Reporter's Diary

Press, 27 March 1981, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Discerning?

“DIARY Of the Kirk Years," the controversial account of the late Norman Kirk’s years as Prime Minister, has proved a best-seller and a minor money spinner for the National Party. Copies of the book, written by Mr Kirk’s former private secretary, Miss Margaret Hayward, were obtained by the National' Party’s Christchurch office, and have been snapped up by party executives. lntriguingly, the Labour Party had not stocked copies of the book when we approached its Christchurch office. We were told the. party had had no inquiries for the book, but that copies were available at Whitcoulls. Proceeds from National’s sales will go to the party organisation. Riverbank frolics TOMORROW afternoon will be a special time for Christchurch’s elderly citizens and their supporters.A Riverside Fair will be

held on the bank of the Avon River from the Bridge of Remembrance to the Montreal Street bridge. This section of Cambridge Terrace will be closed off and it will be all “go” for the hundreds of people expected there from 1 p.m. when the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr Hamish Hay) opens the fair from one of the many vintage cap taking part. A W something-for-everyone event, the aim of the fair isi .to.,raise money to buy a mini bus to help solve transport problems for ■■ the elderly. A lot of local service clubs have, joined with the Aged People’s Welfare Council to make the afternoon one to remember. Wrong knife A WOMAN dining in a Christchurch restaurant last week-end was unhappy with the steak she had ordered. Sending it back to the chef, she complained she could not get her knife through the meat. She was more than surprised when the waiter 'r

returned with , the steak, and the chef’s advice that there was nothing wrong with it but that he would get her another knife. Wizards

A MAN calling himself the former Wizard of Liverpool telephoned us to say he had not filled out his census form. 'Unlike the Christchurch Wizard, who sailed 12 miles out to sea to avoid filling in - his form, the Liverpool Wizard stayed, in Christchurch and sent'his form overseas — a to a member of Parliament in Liverpool. The Liverpool Wizard said he had wanted to get a second opinion on the form before filling it in, but it is likely to return to Christchurch long after the collection date. Incidentally, this Wizard, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he used to address crowds at Pier Head in Liverpool. He also said that many of the' opinions uttered bv’ Christchurch’s Wizard, particularly on religion, could never have been said in Liverpool because of the strong feelings on religion among Liverpudlians*