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Reporter's Diary

Seeing red THE RED Post, as most Canterbury people know, marks the turn-off to Hanmer Springs and the Lewis Pass on the inland road to Kaikoura. But the appearance of a red and white post in the small shopping centre of Hanmer Springs is making some of the villagers -see red. In "The Pink Paper,” the Hanmer Springs newsletter, last week, an anonymous poet has composed “An Environmental Lament,” protesting about the red and white post that has been erected outside the local T.A.B. office. It ends like this: "I guess there’s- a rule which says aIIT.A.B.s Must have red and white checks so’s to find them with-ease. Now that’s all very well in a town situation Where of billboards and signs there is great profligation. But We’re a 'small village ‘ —ask anyone here

And they’ll gladly inform you: ‘lt’s just over there.’ In a place which is known for its natural beauty We ought to consider it part of our duty To watch that these Townies our vistas don’t vex With a post that is patterned in red, and white checks.”

At the bottom . . . WHILE most people prefer to have their remains cremated or buried in consecrated ground, a few seafaring men and women opt to have their ashes scattered at sea. In Auckland. a number of people are being buried at sea in special concrete-bottomed coffins with tiny holes drilled in the side, to ensure they "go straight to the bottom.” Many people are under the impression that burials at sea are illegal in New Zealand, an Auckland funeral director said this

week. But, provided the burials are well out to sea and well away from trawlable waters, there is nothing to stop funeral directors chartering a launch and conducting the burial at sea, if that wao the wish of the deceased. In Christchurch, however, burials at sea are virtually unheard of. One funeral director said this was probably because of the added complications of chartering a boat, logging the burial, and the distance outside the Lyttelton Heads it would be necessary to travel to reach untrawlable grounds, “It would probably be more e_xpensive, in my estimation, than an ordinary burial,” he said. . . . or on top QUITE a few people who have an affinity with the sea — fishermen, yachtsmen, sailors, and sometimes even people who live beside the ocean — ask to have their ashes scattered at the sea. This is done by chartering a boat,- but it is not necessary to go outside the Lyttelton Heads.- ■ Some people even have their

ashes scattered in the Estuary, the funeral director said — at high tide, presumably. Not for sale A RESIDENT of Norfolk Street, of Papanui, who is moving hcruse this weekend, held a monster garage sale last week-end. It was a great success, he said, and cleaned out the entire contents of his home., He reckons that about 1000 people must have called in to look over the items for sale., On the Sunday, the young daughter of his friend was running about plastering everything and everyone she could see with white stickers that had been used to label prices on the sale items. The recipient of one such sticker was Sammie, a six-month-old kitten who lives next door. Since then, Sammie has not been seen, and the house owner thinks that someone may have thought the cat was part of the sale and walked off with him. Sammie is a very friendly cat, he says, and would most likely have gone away happily with any one of the many

visitors during the sale. The house owner therefore appeals to anyone who may have mistakenly taken away a small, grey kitten, or who knows anything about his disappearance. The owner may be reached by tele-i phone at either 559-950 or 554-883.

Lonely sentry A WEST German soldier, ordered to guard a Bava-i rian bridge during army manoeuvres, stood firm in the wind and rain for three days, a lonely figure on sentry duty. His unit had forgotten him. He was left at a bridge crossing the River Amper at Inkofen, a village just north of Munich, and was ordered to remain there until his. relief arrived. But it never came. Villagers felt sorry for the young soldier, who sought shelter, from wind and rain in a nearby bus shelter. They supplied him witlr food and drink, and after'three days, when his relief had still riot arrived, they notified the army.

Jeltiuty

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19800508.2.25

Bibliographic details

Press, 8 May 1980, Page 2

Word Count
744

Reporter's Diary Press, 8 May 1980, Page 2

Reporter's Diary Press, 8 May 1980, Page 2