Reporter’s diary

Press, 11 July 1983, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Hefty price OYSTER eaters in NewZealand who think they have to pay exorbitant prices for Foveaux Strait oysters should spare a thought for English people with similar tastes. Last month in London oysters were selling for £l.lO for three (pictured above), a

New Zealand equivalent of 87c an oyster. In Christchurch this season, raw oysters have been selling, on average, for $l.BO a dozen. One can imagine what the cost would be to real oyster gourmets in Southland where an oyster-eating contest some years ago was won by an entrant who swallowed 305 in 10

minutes. The runner-up managed 300. Natural bed ONE OF THE reasons why New Zealand oysters are so cheap is because Foveaux Strait is one of the last natural oyster fisheries in the world. Many beds in Europe and American had been dredged to the point of no return, said the general manager of Fisheries South Island, Mr J. Walker. “Oysters in most parts of the world are now artificially grown. Small or seed oysters are set out on tidal banks, at the sides of rivers, and on artificial structures, then tended, harvested, and purified, since many of the waters in which they are grown are polluted,” he said. Good season THE OYSTER season • finishes at the end of August. Mr Walker said that the

quality of the Foveaux Strait mollusc had been good. “However, retailers have been disturbed at the number of ‘clocks,’ as they are known in the trade.” “These are oysters which, when dredged up, look exactly like a live oyster but the shell-fish has either died or been eaten by a predator,” he said. “Clocks” have been landed in most areas of Foveaux Strait. Honour announced AGGIE GREY, the proprietor of a colourful Apia hotel, is the first Western Samoan citizen to become an Honorary Companion of the Queen’s Service Order. The appointment was announced on Friday by the Governor-General, Sir David Beattie. Mrs Grey is known throughout the Pacific, the United States, and Europe for her waterfront hotel. She was particularly noted for her hospitality to troops during World War 11, and since then to New Zealand dignitaries and tourists.

Tiny battery ENGINEERS of the Hitachi Company in Japan, have developed a battery about half as thin as a human hair, yet capable of powering a wristwatch for 300 hours. The company has no plans to start commercial production of the 2.5 volt battery because the costs have not been assessed, and because it has not figured out how to make the device in large quantities. The battery is 4mm square and 0.0034 mm deep. Record swim POLITICAL prisoners serving life sentences on South Africa’s infamous Robben Island might be inspired by an item which appeared oh the front page of a recent edition of the “South African Digest.” It reported that Laurie Falkov, aged 11, had just become the youngest swimmer to cover the 11km from the island to Three Anchor Bay near Cape Town. He completed the swim in just over 3Vz hours.