Reporter's Diary

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

Bull RACEGOERS were treated to a meeting with a few differences at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington on Saturday. First,, there was the weather as sheets ot rain spread across the track and grounds,, most punters were forced to retreat to the comforts of the bars where they could at least enjoy the meeting with some warmth. But there they found one of three public bars taken up' by men wearing stetson hats and talking with American accents. The subject of their discussion was bulls: this was the World Angus Cattle Breeders’ Race Meeting. If that was not enough for the confused spectator, the crowd was informed that the tote had closed by the normal two flashing lights on the track and the lowing of a beast, presumably an Angus bull, over the public address system. The noise was greeted with some amusement by spectators, but for at least one punter a donkey’s braying would have been more appropriate.

Crime of passion? THERE were some red faces in the District Court at Christchurch recently,

when a man, who was charged with dishonesty, was told by the Judge that he had offended because of his “concupiscence.” As the state of the man’s libido had had no bearing on the case, the Judge had to return to the court later, somewhat embarrassed, and say that he meant “cupidity.” In the can CANNED beers, particularly the imported variety, have made an impact on the local liquor market. Now it may be the turn of canned wines. Reports from overseas indicate that the Coca-Cola company, the second biggest wine producer in the United States (and you thought that “Coke adds life” was an advertisement for a cordial ) is experimenting with wine in aluminium cans. Cooks' New Zealand Wine Company, Ltd, believes canned wines may become a reality in New Zealand if the price of bottles continues to rise sharply. Cooks’ marketing manager, Mr Grant Willoughby, says that aluminium cans would have to be imported from Australia because New Zealand' cans ; are not suited to holding wine, But cans.have an advan-

tage for sparkling wines, he says, as they are much easier to fill, eliminating the need for bottling under pressure and wiring corks on to the bottle. Black Friday

FRIDAY, March 13 must have looked particularly black to members of the Amuri Ski Club, as nothing seemed to go right for the club when it tried to transport a Poma lift from Ruapehu Amuri. Getting the lift, carried on a truck and trailer, on to the Cook Strait' ferry was bad enough, but the crew arrived in Blenheim just after midnight on Friday and their truck broke down. After trying hotels and motels without any luck, the crew spent the night, courtesy of the New Zealand Police, in Blenheim cells. After repairs, the truck eventually arrived in Amuri, but the crew might have a job explaining away their night in the police cells.

Too good to be true XRE Australian car dealers getting desperate, or is there more to an advertisement in the “Australian Financial Review” than meets the eye? A car dealer is offering customers, two luxury cars, worth $A90,000 (5NZ114.126) together, for just $A75,000 ($NZ95,105). “It’s too good , to miss,” says the advert. “You drive out in this brand new, one only; latest model Maserati

‘Merak’ SS from Talbot Motors and she drives out in a brand new Alfa Sprint, all for the recommended price of the Maserati only.” The cars are certainly not short on creature comfort. The Maserati includes air conditioning, electric windows, AM/FM radio cassette deck “and more.” For the more technical-minded it has a V 6 engine and 5-speed gearbox, and is finished in a yellow exterior with black leather upholstery. The Alfa has the same “necessities” for comfortable driving. Countdown READERS who still have their census forms can expect to have them collected by the end of this week. According to Mr Barney Thorne,' the Christchurch area census officer, about 70 per cent of forms have been collected by enumerators in Canterbury. Most people had had little difficulty in filling out their forms, he said, although Question 25, relating to income from other sources (other than Social Security benefits) had caused some problems. Some people took “income from other sources” to mean income from sources other than wages or salary, and therefore omitted to state their earnings.Where enumerators spotted the omission, they were advising people how to complete the question correctly.