General News

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31047, 30 April 1966, Page 14

General News

Penny Pile A penny pile being built in the public bar of Shirley Lodge contained more than £3O yesterday afternoon. The money will go towards the Intellectually Handicapped Childrens’ Society hostel to be built in Christchurch. The society’s two-day conference finished at the hotel yesterday but the pile will remain open for as long as the public continue to subscribe to it. Overcast Day Cloudy to overcast conditions with scattered showers were the main features of the weather in Christchurch yesterday. A maximum temperature of 59 degrees was recorded at Harewood about 2 p.m. A moderate north-east-erly wind kept the temperature down. At 6 a.m. the temperature recorded at Harewood was 52 degrees. This temperature rose slowly to 54 degrees at 9 a m., 55 degrees at noon and 57 degrees at 3 p.m., the latter figure being also recorded at the Botanic Gardens at 3 p.m. The temperature gauge on the Government Life building showed 60 degrees at 4.30 p.m. Apples Provided Three cases of locally grown apples were eaten by delegates and observers at the two-day conference of the New Zealand Intellectually Handicapped Childrens’ Society which finished yesterday. The president of the Canterbury branch (Mr C. H. Curragh) said the apples had been supplied free by a friend, and many of the visitors commented favourably on them. There were three varieties, Golden Delicious, Delicious, and Jonathan. Helicopter Fly-past The six Army-Air Force Bell Sioux helicopters will take part in a fly-past at the R.N.Z.A.F. base, Whenuapai, next Wednesday, marking the completion of the first basic training course on the machines for Army and Air Force pilots. The Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) and the Chief of Defence Staff (Lieu-tenant-General L. W. Thornton) will see the helicopters when they inspect the base on May 12.—(P.A.) Giant Ashtray On average, four babies are born at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Auckland, every day; and if four fathers smoke 10 cigarettes while they sit in the waiting-room of the maternity block the floor is left littered with 40 butts. Three Labour members of Parliament and a party organiser have given a giant ashtray to the hospital for use in the waiting-room. It is inscribed “For the Anxious Fathers” and was presented by Mr M. Rata (Northern Maori), Mr N. J. King (Waitemata), Mr M. A. Connelly (Riccarton) and Mr F. B. Knipe. The ashtray could hold a month’s supply of cigarette butts before it would need emptying.

New Church Window A £2OOO stained-glass window depicting the Resurrection has been installed in St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church, Ohinemutu. The window was made by a Christchurch firm. It shows the Apostles watching Christ ascend into Heaven. St. Michael’s Church is being rebuilt around the existing building. It has remained in use throughout the rebuilding. Fishing Rivers The Waiau and Waimakariri rivers were discoloured, the Ashley river slightly discoloured, and the Hurunui river dirty, at 9 a.m. yesterday, the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society reported. The Selwyn and Rakaia rivers were clean and fishable but bad weather in backcountry areas may cause these rivers to become dirty.