General News

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 18

General News

“A Poor Show” Several hundred dollars worth of material for the new Westport Community Hall has been stolen from the building site, in mid Palmerston Street, the town shopping area, said a spokesman for the contractors, H. J. Neilsen, Ltd, yesterday. The material had been removed from the site over a period of two weeks. “It’s a poor show when you consider that this is a community project, financed by the people,’’ he said.—(F.O.O.R.) Blood Bank To Move The blood bank at the Christchurch Hospital will tomorrow move its headquarters to the building in Tuam Street, opposite St Andrew's Church, formerly temporarily occupied by the accident and emergency department. Space vacated in the main hospital will be used by the pathology department in planned extensions. Over the holiday period, the blood bank’s hours will be from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on December 23, 24, 27, 30 and 31, and January 3. On December 23 and January 4 the hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. The blood bank will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and January 2. An emergency list of donors has been arranged. Chatliains Mail A consignment of mail for the Chatham Islands which would not otherwise be delivered before Christmas will be flown by special charter aircraft from Wellington today. The Deputy Chief Postmaster in Christchurch (Mr J. Malthus) said yesterday that the 54 bags of parcels and eight bags of second-class mail from Christchurch Avould be sent. Holiday Security The police holiday scheme, by which householders who will be away from their homes notify the local police so that they can be reached in an emergency, was now operating, said the Christchurch crime-prevention officer (Detective Sergeant E. J. Stackhouse) yesterday. All those who wished to safeguard their homes should call at the nearest police stations to fill in the necessary form. The police would treat information about holiday dates and destination as confidential. Those going away should secure their homes and garages and leave no outward signs that the homes were empty. It was particularly useful if those going away could arrange for neighbours or friends to keep an eye on their properties. Illegal Immigrant When Shelley Gray, aged 13, of Herne Bay, Auckland, was taking the family dog for a wal? she found what she thought was a snake. She called her uncle, Mr E. Gray, but the “snake” turned out to be lizard, 14 inches long. It was later identified as an Australian shingle-back or stump-tailed lizard, often known in Australia as the bobtail or sleepy lizard. The lizard has been taken to the Auckland zoo. The director Mr D. Wood, said yesterday that it had obviously been brought into New Zealand by someone as a pet. This was illegal.—(P.A.). Late Start “This is extraordinary,” said Cr W. B. Laing, when he took the chair after the Heathcote County Council had waited for 1C minutes last evening for the arrival of the chairman (Mr J. S. Scott) and the deputy chairman (Cr E. L. Tyndall). Five minutes later Cr Tyndail arrived, and took the chair. Mr Scott arrived 80 minutes late.