and Tauranga early in the New Year. Red Cross Appeal The North Canterbury Red Cross Society has closed its appeal for the relief of flood victims in South Vietnam. The appeal realised £649 0s 3d. Boystown Club Boystown Police and Citizens’ Club in Auckland got a Christmas box on Thursday—an unexpected £450 bequest. Chief Inspector C. L. Matheson, president of the club, was told of the legacy from the solicitor acting for the estate of Mr Hugh Joseph Smith, chief steward, who died in an accident when returning to his ship at Lyttelton a year ago.—(P.A.) Hospital Visiting Visiting hours at the Christchurch Hospital, Burwood Hospital, and Princess Margaret Hospital are now as follows:—Monday to Friday, 3.15 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.