Reporter's Diary

Press, 29 August 1980, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Economical “CENTREVIEW,” ' the Christchurch City Council’s in-house staff magazine, last week made a cost-analysis of the coun« cil’s new Tuam Street offices. The opening of the new Hereford Street branch of the National Bank provided a good opportunity, said the Town Clerk (Mr John Gray), to compare its costs with the council's second-hand building. The new bank building cost $6 million and provided 750,000 square feet of office space, or about $BO a square foot, Mr Gray said. “Our own recycled job, however, cost only $4O a square foot. Put another way, we are getting a building that is twice the size for a similar outlay.”

No credentials IF DAISY, a little black cocker spaniel owned by Mrs Jan Glenn, of Aranui, has been dognapped and has not just gone off impulsively on a holiday, she will not prove a paying proposition to the thief. Daisy has enormous earning power as, a puppy maker. She is an American cocker spaniel, a rare

breed in Christchurch, and her pups would fetch $5OO each — up to $3OOO for a litter. But there is a snag. She has to be able to produce her pedigree papers, showing that she is of champion status, and that her proper name is Erintoi Kissing Cousin. There are probably fewer than two dozen American cocker spaniels in Christchurch, says Mrs Glenn, and she would .be told straight away if anyone brought Daisy along to be mated to another pedigree dog. So whoever has Daisy, says Mrs Glenn, might just as well send her home.

Hazardous journey THE OLD saying that the post must get through in spite of any obstacles in its way is true as far as a Sumner reader is concerned. She posted a Christmas parcel to friends in Iran in 1978. But just after it was posted, the Iranian revolution meant that her friends had to flee the country in haste. Naturally, with all the upheaval there, she did not expect to see the parcel again.;; .But, this week, she says, it arrived back in. Sumner, all in one

piece and covered with postmarks from throughout Iran and various other parts of the world. “It’s a great tribute to the Post Office,” she said. Treasure trove RANGIORA women’s organisations whose members are skilled at making black eye-patches, red spotted head scarves, and other pirate gear could make some money for themselves out of the Rangiora. Dramatic Society, The society is offering a cash gift to the club which it chooses to help make costumes for the* children’s play “Treasure Island,” to be staged in November. They have to outfit 25 cast members. The dramatic society will provide the materials and the details. Heather Giles (Sefton 855) is arranging things. Historic house

CHIPPENHAM Lodge, at 51 Browns Road, was built some time in the 1860 s, but exactly what year in the 1860 s is not quite clear, says Miss Deborah Shephard, of the Christchurch City Council. town planning, department. Miss Shephard is collecting information , about the house, at present occupied by a- commune, for., the

council’s list of historic buildings. But so far, she has been unable to find out the year the house was built, who built it, and who designed it. If anyone is able to help with these details, would they please telephone her at the council, 791-660. Far out

WE ARE left with curry on our faces over Tuesday’s final paragraph about railway rowdies appearing in court at Islamabad, after travelling on the Lahore to Sialkot express. We placed all three cities in India, but as a reader points out, they have not been in India since partition in 1947 (in which a love affair between Lady Edwina Mountbatten and the Indian leader, Jawaharlal Nehru, may have played a part, according to a new biography of the late Lord Mountbatten). All three places are now in Pakistan, and Islamabad is in fact that country’s capital. Accommodating IS NEW BRIGHTON feeling the pinch? A big sign on a supermarket window in the mall announces that the shop will not only redeem its own newspaper discount coupons, but those of . any-of its competitors. i