Brisk House Painting

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 16

Brisk House Painting

The traditional ceremony to mark the opening of the University of Canterbury’s Capping Week speeches from the balcony of the United Service Hotel in Cathedral square was given an extra touch of colour last evening by the frenzied painting of a house in world-record-shattering time.

This year proceeds from the week’s activities are being given to Independence House, the home for adult cerebral palsy patients which the Adult Cerebral Palsy Society, with the co-operation of the Department of Health and the Disabled Servicemen’s Rehabilitation League, plans to establish in Christchurch. A member of the University of Canterbury Students’ Association, Mr J. Bluck, declared Capping Week open and introduced the president of the Adult Cerebral Palsy Society (Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P.). “I commend this appeal to the whole community/’ said Mr Connelly. The citizens welcomed what the students brought to Christchurch during Capping Week —“a little frolic, a little

gaiety, and some fun as well,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Manning). Message From P.M.

A message from the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) was read out by the stunts. controller (Mr D. Holden). “In their Capping Week collection for charitable purposes the students of Canterbury University have established a very worthy tradition, and one that has earned them the respect and widespread support of the people of Christchurch,” the message said.

“Once again 1 warmly commend to the people of Christchurch this year’s charity appeal.” Before the speeches .planks and trestles had been placed around a two-roomed wooden cottage, on the back of a four-ton truck parked near the Plaza arcade, in readiness for the attempt on the world house-painting record. The 15 painters, members of the Rolleston House Rugby team, were warned from the balcony that no paint was to go on to the street, the truck, or their white uniforms. They tensed as, pots and brushes in hand, as the call, “Are you ready? Get set. . .” was yiven. A starter’s pistol fired. From then on there was a confusion of sounds —panting, the brisk slap and swish of the bristles, shouts from the large crowd. The haka party, in the familiar costume of top hats (inscribed with such slogans as. “I love me, yeah, veah, yeah”), football jerseys, grass skirts, and boots, provided ritual, warlike encouragement. Soprano pleas for speed came from a group of “charity chanters,” in black tights and skivvies and iridescent smocks, from Helen Connon Hall. A richer colour—“lake blues”—raced over the faded walls of the cottage. 2min 20sec Painters were already jumping down when one and a half minutes had passed, and the job was thoroughly completed in the official time of 2min 20sec. The previous record, 4min 30sec. is believed to have been set by the University of Minnesota.

Early yesterday morning the students changed the face of Christchurch: they anticipated the City Council Parks and Reserves Department by planting 10-foot poplars and pines along Rolleston avenue. But the change was not long-last-ing—the trees disappeared about 11 a.m.

An exclusive outdoor restaurant, the Independence Cafe, opened at midday in Cathedral square, on the safety zone opposite the Regent Theatre. Patrons in dinner suits dined to the strains of a violin on oyster soup, chicken, and apple pie. plus champagne.

Light From Dynamos “Help extinguish the palsy light” read a sign above an old dray near the Plaza arcade. The light is powered by dynamos on a bicycle mounted on the dray, which Warwick House students will pedal non-stop, night and day. until £lOO has been raised. They are also aiming at breaking the world record (for

cycling nowhere) of 997.4 miles.

At 5.30 p.m. there was a “radiation scare” in front of the Post Office. A van marked “Danger, Radiation,” pulled up, horn tooting. The driver dumped a smoking basket on the ground. A second “Radiation Research, Ltd.,” van arrived with siren screeching, and the public was warned to beware fatal “hydrogen fumes” pouring from the “critical reactor” in the basket.

Stunts planned include: Today, 10 a.m.—A dust cart, advertising the “clean section” in the Capping Mag, will travel with 100 student collectors in New Brighton. Sunday.—ln the morning a motorised bedstead will leave Cathedral square for Timaru, returning via Fairlie, Mount Somers, Darfield and Rangiora on Tuesday.

Monday, 9.30 a.m.—Two Lincoln College students, in a Beath’s window, will try to break the world record —48 hours—for non-stop table-tennis. 1.10 p.m.: Slow bicycle race over planks across the Avon. In the morning four first-year students will leave Picton, counting the number of white “dots” on the road to Christchurch. A competition to guess the number will be held in Cathedral square until when they arrive on Tuesday, at about 12 p.m.

Tuesday. 1.10 p.m.—Avon bicycle race. 5 p.m.: A flask of whisky—“the spirit of the south”—from the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr T. K. Sidey) will be given to Mr Manning in Cathedral square.

A mock newspaper, “The People’s Vice,” will be on sale during the morning.