Reporter's Diary

Press, 1 October 1979, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Weatherproof BATTLING with a large rolled map in a high wind can cause tempers to become as tattered and frayed as the map. So an Auckland printing firm has found a paper it believes is ideal for printing rolled maps. The paper will not tear and can be exposed to howling winds and driving .rain while still remaining a readable map, say its manufacturers. The paper, known as Kivar 1, is a coated synthetic, imported from the United States. To test the toughness of the paper, an Auckland phys-ical-fitness instructor was aksed to try to tear it up. He couldn’t. Baying potter OF THE 42 countries that have at some time bought

programmes from Thames Television, in Britain, Australia is the biggest spender. According to Thames Television International, Australia spent “well over $2 million” in the last year on Thames programmes. That represented about a fifth of Thames Television’s total overseas sales of about $l.O million for the year. “Edward and Mrs Simpson” and “Rumpole of the Bailey” were the two most popular drama programmes, “Edward” being sold to 42 countries. The most popular comedy programme was “Benny Hill,” which earned Thames $2 million for the year. The most popular documentary was “Hollywood.” Ode to New Year “PENCRAFT,” the new New Zealand writers’ magazine, is calling all poets to enter its first contest. The subject of the competition is New Year. There is a SI entry fee and no limit on the number of poems on the subject of New Year by any contestant. The poems should be in free-verse form and of no more than 20 lines each. Cash prizes are offered. The closing date is November 30 and entries should be sent to the magazine at Post Office Box 15-485, New Lynn, Auckland. Fibreglass botes A WELLINGTON violinist

is producing handmade, fibreglass violin bows which are being sold in the United States for about $3OO each. The bows are crafted by Mr Robert Berg, who plays with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. They have been described in America as “possessing a very high professional quality.” Their selling price is well below the cost of handmade wooden bows, which sell for as much as $lOOO. Mass-produced fibrelgass bows sell in America for as little as $3l and good wooden bows for about $350. Blessed relief A PARISH magazine in Suffolk, England. contained the following announcement: “The vicar wishes it to be known that, as the parish is very scattered, it will be some time before he is able to visit all his new parishioners and this no doubt will be appreciated by them.” Cantou flage TIRED of those same boring old grey concrete power poles? If you think the countless grey poles that festoon New Zealand’s roadsides could do with a spot of colour, you are not alone. A Coromandel man has written to the Ministry of Energy suggested that the poles be tinted to make them blend in with their surroundings. The Electrical Supply Authorities’ Association is interested in the idea and wants to hear from the public about it. One of the

obvious disadvantages of the tinted poles is noted by the association’s magazine, “Live Lines,” which says that some motorists and even lowflying pilots may prefer the poles to stay as visible as possible. Light relief THE COMPLACENCY with which most people regard their electricity supply is apparently not. shared by someone who should know the true situation. According to “Live Lines” “for quite some time now the equipment on the desk of the principal system controller at head office has included a candle.” In a nutshell . . . GRAFFITI of a more cerebral kind is beginning to emerge, as can be seen by this example: “Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, and psychologists collect the rent.” ''pelici&f'Ptice