Reporter’s diary

Press, 31 December 1982, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Last salute? WHAT entertaining sights we could see if New Zealand policemen road bicycles like their British colleagues. According to a London newspaper, the Instruction Book for the Guidance of Metropolitan Police contains the

following: “All ranks when' cycling will salute by turning the head and eyes towards the officer or object saluted without quitting hold of the handlebars with either hand Bon appetit INNER-CITY restaurants can be a welcome lunchtime refuge, but they are seldom as entertaining as a recently opened cafe. The chicken dish arrived as a cold, gluti-

nous mass and the macaroni cheese failed to appear after a 45-minute wait, relieved only by visits to a neighbouring bakery for cheese scones. There was compensating entertainment. Three people at another table got meals, but not the ones they ordered (one looked suspiciously like the missing macaroni cheese).. Staff lost the order of another couple. The only other customers were a group of punk rockers who got the single cup of tea they ordered. A waitress also gave an impromptu floor show, by breaking several glasses. Our informants voted the meal one of the most entertaining and cheapest they had not eaten. They got a refund and a free cup of coffee.

Christmas cheer

THE SPIRIT of Christmas has been very much in evidence in the far north. The four crew of a French yacht which ran aground' in the Parengarenga Harbour just before Christmas were befriended by the Houhora policeman, Constable Archie Clark, and his family. Constable Clark and his wife drove the crew into Kaitaia on Christmas Eve: so that they could replace the clothes they had lost on the yacht. They also lent the money for the purchases. The mother of one of the crew was due to arrive in New Zealand for Christmas, so the Clarks arranged to collect her. Then, the entire party

headed for Christmas, with Mrs Clark’s family. A good time was had by all, even though the turkey had to be stretched a bit and only one of the castaways could speak English. , Shark food CHRISTMAS gifts for an Auckland family should finally arrive soon, after an eventful journey by yacht, life-raft and air. Mr Keith Edwards, of Pago Pago, set out with the presents in his yacht late in November. He was planning to spend Christmas with his daughter and .grandchildren, in Glen Innes; After a week. at sea, the yacht sank. Mr Edwards

took to a rubber life-raft with a month’s (Supply of food, some clothes, a shortwave radio, and the Christmas presents. He spent more than eight days in the raft before he was picked up by a Fijian tanker. He had to fight off sharks which continually attacked the raft. Eventually, Mr Edwards had to avoid the attacks by squatting on top of the suitcase which held the presents. After he was rescued, Mr Edwards spent several days recovering in hospital in Rarotonga and returned to Pago Pago. The Christmas gifts continued their exciting journey to 'Auckland by air. Mr Edwards intends to. follow the presents to New Zealand in the New Year, also by air.