Reporter’s diary

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Trip snippets UNUSUAL historical facts, anecdotes, and information about Christchurch are sought by Newmans Coachlines as part of a national contest which aims to put cities of New Zealand on the map in a novel way. Newmans is organising a contest which invites people to contribute unusual anecdotes about their city. Entries will be used in a comprehensive New Zealand route map which will entertain and inform coach passengers as they travel; “The most interesting things about any town are always best known among the local people," said the managing director of Newmans, Mr G. K. Chapman. The route maps will be produced later this year after the competition winners are announced. The prize for the best story is a $2OOO New Zealand Newmans holiday. Swan-song * THERE goes our bread and butter, writes a Yaldhurst reader, who has sent in a copy of a letter to "The Times” of London, which was printed ■ recently'. Under the heading, “For we like sheep," the letter is from Mr George Hill, of Barnes, who is organ-

ist at a local crematorium. “At a recent cremation service,” he writes, “I was asked to play Bach’s ‘Sheep may safely graze.' I dutifully did so. I discovered later that the lamented deceased had been a New Zealand lamb importer.” * Eye for an eye HENRY ROOT, who conducted a dotty correspondence with persons such as the First Sea Lord and Mrs Margaret Thatcher, and then published the results in book form, has himself become the victim of an elaborate spoof. Root, alias Willie Donaldson (who is now diarist for "The Mail on Sunday”), included an item in his column about a letter alleged to have been written by the editor of. "Private Eye” magazine to the journalist who is preparing a history of the magazine. The letter asks that unflattering references to the editor, the magazine, and others should , be deleted from .the manuscript. The “leaked” letter, says Mr Donaldson, shows that “this fearless defender of free speech has indeed become power-mad. and paranoid.” But the letter is a spoof and was written and “leaked” to Mr Donaldson "in the spirit of fun.” -

Winning artist JULIE FARRANT, of Rotorua, is so badly crippled with arthritis that she can move only with great difficulty, on crutches, yet she is a talented artist. She has just won the 1982 Arthritis Foundation Art Contest with a vividly coloured painting of a still life of a pair of tennis shoes dropped on the floor. Her winning painting was selected from 150 entries.' Miss Farrant, aged 24, develjoped rheumatoid arthritis at 'the age of 16 and is waiting to enter hospital for hipreplacement surgery. It will be her fourth lot of surgery ' in five years. She paints standing up for short spells, since she is unable to sit in an ordinary chair. Her prize Isja trip to Treasure Island ih Fiji. She says she will take her. brushes with her. An exhibition of her painting, other prize-winning .paintings, and most of the contest gentries, will tour New Zealand. . A Rangiora arthritis sufferer, Agnes Koller; was highly commended in the competition. Light deterrant MEMBERS of the Buller County Council have decided to throw light on the subject

that has been worrying them for some time. Late at night, people have been leaving unwanted calling cards in the foyer and at the back of the council chambers, leaving a most unpleasant mess for the cleaners in the morning. One man was caught in the act recently. In an effort to prevent further fouling, the council has decided to leave the building’s front light burning each night, and a security gate will be put up at the back of the building to keep people out at night. Good season

AFTER a month-long showing in two London cinemas, the New Zealand film, “Beyond Reasonable Doubt,” has had a good opening season, and the film is now likely to go to many of the regional cinemas, according to a recent edition of ."New Zealand News U.K.” The film, which deals with the .Arthur Allan Thomas murder trial controversy, had generally favourable reviews when it opened; the report says. "The film builds up a convincing portrait of a tight, remote community rallying to Thomas’s cause," said-one newspaper. David Hemmings and John Hargreaves, in particular, won good notices.