Reporter’s Diary

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 3

Reporter’s Diary

Stinky found HOW could anyone lose a dog like this: “small brown Corgi-Alsatian cross, bandy legs, long tail, with yellow collar?’’ Few dogs can be less inconspicuous, out Ringo, the well-known book-ex-change man in Armagh Street, keeps losing it. “Last seen going flat out down Bealey Avenue towards Riccarton,” he said in his advertisement, “but could be anywhere.” The dog’s name is Stinky, and he quite understandably doesn’t answer to it. “I got him from the 5.P.C.A.,” Ringo said. “They told me ne had a habit of taking off from every owner he ever had.” This time Ringo found him the same day, in Madras Street.

Johnstone reunion DESCENDANTS of a pioneer Christchurch family are holding a reunion in Christchurch during the week-end of May 17 and 18 Their forbear was James Johnstone, a Scot, who arrived at Lyttelton from Tasmania on January 12, 1850, to supervise the construction of the immigration barracks for settlers arriving in the First Four Ships. He also built the first bridge over the Avon (at Worcester Street), and was engaged in building the Lands Office and the original Christ’s College near the old St Michael’s Church. Two notable descendants at the reunion will be his eldest granddaughter, Mrs Bell Smith, of Ashgrove Terrace, who is 94, and his eldest great gran d-daughter, Mrs Gladys Duff of Hawera, who is 82. Descendants who hadn’t heard of the reunion can telephone the organiser, Mr R. J. Cooper (39-792). Air time

BRITISH pilots who fly excessive overtime could be gaoled for up to two years under new regulations presented to Parliament this week. The rules arise from a twoyear study of flight stress, by a committee under the chairmanship of the wartime flying ace, Group

Captain Douglas Bader. A maximum of 900 hours of duty each year will be permitted instead of the present 1300 hours limit. Airlines must ensure, that pilots are not overworking, and pilots must reveal any spare-time flying. Breaking the rules for either side could mean a £4OO ($712) fine, or two years in gaol. Sick

THREE men treated themselves to a smorgasbord lunch at a city hotel on Thursday. Each in turn lifted the lid of the hot dish, quickly put. it back, and shuffled on to the cold meats. “It was spaghetti bolognaise,” one of them told his wife later. “But it was very tired and limp, with anonymous trimmings. It didn’t look well.” His wife had the explanation: “That wasn’t spaghetti bolognaise,” she said, “It was spaghetti malaise.” New notes

PAPUA NEW GUINEA’S new banknotes have retained links with the country’s fiscal past. The main designs on the backs of the notes are based on a montage of items of traditional currency —

engraved dog teeth from Bougainville, an axe from Mount Hagen, and a bird of paradise and boar tusks from the highlands. The notes were designed by local artists. Mail

THERE will be no maij delivery today. For some years it has been the Post Office’s practice to miss out Easter Saturday (although it is not a public holiday), making a fourday gap between deliveries over Easter. Deliveries will resume on Tuesday. Precautions A PROFESSIONAL rotaryhoe operator reports booming business from suburbia. But some of the work makes him wince. “Lots of people want their lawns hoed up so that they can extend their gardens,” he said. “I must have put the hoe through more than 20 beautiful smooth green lawns in Christchurch since before Christmas.” Owners tell him they are worried about the rising price of food, and have decided to grow lots of vegetables.