Reporter’s diary

Press, 21 May 1981, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Green fingers THE LONG , list of odd vegetables from Christchurch gardens has been joined by this hand-shaped, albeit stubby-fingered, carrot. The carrot was grown by Mr Tom Pearce, of Oakhampton Street, Hornby, whose earlier

horticultural claim to fame was a one pound and a quarter tomato. According to his wife, Mrs N. Pearce, the carrot was the only freak in a line as tall and straight as a parade of Grenadier Guards. It. would not be eaten, she said.

Tall attraction THE LOOKOUT balconies high on the Cathedral tower have again proved popular writh children these May holidays. An estimated 200 youngsters pay their 20 cents to scamper up and down the spiral stairs and peer down from the lookouts every day during the holidays, compared with 50 or 60 adults and children at other times. “It’s something for them to do, especially on Saturdays. They come in on the bus, go up the tower, then head off to the pictures,” said a Cathedral spokesman. There have been problems, from time to time, with children dropping things off the balconies, but the culprits are hard to find, according to the spokesman. “When they drop something like a coin they probably don’t realise that it will be travelling like a bullet when it reaches the ground,” he said. One way out

POT HOLED roads and no lighting, can give atmosphere to historic buildings, says the chairman of Paparua’s Rural District Council, Mr A. Y. Shuker. Mr Shuker was commenting on a letter from a woman who said the access road to “Tiptree” cottage should be upgraded. Mr

Shuker said the conditions were “in keeping with the character of an old house.” The council felt the road was adequate and a street lamp would be too expensive, as the road was seldom used at night, Drought breaks CHRISTCHURCH lovers of Guinness, who have been pining for a glass of the rich, dark stout for more than a year, have had their prayers answered. A container load of 3000 cases of the “love it or hate it” beer has been shipped from Australia, one of the few countries in which Arthur Guinness and son, of Dublin, permit it to be brewed under licence. Guinness has not been available in New Zealand since a small shipment arrived more than a year ago. Before that, according to the importers, Ballins Industries, the drought in Christchurch lasted four years. The cans will go on sale at city bottle stores this week. Moving display A PHOTOGRAPHIC exhibition spanning a decade of sport, as seen through the camera of Des Woods, chief photographer of “The Press,” has really taken off. He originally thought that the

Provincial Tavern should be the only venue for the impressive array of 80 photographs. But the exhibition is now pulling the crowds at the Northlands shopping mall, and part of it is at the. convention of the New Zealand Amateur Photographers’ Association at Taupo. The exhibition will go to . Greymouth next, and after •that, who knows? •' '; ‘Tanks’ allowed THE LAST of the big Ameri-' can “gas-gusslers” can now be brought legally to New Zealand for conversion to hearses. The pre-1977 Buicks, Cadillacs, and Chevrolets, marques favoured by funeral directors in the country, had been kept out by the Government ban on imports of used cars for commercial purposes., But a lack in recent years of new models with big enough wheelbases for use as hearses has led to a special dispensation being granted by the Trade and Industry Department. Karate display HIGH ON the list of holiday attractions for Bishopdale children will be an actionpacked display by the Seido Karate Club at the children’s library in the Bishopdale Community Centre this evening.