Reporter’s Diary

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 3

Reporter’s Diary

Bold theft ONE OF the stately homes of Glandovey Road, Fendalton, has lost its prize garden ornament — a Moeraki boulder. “It’s been in the family for over 50 years,” said the bereaved householder, who declined to be named. He has offered a “worth-while reward” for information leading to its recovery. “Someone must have come in with a truck or something,” he said. “It takes two people to lift it, and it was up the drive about 100 yards from the gate. It wasn't visible from the road.” The boulder, which was 18 inches across, had recently been painted white. The owner has no idea which of his forbears collected it from Moeraki beach. “I think it’s illegal to remove them now,” he said, “but whichever member of the family took it may have got it perfectly legally.” The owner fears that the boulder may have been taken by someone who does not appreciate its rarity. He invites the thief to roll it back up his drive — no questions asked. “We’re a bit attached to it,” he said. He is correct in believing that the Moeraki boulders are protected by law. Mr L. W. McCaskill’s newly published booklet on the “Scenic Reserves of Otago” says that all boulders on Moeraki beach are protected and must not be interfered with.

Election indicator? LETTERS to the editor of “The Press’’ printed during the General Election campaign in 1972 ran 82 to 57 in favour of Labour; in 1975, 85 to 57 in favour of National. Strange that all of the pundits (including the staff of “The Press”) overlooked this indication of the dramatic turn in the electoral tides. Jack-up? THERE are indications, however, that not all letters on election subjects were spontaneous. The National Party, for example, advises its workers at divisipnal and elec-

torate level to “enlist the help of some member keenly interested in politics who cannot accept party office but is willing to work behind the scenes” writing letters to newspapers. If possible, says the party’s handbook. two or three let-ter-writers can be commissioned for each newspaper. “The main thing,” it says, “is to have someone willing to write a letter in defence of our party’s policy, or administration if our party is the Government, as soon as a critical letter appears in the local press . . . Use a nom-de-plume, especially if the writer is publicly associated with the party and views expressed over his name would be discounted as biased. On the other hand, use of the writer’s name is desirable when the source of the letter would give it weight.” Malaria THE report of successful attempts to control the malaria mosquito with hungry fish reminded Mr Bert Lover, an old Burma hand, of an almost miraculous cure which his colonel found for him when he had the disease during the war. Oddly enough, he contracted malaria in England before he ever went overseas. The camp doctor’s theory was that soldiers returning from India had passed malaria on to the local mosquitoes in a calm bend of the Thames, and the mosquitoes had given it to Mr Lover. After that, he had recurring bouts of malaria 14 times while serving in Burma with the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He felt his fourteenth attack coming on when his unit was surrounded by the Japanese, so when his colonel said he had brought him some special Italian medicine from India, he drank the whole bottle as a desperate measure. Called “Assanopheles”, it was meant to be administered over a period of 21 days. But the mighty dose cured Mr Lover completely. He has never had a bout of ma-

laria since. Needless to say, his unit was relieved before the Japanese closed in. More ‘Help’ “HELP”, the City Coun- ( cil’s useful directory of community organisations and social services, is to go into a third edition in March. To make sure it is up-to-date, the council is compiling a list of amendments to the current edition, recording changes of address, officers, telephone nunibers and other information, which they invite those concerned to check. N.Z. scallops COMPETITION from New Zealand scallops is contributing to a sharp decline in the scallop industry in Australia, according to the magazine “Australian Fisheries”. Exports of frozen scallops brought only sAust622,ooo in the 1974-75 season compared with sAust3.sm the year before. Overseas orders fell dramatically after the New Zealand season opened in July, and Australian hopes of recovering those markets were dashed when New Zealand devalued the dollar. Adding insult to injury, Australian consumers have shown that they prefer New Zealand scallops, which are often larger and better than the Australian ones. Ironically, says the article, New Zealand has been one of Australia’s best markets for scallops, taking 47 per cent of “fresh frozen” exports last year. A isual pollution BRITAIN’S National Trust does not welcome tents in hues of vivid blue, red, or orange at the 50 or so camp sites which it controls around the country. The sites are in the grounds of mansions and castles, or in other places of natural beauty, such as national parks, In most cases the camp sites are discreetly tucked away among the trees, and in an attempt to discourage brillantiy coloured tents which would give the ! game away, the National ! Trust offers free camping at several of its sites in the Lakes District for any camper using a tent of neutral colour.