General News

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 12

General News

Narrow Escape Five visitors to the Waitangi Treaty House grounds on Friday had a narrow escape when three heavy branches of the historic oak tree fell. They fell to the ground just after a party had walked underneath. It was the second recent fall of branches from the well-known tree. The oak is at least 100 years old and stands outside the Whare Ranunga, or meeting house. — (P.A.) Banjo Pickers New Zealand banjo players and other folk music enthusiasts are expected to flock to Hamilton next month for the first national banjo pickers’ convention. The convention, which aims to promote public interest in banjo playing in New Zealand, will be held on Easter Saturday and Easter Day—March 25 and 26. The highlight of the convention will be two open-air concerts on the Sunday, one of them for children. The organisers hope the convention will spearhead an annual folk music festival.—(P.A.) Gold Lettering Out Rail-cars on the services between Wellington and New Plymouth are losing their identity. To economise, the Railways Department has decided to dispense with the names in gold lettering on both sides of the cars. The General Manager of Railways (Mr I. Thomas) said the names carried by the cars were painted in gold leaf after each overhaul—a time consuming and costly process. However, an alternative means of displaying the names at a reasonable cost is being sought.—(P.A.) Information Centre An information centre was opened on Friday at West Arm, Lake Manapouri, by the Minister of Agriculture and Science (Mr Taiboys). The centre is the New Zealand Electricity Department’s answer to a problem made unusually difficult by the conditions at the Manapouri power project: how to give visitors both a friendly welcome and all the information they need without in any way hindering the work. The low timber building has at one end a display area which gives a view of the lake and of above ground construction activity.—(P. A.)