General News

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 12

General News

First Sunset Men at McMurdo Station observed the first sunset in nearly four months a few minutes after one o’clock on Saturday morning. They stood in several inches of i new snow while the flag was hauled down for evening colours and a bugler sounded “Retreat.” The brief ceremony marked the approach of winter. Although the sun dipped below the horizon for only a few minutes, the nights will now become progressively longer and the days shorter until April 24. Then the sun will disappear for the four months of the Antarctic winter. Unusual Bone Members of the No. 12 District Roads Council are puzzled by a small bone found during their visit to south Westland last week. The bone, about Bin long and jin wide, was found by Mr G. Williams when the council visited excavation work near Grave creek. The Ministry of Works engineer in Greymouth (Mr H. Grigg) said the bone was extremely hard, like granite, and not like an animal, as opposed to bird, bone. It was not a fossil. He was considering sending it to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for a carbon check for the age.—(F.O.O.R.) Showery Weather Southerly winds brought cold, showery weather, with some thunde, and lightning to Christchurch yesterday. The temperatures recorded at Harewood dropped with the southerly change from 64 degrees at 9 a.m. to 57 degrees at noon. The sky was overcast most of the day. The temperature was shown on the Government Life Building at 4.30 p.m. as 58 degrees. Radios In Tunnel Special portable two-way radio sets will be used in the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel during sealing operations this week. Two sets were tested in the tunnel on Saturday. Mr W. A. Wheldale, the tunnel superintendent, said yesterday that the portable radios would be used to maintain the high standard of safety aimed at by the authority. Massive Library When completed, the University of Canterbury’s library at Ilam would have a greater area than the Government Life Building in Cathedral square, said the university’s Vice-Chancellor (Dr. L. L. Pownall), while showing Ilam residents around the new university on Saturday. The library’s total area will be 110,000 sq. ft., but even this will be dwarfed by the science block (9| acres) and the arts building (6| acres). Port Bunting Bunting was displayed from the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s port building at the week-end to mark the Arts Festival. The building was floodlit at night. Shepherd’s Crook The Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson) will present a shepherd’s crook carved by a neighbour of his in Scotland to the Franklin Agricultural and Pastoral Society for annual competition. Announcing this when he opened the 76th Franklin Show, Sir Bernard Fergusson said he would like to feel that he had some stake in the future of the show.— (P.A.) Changed Berth After her arrival at Lyttelton yesterday morning, the Hinemoa, after discharging passengers, luggage and cars, moved to No. 3 West berth, and for the next few months, until roll-on roll-off facilities are completed at the normal berth, both inter-island steamers will continue to berth at No. 3.