Reporter's Diary

Press, 13 July 1979, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Twin topics MOTORISTS of yesteryear, and reminders of the abdication of Edward VIII, have provided a good many items in this column in recent weeks. In the picture above, there is something of interest for all those who followed “Edward and Mrs Simpson” on television, or who have produced ancient driver’s licences. In the car, the Prince of Wales is about to leave the Christchurch Club in Latimer Square on May 16, 1920, to visit invalid soldiers, and the Y.M.C.A. The car, an eight-seater Hupmobile, was first owned by Mr Francis McTeigue, of Christchurch. He had driver’s licence number 27, issued on February 3. 1913 — a “certificate of competency to drive a licensed motorvehicle or motor delivery van.” Mr McTeigue was one of the first taxidrivers in Christchurch and had regular week-end work taking people to Akaroa. He sold the car before going to the First World War. It was bought by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) and used for driving soldiers who had been invalided home. The car went out of commission a few days after the photograph was taken. It had done more than 50,000 miles. Another early driver, Mr D. Stewart, of Christchurch, brought in a well worn copy of his “certificate of ability to drive and handle a motor-car.” It was issued on August 4, 1919. His first car was .a 1916 Model T Ford. In 1926, he drove it over the potholed and corrugated road front Wellington to Hastings. The journey took 12 hours 10 minutes.

Coast drama ANDREW BROWN, the New Zealand-born producer of “Rock Follies” and “Edward and Mrs Simpson,” admits that he may return next year to begin work on a feature film set in the South Island. But he was a little circumspect when pressed at a promotional breakfast this week about the exact nature of the film, because he is still tied up with arranging finance and sort-< ing out legal and organisational problems. Though he did not mention it, he has, in fact, spent several days recently on the West Coast, which, if the project goes ahead, will be the setting for his film — about the Stanley Graham manhunt in and around the small settlement of Kowhitirangi in 1941.

Crossing out the Ts THE GILBERT ISLANDS, now Kiribati, have attained independence, but there may be some confusion among readers and radio listeners about the event. Although the name is Kiribati, it is pronounced Kiribas. When the islanders’ home was given the name Gilberts, they did their best to pronounce it. It came out as “Kiribas.” But when it was written, it was Kiribati. There is very little difference between the “t” and “s” sounds in their language. An apocryphal theory is that when the missionaries of the early days were -printing Bibles on their presses,, they were short of the | letter “s” and substituted “ti.”

Gallery tour? | A REGULAR guideg tour service has begiin at the Robert McDougall Art

Gallery. Volunteer guides are being recruited and at first, the tours will take place at 2.30 p.m. each Sunday, and last 30 to 45 minutes. No charge is made for the tour, although donations are welcomed. It is planned to extend the timetable as more guides become available and it should soon be possible to have tours on Wednesdays and Saturn days as well as Sundays. The tours are planned to give a general view of the gallery and its changing exhibitions. Inquiries are welcomed at the gallery — telephone 791-660, ex* tension 695. Precaution SENDING 48 canaries to Noumea was a bureau-: cratic nightmare for Barbara Pritchard, who owns a pet shop in Sydney. She says she filled in 70 forms and called at a host of Government departments in her effort to have her flock of Yorkshires, Red Factors, and Yellow Borders sent overseas. Before they were flown out, she had to sign one final form. It was to take responsibility for anyone being “bitten, gored, or kicked to death by the livestock.” Refugees THE PLIGHT of refugees drowning in the South China Sea or dying in camps, concerns many people. The Indo-China Refugee Action . Group, founded in Auckland, aims to persuade the Government to accept more refugees urgently. A Christ-

church branch of the group is being formed to help collect signatures for a petition to Parliament, and in other practical ways. Those wishing to give support are asked to write to P.O. Box 26-059, North Avon, for further details. Party time THE NEW ZEALANDmade television programme, “Romper Room” retains extraordinary popularity with children and parents. There was no lack of candidates for places in the show which will be screened on August 6, for there was a large cake to mark the 1 0 0 0 th “Romper Room” is screened five times a week. It -sells in eastern Australia, Japan, and the United States. For 1000 programmes, there have been only three young women in control. The first was Miss Cathie (Cathie Harrop). then Miss Helen (Helen Howes, now the South Pacific Television weather girl), and now it is Miss Yvonne (Yvonne Moore, wife of Mr M. K. Moore, the member of Parliament for Papanui). j Big brother THE MAYCti of Auckland (Sir Dove-Myer Robinson) is getting a new official car. It is a Ford Fairmont Ghia, costing $17,200. He has asked for it to be painted silver mist with a metallic paiftt. The Mayor of Christchurch (ft|r H. G. Hay) has a J 970 Daimler, bought for S7O(X) four years ago.