General News

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31239, 10 December 1966, Page 14

General News

1642 Remembered More than 100 guests from many walks of Dutch life attended a New Zealand Embassy reception in Amsterdam yesterday to mark the discovery of New Zealand by Abel Tasman in 1642. The reception was held by the Minister and Charge d*Affaires for New Zealand (Mr R. Cunninghame) who read a special message from the Mayor of Wellington (Sir Francis Kitts) in which Sir Francis Kitts extended the good wishes of the people of New Zealand to the citizens of Amsterdam. It was announced that, with the establishment of a New Zealand Embassy in The Hague last year, a commemorative occasion would be held in some part of Holland in December each year. The first was held in Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, because Tasman spent part of his youth there.—Amsterdam, December 7. Strong Winds By early afternoon a light south-west wind had changed to a strong north-westerly, and temperatures in Christchurch yesterday rose sharply. Skies were partly cloudy. At 6 a.m. at Harewood the temperature was 55 degrees. At 9 a.m. it was 51 degrees, and by noon had risen to 68 degrees. A maximum temperature of 74 degrees was recorded at Harewood at 2 p.m. and at the Botanic Gardens at 3 p.m. The temperature at Harewood at 3 p.m. was 72 degrees. A temperature of 78 degrees was shown on the Government Life building gauge at 4.30 p.m. Graduation Seven New Zealanders will be among 52 cadets who will graduate as officers at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, next Tuesday. Their parade will be reviewed by the chairman of the Australian Chiefs of Staff Committee, Lieutenant-General Sir John Wilton, who will later present military and academic prizes to graduates. The winners of the two top Duntroon awards—the Sword of Honour and the Queen’s Medal—will also be announced at the ceremony. About 2500 guests from all Australian states and New Zealand will attend the ceremony.—Canberra, December 7. Date Stamp Stamp collectors had shown intense interest in a special date stamp to be issued for Ross Dependency stamps, the Chief Postmaster (Mr M. E. Wilson) said yesterday. The special date stamp would be used on January 20 to mark the 10th anniversary of the official opening of Scott Base. Collectors who wanted covers cancelled at the base could obtain Ross Dependency stamps at any of the four chief post offices, he said. The covers should be sent to the Philatelic Bureau, G.P.O. Wellington, not later than December 20. The covers will be taken to the base for stamping before being returned to the owners. No special postage stamps are being issued to mark the occasion.