Reporter’s diary

Press, 22 October 1983, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Stamp issue THE TRADITIONAL pastimes of Tokelau are featured on a set of six stamps to be released on November 2. The games were all performed for the artist, Maurice Conly, whose designs are based on sketches and photographs taken at the time. The five sene stamp shows javelin throwing, the 18 sene a string game, the 23 sene fire-making, the 34 sene shell-throwing, the 63 sene a hand-ball game, and the 75 sene wrestling. The Tokelauan sene is equivalent to the New Zealand cent. The stamps will be available in New Zealand from the Philatelic Bureau, Private Bag, Wanganui, or the seven philatelic sales centres until May 1, 1984. First-day covers, also designed by Maurice Conly, cost $2.28 and may be ordered from the bureau before November 2. Tongue twister THE LONGEST and least pronounceable address in the world is for sale. It is the railway station at a Welsh village on the island of Anglesey and the price of $386,000 includes the station, a restaurant, car park, and a souvenir shop. “It is lively

to attract a buyer already in the leisure business rather than someone trying to break into sign-writing,” said Brian Wood, a director of the company that is selling it. Prospective buyers should write to him at ychwymdrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales.

Fond memories IN THE face of the present “buy British meat” campaign, past kindnesses shown by the Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating, Ltd, are still bearing fruit in the United Kingdom. The company recently received this letter from Mr D. Francis Davies, of Saltoun Hall, Pencaitland, East Lothian, Scotland: “I am retired, and I do some shopping and cooking. Last week I bought a half shoulder of your lamb. It tasted very good. In fact, your lamb always does taste very good. But your name and address brought back very happy memories for me. From 1942 to 1945 I was a cook on the S.S. Athlone Castle. We used to stay for a week or 10 days in Lyttelton Harbour. I would like to thank all those kind families who took us into their homes and made us so welcome. I have very happy

memories of week-ends spent on a lovely farm; a family of a dentist who took me round Christchurch; the Avon River’s peace and tranquillity in a world torn apart by war. If any of your older staff remember the ships and the sailors they so kindly entertained in their homes, tell them that we still remember their kindnesses of 40 years ago. P.S.: If it’s not too early, all the best for 1984. May all your dreams come true.” Paradise price GOULD’S gold-embossed “Birds of Paradise” is like gold, it seems. A copy of the volume was offered for sale for $30,000 in Sydney recently, but the gasps were kept to a minimum because it was on display to the initiated — Australia and New Zealand’s old-book dealers, who were meeting for the first time in six years. Scare stab

THE ROME police have arrested three men who tried to sell heroin to children, after a tip-off from the mother of a schoolboy who stabbed himself to frighten her into giving him $6OO men.