Reporter’s diary

Press, 18 November 1981, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Lady luck A FORMER Christchurch journalist now living in Wellington has had his faith in used car salesmen restored. He had been interested for some days in a second-hand Mazda 323, but was suspicious of. the sale sheet which . read: “50,000 km. One lady owner.” He finally decided to buy the car and took it for an A.A. test, which it passed with flying, colours. One glance at the ownership papers took care of his suspicion about the “one lady owner” bit. The car had. been owned by none other than Lady Beattie, wife of the Governor-General (Sir David Beattie). So close THE GEAR Meat Company, Petone, which finally closed down on Monday leaving 800 people jobless, was just over a year short of celebrating its. centenary. The Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company of New Zealand was founded on November 7, 1882, with the main object of joining the fledgling frozen meat export business. . Its founder was .one : James Gear, J who owned three butcheries in Wellington and'

an abattoir and boiling-down works at Petone; Even in those days, the company had its share of problems. It chartered the S.S. Doric for January, 1884, at the rate of 2 1 /z pence per pound, 30 jays to be allowed for loading in Wellington and 20 days for unloading in London. What went wrong has not been discovered, but the loading took more than 100 days and the Doric did not leave Wellington until April 15. She reached London bn July the 18, but the cargo was found to be in an unsatisfactory condition. Good mutton brought up to 4¥z pence per pound, but some sold for a penny. The overseas eaters of New Zealand meat were obviously not quite so fussy in those days. • - \ Big day MORE THAN 800 people are expected to enjoy the annual carnival for the mentally handicapped and the physically disabled at Templeton Hospital tomorrow. The Air Force Band will open the programme at 9.30 a.iri. Other attractions include a Top Team competition, a Tai Kworido demonstration, pony rides and sideshows. The carnival has been organised by the staff of Templeton Hbs-

pital'.;'fdr . thelnternational Year of Disabled Persons.

Poor start?

SOME Christchurch people are dull and boring simply because of the surroundings in which they were"'born, according to a member of the North. Canterbury Hospital Board, Mr Alex Clark. Commenting to the board’s works committee bn the aesthetic value of the delivery rooms at. Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Cr, Clark said it was no wonder ; Christchurch people were so bland when they entered .the world in such unexciting surroundings. He went on to liken the delivery rooms to “an ancient men’s toilet.” Bird brain

CHRISTCHURCH is not the only city plagued by mounds of bird' droppings lining the window-sills of otherwise grand old buildings. A retired Australian engineer, Mr Ken Lown, aged 66, has taken the matter in hand and invented a “bird deterrent” which has impressed the Sydney authorities enough for them to remove 100 kilometres of bird droppings from the facade Of•' the Australian Museumftin?: College Street. The “deterrent’’is a strip of

spikes, 65mm high and 65mm apart, made of stainless steel, or transparent plastic, which is attached to preferred perching spots by a weatherproof sealant or wires. Laid on ledges, window-sills and columns, the spikes are supposed to be too long for birds to walk over and too close, together for them to walk, through. The authorities realise that only time will tell if ' the fiendish device works. Play area A JOINT committee has been formed to upgrade and develop the play area at Beckenham Park. An appeal has been opened with a grant of $250 by the Beckenham Neighbourhood Association, and will close on December 31 with a target of $lOOO.Plans for the park include swings, rainbow climbers, tyre climbers, a “Wendy House,” and provision for picnics and barbecues.

Fair offer A LOCAL office equipment firm is doing -its best to cash in on the looming general election. It recently placed a bold double-column advertisement proclaiming: “November trade-in offer ... $5O for your old dictator!”