General News

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31633, 20 March 1968, Page 12

General News

Flummoxed

An item of about $5O for a “P.O. box” in the accounts flummoxed all members of the Aranui High School board yesterday morning, most of all the chairman (Dr B. R. Penfold) when it was explained. The headmaster (Mr W. J. A. Brittenden) said the school had no post office box and no work had been done on its mail box. The secretary (Mr P. J. Halligan) was also at a loss and went to get the account. It was indeed a “post office box,” an item of science equipment, he said. Dr Penfold, a leading scientist at the University of Canterbury, said: “Of course it is.” Easter Banking Late banking facilities will be provided in one bank in Christchurch and Ashburton on the Thursday before Easter, April 11, by the New Zealand Bankers’ Association. A bank in each centre will accept locked bags or sealed packets containing notes or cheques for safe custody between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. that day. Similar facilities will be provided on Saturday, April 13, at New Brighton.

School Year The Education Department is reviewing the Terms and Holidays Regulations after widespread complaints about the late start of the school year on February 5 in 1968. Most schools would prefer to break up earlier as they desire all possible time to prepare pupils for examinations but find incentive dies when these are over. N.C.C. Appeal The sum of $70,504 had been received in the National Council of Churches annual Christmas appeal to the end of February, the assistant general secretary (the Rev. R. M. O’Grady) said yesterday. This was almost the same as the amount received for the corresponding period last year. The council was extremely pleased at the generous response from the public, he said. This year the target for the appeal, to assist projects in countries throughout the world, is $160,000. Last year $114,000 was raised. Awards To Pupils An Auckland Diocesan High School pupil, Miss Janet S. Foster, has won the New Zealand Geographical Society’s 1967 award for obtaining the highest marks in the university entrance scholarship examination. Second prize was won by Garry S. Jackson, of Shirley Boys’ High School. First prize is $2l and one year’s subscription to the society, and second prize is one year’s subscription. Disrupting The chief psychologist of the Education Department will speak to the next meeting of the New Zealand Secondary School Boards’ Association about children under 15 who disrupt school classes. These are pupils who, at present, must stay because of the leaving age but who are becoming an increasing problem to teachers. Some believe provision should be made for them to leave school. All Black Losses Several of the 1967 All Blacks had valuable gear and souvenirs pilfered from crates shipped from Britain to New Zealand. The crates were delivered recently, but most had been broken open and many had gear missing. G. Thorne lost a Welsh test jersey, a Monmouthshire jersey, a pair of boots and a few knick knacks. W. Nathan lost an All Black jersey and costly souvenirs. Others had similar losses.—(P.A.)

“Cat Census”

Families in the Nottinghamshire town of Newark have been warned by the R.S.P.C.A. against the activities of people ostensibly conducting a “cat census” in the area. The society believes the pollsters may, in fact, be surveying the ground for cat thieves supplying vivisection laboratories.—London, March 19. Record Catch A record catch of 85 tons of Chatham Islands blue cod was landed at Wellington by the fishing boat Taiaroa. The master of the Taiaroa (Captain P. Hunt), said the vessel had been away for five weeks, of which four weeks were spent fishing. About 40 tons was the average catch for the voyage, which lasted a month. Rare Lizard A 4in chameleon-like lizard identified by the Dominion Museum as a rarely-seen longtoed bush gecko, was found recently by Mr S. W. Moult, on his property at Paraparaumu, near Wellington. The gecko, which has a bright orange tongue, is related to the green gecko and the brown coastal gecko. It was identified by its longer claws, especially adapted feet and vivid colouring.