Reporter’s diary

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Dubious distinction TWO WEEKS after visiting Edinburgh in January the Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay. made headlines in one of the city's newspapers. “One too many for Lord Mayor." said the headline. Underneath was a story about a member of the Edinburgh District Council complaining that too much was spent entertaining the “Lord Mayor of Christchurch.” Sir Hamish was given the elevated title of Lord Mayor throughout the story, although his. name was not given. The Edinburgh councillor objected to Sir Hamish being the cause for a $2OO dinner one evening and then a $l2 lunch the next day. “The fact that the Lord Provost twice entertained this guest is totally unacceptable. One meal for the visiting Lord Mayor would have sufficed.” said the outraged ‘councillor. Lord Provost Tom Morgan defended the eost. saying that the outlay, was justified in the interests of the good relations between the two cities. A Christchurch man holidaying in Edinburgh when the story

appeared sent a clipping to Sir Hamish. He said that apart from reports of World Series cricket, the story was the only New Zealand news he read during the six weeks he was away. Stringing along BRITISH petroleum, the oil giant, is showing such interest in alternative energy sources that it has filed patents for wind-assisted oil tankers. The idea is that the ship might be tugged along by a vast kite flown at the end of a stout cable at altitudes .where winds are always strong. B.P. suggests that apart from its hauling role, the kite would carry photographic, radar or telecommunications equipment. . A compressed air launcher would be used to get the kite airborne. Colour blind RED IS a colour that must have unpleasant connotations . for Railways Corporation bosses, and not just because of the corporation’s financial record. Red plays, a large

part in the downfall of a Railways advertisement in the February 12 issue of “The Listener.” A big map of New Zealand is the centrepiece of the full-page advertisement. On the map are lines denoting railways bus and rail routes. The key says that the red lines are the bus routes, and the green lines are rail routes. Looking at the lines on the map, how Tever, it is clear that the key has it the wrong way round. Where are the trains to Hanmer. Fairlie and Milford? A telephone call to railways headquarters in Wellington confirmed the error, and a spokesman said its cause was “under investigation.” There are bound to be a few red faces. Laying off JAPANESE banks will close on the second Saturday of each month from August. Announcing the change, the Japan Federation of Bankers’ Association said it Si being done to' dispel an's reputation as a nation of workaholics.

Scots rendezvous THREE Scottish couples in Kaiapoi are pondering the destiny of their reunion this week. Peggie and Willie Filshie. of Dumbartonshire, Scotland, settled in Kaiapoi seven years ago after living in California for about 14 years. They are hosting two couples from their homeland. Mrs Filshie's sister. Rhoda, and her husband. Jack, arrived in New Zealand last November aboard the cruise ship Canberra. Mr Filshie's brother, Jim, and his wife, Margaret, arrived last month and have been touring the North Island. Both couples arrived in Kaiapoi this week and both are staying at the Pier Hotel. Neither knew the other was staying at the hotel until they arrived. The two couples, who live about 65km apart in Scotland, each made their plans to travel to New Zealand without the other knowing. The timing of their visits is equally fortuitous. It is the Kaiapoi Filshies golden wedding year. Rhoda was matron of honour and Jim was best man when the Filshies were married at Balloch in Scotland in 1933.

No joke BIG GAS cylinders of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) have become a security risk at Christchurch hospitals. The latest issue of the North Canterbury Hospital Board's journal. "The Pulse." says one was stolen from Christchurch Women's Hospital, and the Southern Cross Trust Hospital had two of the $5OO cylinders stolen last year. Thieves steal tnem to use their contents to get high on: the Southern Cross cylinders were found dumped — minus their contents. The 1.8 metre cvlinders are very heavy and in both cases the thieves went to considerable trouble to steal them. They used a winch to lift one from a storage bav in Christchurch Women's last November. Both hospitals have tightened security to prevent further thefts. Although nicknamed “laughing gas" for the giggling euphoria it induces, hospital anaesthetists say nitrous oxide in the wrong hands is no laughing matter. If too much is inhaled the user can suffer from a lack of oxygen that can cause brain damage and death