Reporter’s Diary

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 2

Reporter’s Diary

Ticket prices SOME senior citizens are a bit cross about having to pay too much for tickets to see Luisillo and his Spanish dance theatre at the Theatre Royal. When bookings opened a couple of weeks ago, they found that there was no concession price for senior citizens, and had to pay the regular prices of $5.20 and $6.20 if they still wanted seats. But recently the show’s advertisements have offered seats for children and senior citizens at $2.70. Those who have already bought tickets at the 'regular prices have paid $2.50 to $3.50 a seat more than if they had waited. Mrs O. Wilson, manageress of the D.I.C. booking office, said yesterday that she was taking the names of senior citizens who had paid the higher prices, and would hand them over to J. C. Williamson’s tour manager when he arrived. She was sure that they would be offered refunds. Nowhere noir

COUNTRY libraries — the ones that are still flourishing — do a great trade in books of reminiscence by fanners’ wives. Mona Anderson is extremely popular, for example. One such library has a good collection of New Zealand books, and this was being examined recently by two nicely middle-aged women. One picked up a new copy of “Erewhon” by Samuel Butler, only to be told by the other: “You wouldn’t like that one bit, dear; it’s not about the sheep station at all.” Train waited

RESPECT for funeral processions used to be more marked than it is today. People would stand still as the hearse drove past and most men would remove their hats. In today’s rush and bustle, not manv seem to notice. A notable exception this week was the driver of a train approaching a crossing in Golf Links Road. An R.S.A. funeral procession was heading for the Rangiora Park Cemetery and the crossing lights were flashing as the hearse

got near to the lines. But the train was stopped, reports Mr Keith Brown of Riccarton, and the driver beckoned the cars on. “Please allow me to show appreciation and thanks to the Railways and the driver of the train,” he asked. Come back soon

“MOUNTAIN SCENE,” the Queenstown newspaper tells yet another little cautionary tale about how the tourists get pushed around quickly in their travels. An American visitor called at the public relations office in Queenstown and asked directions to “the Square." On being questioned further. it transpired that the lady thought she was in Christchurch. Taxi babies

“WHATEVER you do, don’t have a baby in a taxi,” a Christchurch nurse advised her antenatal class. “Stop the taxi and have it on the street if you must, but not in the taxi. They will charge about $lOO for cleaning up the car.” But Mr Keith Peat, manager of Blue Star Taxis, said yesterday that the amount was miles out. “The maximum we’re allowed to charge for soiling a cab is $lO, under the Transport Act,” he said. “In fact, however, I’m sure there would be no charge at all. We’d be happy to help out,” Mr Peat could

not recall a taxi birth in Christchurch for some years. "It’s very rare,” he said. “Two years ago a driver delivered a baby at the house — the mother didn’t even get as far as the taxi.” Mr Peat said taxis give top priority to maternity cases. Where matters are too far advanced transportation is declined and an ambulance is ordered instead.

Desperate dad

THAT brings to mind the case of a well-known Christchurch art teacher who was so nervous when his wife was about to have a baby that he rang the taxi company and pleaded with them to keep a car cruising around the block in readiness for his call. Aerial shots

LANDSAT photogrpahs of the South Island, taken for the Forestry Service from an orbiting satellite, can be bought by anyone interested, the United States Information Service advises. The photographs, which were reproduced in “The Press” this week, are not available from the embassy in Wellington, but can be ordered from the Consumer Relations Unit, Eros Data Centre, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57198, U.S.A. The U.S.I.S. says the charge last year was $1.60 for an Bin by 6in black and white print, but this might have changed.

— Garry Arthur