Candle-Light Dining Popular In Sydney

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30892, 27 October 1965, Page 10

Candle-Light Dining Popular In Sydney

[From DON GRADY, who is with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce delegation to the Sydney Trade Fair.] Candle-burning has became papular in Sydney—l9oo years after candles were invented. The living-room of thousands of newly-arrived, migrant families in Sydney’s inner suburbs may look drab by daylight. But by flickering candlelight at night they take on warmth and softness. Many members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce delegation visiting Sydney have dined in King’s Cross restaurants where candles are used. At least a dozen restaurants on bath sides of the harbour, as well as the biggest city hotels, are burning candles at evening meals. A Cleveland street restaurant burns apple-shaped candles that last for 60 hours. A King’s Cross restaurant uses fir-tree candles an each table. Restaurant proprietors say their patrons, including many from New Zealand, find candlelight dining to be relaxing and “atmospheric” and entirely different. » * •

A current worry of Sydney businessmen in the tourist or souvenir industry is that the

boomerang—symbol of Australia—is being mass-produced in Japan, Germany, France, England and America. A look at Sydney souvenir shops this week showed that the Aus-tralian-made souvenir boomerang is selling at from 6s 6d for ornamental models to 12s 6d for the cheapest throwing types. Heavier boomerangs grooved by hand sell at up 'to £5.

A 31-year-old Sydney man (Mr F. Russell) makes his living by cleaning chandeliers. In the cleaning of a big chandelier, he separates more than 4000 cut crystal teardrops and diamonds, polishes them and puts them back. 9 9# The Woollahra Golf Club in Sydney is considering a night golf links. Adelaide already has one. Lighting, say the experts might cost £lO,OOO to install. 9 9 9 Budgerigars in Sydney are making recordings, drinking beer, talking in Polish, German, Italian, and French as well as English in half a dozen accents.

This, says a George street bird fancier, arises from the number of migrants and people with diversified interests who own budgerigars. In the George street shop window I looked into today, I noticed specially-made gramophone records to teach budgies to talk, budgie health medicine and budgie moulting tonic. 9 9 9

Next door to the Hampton Court Hotel, King’s Cross, where the entire Canterbury Chamber of Commerce delegation is staying, is Penny’s lane. Each night, at 9.45, “The Phantom of the Cross” steps out on his beat along the lane.

He has kept strictly to his schedule along lanes and thoroughfares for 11 years. He always wears tennis shoes. His real name is Leslie Smith, aged about 53. He is a pensioner.

it is his silence and anonymity, coupled with a somewhat phantomdike appearance, that earned him his nickname. The president of the Can-

terbury Progress League (Mr G. R. Burrowes), has been keeping a sharp eye open for the “Phantom,” but last night missed him. “I am determined to see The Phantom, before I get back to Christchurch,” said Mr Burowes. 9 9 9 At Taronga Park Zoo a special “formery” is producing 1000 worms a day as food for kiwis. The worms are ordinary Australian earthworms. They grow to about eight inches long. 9 9 9

Sydney—a city of million inhabitants, has only four regular chimney sweeps left, and it is years since any of them climbed a chimney. Electric and gas fires are said to be squeezing out the onceflourishing industry. 9 9 9

A note of praise for Christchurch's Memorial avenue,

with its clean lines, beautiful homes, trees, and freedom from industry. We all travelled alory? it on Sunday before we left by air for Australia. $ Ht $ When the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce delegation reached Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney, they had to travel to the city along the “Street of a Thousand Smells” O’Riordan street. The smells were accentuated by an 85-degree temperature. The smells come from fertiliser works, tallow makers, soap factories, a knackery, animal and poultry food works, and sheep skins.

Leg Injuries.—When his power-cycle and a car collided iin Pages road yesterday afternoon Dalle Preston Bowen, of 344 Clyde road, suffered leg injuries. He was treated at the Christchurch Hospital and discharged.