General News

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 14

General News

$2400 Collected The annual appeal yesterday in Christchurch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society yielded $2400, Mr R. G. Bell, the society’s treasurer, said last evening. This was slightly below last year’s figure, and it was thought that the cold, wet weather early in the day was a factor. A large and enthusiastic band of collectors covered the city, and he specially praised the children who came in early in the day and returned after school to take another turn in collecting, Mr Bell said. Boxes were still to come in from the suburbs, and the final figure would not be available for a few days. “Popular Win” “I feel really embarrassed at being ordered to usurp Hie Mayor’s chair,” the GovernorGeneral (Sir Bernard Fergusson) said at a function at the City Council chambers yesterday at which he presented Duke of Edinburgh awards. “It is the first chance I have had on his own marae to congratulate Sir George Manning on his knighthood. It was what you might call a popular win.” His Excellency recalled that Sir George Manning was one of the many mayors who enthusiastically supported the award scheme when it was introduced. Helicopter Lift A helicopter will be hired at a cost of about $2OO by the North Canterbury Catchment Board to take a replacement for a defective rain gauge in the high country at the top of the Wilberforce river. Other ways of doing the job would be time consuming, and risky to the sensitive equipment, the chief engineer (Mr E. B. Dalmer) told the board meeting yesterday. Bleak Day Sleet and hail in some areas and low temperatures and rain accompanied a fresh south-westerly wind in Christchurch yesterday. The maximum temperature recorded at Harewood was 45 degrees at 3 p.m. At 6 a.m. at Harewood the temperature was 42 degrees, at 9 a.m. it was one degree higher, and at both noon and 4 p.m. it was 44 degrees. In the Botanic Gardens at 3 p.m. the temperature was 46 degrees. The temperature gauge on the Government Life building registered 43 degrees at 4.30 p.m. Coin Swallowers Children who swallowed . coins should immediately be , taken to a doctor for an i X-ray, the Deputy Medical . Officer of Health (Dr. K. E. • X. Bourke) said yesterday. He had been asked to give , advice after "The Press” had received reports of young . children swallowing 1c coins Normally the child would . pass the coin but it was ad- , visable to hgve an X-ray tc . observe the coin’s progress, i Dr. Bourke said. Collector’s Trials One collector in yesterday’s street appeal for the Multiple Sclerosis Society had more than heavy rain on an unprotected street corner to damp en her enthusiasm. When a man came up to her about i 1.30 p.m. to contribute to the . appeal, she told him he was ■ the first to contribute with' ; out having to be asked dired ' or having a box shaken undei his nose.