Record to Goldfish Fred

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 17

Record to Goldfish Fred

Guinness Book of Records, 1982 Edition. Edited by Norris McWhirter. Guinness Superlatives Ltd, 1981. 350 pp. Illustrations. Index. $16.95.

■ The twenty-eighth edition of the Guinness Book of Records has appeared — proclaiming a record for itself. The book is now being published in 23 languages and its total annual sales exceed 42 million. In keeping with the times, the price has also increased — up $2.45 from the 1981 edition’s price of $14.50. Still, it remains one of the most diverting books in the world for browsing; the publishers claim almost a quarter of the entries have been revised between editions.

To stir our national pride, Jon Zealando’s fire blowing record distance of 7.45 metres, set at Henderson in October, 1979, has been recognised, .displacing a British blow of 7 metres. A garage in Dunedin still holds the world record for the most petrol sold through a single pump in 24 hours (35,521.4 litres). But Television New Zealand’s telethon appeal totals, which had been accepted as the highest known, have been displaced by appeals in the United States and Britain. As a consolation, we are told that Robert Taylor's coal shovelling record, set at Dobson, near Greymouth, has been bettered — by Robert Taylor. His time for filling a half-ton (508 kg hopper is now 31.5 seconds. Some matters remain the same. Warsaw Radio still has the highest radio transmitting mast. The East Moscow crematorium is still the world's largest. The world’s shortest regular commercial flight (58 seconds with a tail wind) still operates in the Orkney Islands. Chinese anti-Russian demonstrations (2.7 million people) were not displaced by activity during the Springbok tour. The world's best used birthday card continues to

shuttle between two ladies in America, as it has since 1927. Other matters change. A Russian submarine has displaced an American one as the fastest underwater craft. The Rolls Royce Camargue remains the world's most expensive standard car, but it has gone up in price by about £BOOO to £79,160. British Steel continues to turn in record losses — £668 million in 1980-81, or £1270 a minute. A caravan speed record has been acknowledged — 201 km/h (124.91 mp/H). The van was towed by an Aston Martin. There is cause for sorrow. Fred, the world’s oldest pet goldfish, has finally died aged 41. The longest letter to the editor, of 23,513 words, was published in the United States over eight issues of the “Upper Dauphin Sentinel,” in 1979. It thus displaces a letter of 13,000 words printed in the “Fishing Gazette” in 1884. Estonia still holds the record for the most powerful drink — a 98 per cent potato alcohol made between 1918 and 1940 before the country was taken over by the Soviet Union. The highest price for a drink is $31,000 paid for a bottle of 1822 Chateau Lafitte at an auction in San Francisco in May. 1980. Chang is still the world’s commonest family name. In Britain, at least, David and Andrew have overtaken Mark and Paul as the favourite boys’ names; Emma is still well ahead for girls, But Sarah has given way to Clair. Kelly, and Nicola. An anaesthetist in Britain worked a week of 142 hours in June, 1980, which left an average each day of three hours 42 minutes and 51 seconds for sleep. In contrast, “Guinness” notes that some university lecturers are contracted to work three hours a week, or a 72-hour year spread over 24 weeks. 'Guinness” is designed to settle arguments. Providing information like that it could easily start them instead. — Literary Editor.