Reporter’s diary

Press, 16 March 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

New tack FRESH HOPE for the thin on top has been raised by an American expert on hair transplants, and suchlike means of defeating the dreaded baldness, who spoke enthusiastically in Australia last week of a process called “scalp reduction." This apparently involves taking a strip of skin from the scalp and pulling the sides together to close the gap — thus moving the hair-bearing areas around the sides of the head up towards the top. Taken too far, suggested a questioner, would not the process result in the patient having his ears on the top of his head? Not possible, was the answer, because the ears are anchored by the earholes. If it did happen to somebody, though. . . we’d give him free life membership of the Mickey Mouse Club." Duty calls A BIT frustrating, but it's all in a doctor’s day. That’s how Dr Alfred Kagan must have felt when, finally within sight of the finish line in the Twizel Iron Man contest, he was called away to attend an accident. There was only one other withdrawal — that of Tom Reid who had a puncture during the 15-kilometre cycle race. Stewart McDougall ended up as the

Twizel Iron Man, having completed the eight-kilo-metre run, swimming section. cycle race and 150metre sprint in one hour, four minutes. Water watch A SMALL group of operators spent day after day on the air to keep the Canterbury Volunteer Coast Guard Service’s radio room open at week-ends this summer. Had it not been for these dedicated members the service might have been in real trouble, said the president, Mr Harold Mason. “The reason for our manpower problems is not just a shortage of licensed operators. It is a static (excuse the pun) membership, with virtually the same enthusiasts keeping our show on the water as well as on the air," said Mr Mason. Coast Guard boats logged 19 call-outs in the past couple of months, many of them to assist vessels in distress or to make tows. Man}’ small incidents went unlogged. “The plain truth is: we need more members,” said Mr Mason. Anyone interested should telephone Kaiapoi 8330. Mill meals

TEN THOUSAND sit-down meals a week make the cafeterias at the New Zea-

land Forest Products Kinleith plant New Zealand’s biggest industrial catering service. The weekly average consumption of the 4500 workers at Kinleith is a staggering 30 sides of bacon, 15 cattle beasts, 1680 litres of fruit juice, 3000 pies, 140 dozen cakes, 2500 kilograms of chips, 400 kg of sausages, 3000 loaves of bread, 300 kg of fish, 360 kg of potatoes, and, among other things, 5600 bottles of milk. Appetites vary widely, from half-meals to a man who has a plate of five steaks and half a dozen eggs, according to the catering manager, Mr David Steele, who has a team of seven qualified chefs and 110 back-up staff. The cafeteria’s reputation for culinary excellence extends far beyond Kinleith. It has fed many V.I.P.s — including members of the Royal Family. Anti-pollution EXHAUST emission controls will be strictly enforced when a 70-year-old horsedrawn waggon joins joggers, walkers, cyclists and motorists along Auckland's scenic Tamaki Drive. The Auckland Citv Council has authorised Mr R. J. Simpson to run a horse-drawn landau service — on the condition that the horse droppings be removed immediatelv The service us-

ing a comfortably refurbished 1911 covered waggon, will start on three months trial. Mr Simpson believes there are "great possibilities” for a horse and buggy ride service along the Auckland waterfront, catering mainly for Japanese and American tourists. Retired ‘topper’ GENTLE, grey-haired grandfather Syd De'rnley, aged 61. has been writing books for children. He has finished two — about Syd and Sam, the friendly steeplejacks — and his two grandchildren think they are great fun. So does his wife, who thinks his literary career is a big improvement on his last full-time job. A noose on the wall of his Nottinghamshire home gives a clue. Syd was an official hangman for six years, and was responsible for "topping" 31 convicted murderers before capital punishment was abolished. “It’s not a thing I like people to know about, but I am proud of it. I don’t think hanging should have been abolished.” said Syd. "These books aren’t a way of making up to my wife or anything. I am not deliberately trying to show a softer side to my character — they are just stories I want to tell.”