Reporter’s diary

Press, 28 January 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Diners bugged AN UNUSUAL delicacy is available in one Christchurch restaurant for the adventurous. Moreton Bay Bugs, which are claimed to look like bugs from outer space, have joined frogs’ legs and snails as delicacies for the adventurous diner. The small crayfish-like creature is from the coast of Queensland and is airfreighted to Christchurch by a local fish supplier. The meat is described as being similar to that of a crayfish, although sweeter and stronger. It is also similar to crabmeat. The manager of the restaurant serving the bugs said he introduced them to his menu as something of a gimmick after a suggestion from the supplier. Advertisements in “The Press” had led to many interested people telephoning or visiting the restaurant — some just to get an argument settled regarding the origin of the bugs. He said not many customers were eating the bugs yet. Home again THE DIARY has again been responsible for reuniting a family with its pet. The photograph and accompanying paragraph about a female red-gold German

shepherd-type dog in the newspaper on Tuesday had the desired effect. The dog had been taken in by the S.P.C.A. after being hit by a car in Beckenham the morning after a hailstorm in Christchurch. S.P.C.A. staff deduced that the dog had been frightened by the storm, run away and possibly had not been missed by its owners because they were on holiday. The photograph of the dog, with its ears dejectedly back, reminded a Christchurch veterinarian of a dog he had treated the week before for fish hooks in a leg and the mouth. The dog had been brought in by people looking after it while the owners were away and the vetinerary surgeon said it looked just as dejected then. It was

the same dog and the owners, who had just returned from holiday to be told the dog was missing, were traced. Mrs Colleen Bates, a trainee inspector with the S.P.C.A., said the transformation in Tarsha, the dog, was unbelievable once it was returned to its owners. The 14-year old dog was afraid of lightning and had made its bolt from Richmond during the storm, just as the S.P.C.A. had speculated. Downwind landing AN AIR New Zealand spokesman has related an interesting item from the airline’s staff newsletter. Staff are required to submit reports to head office of unusual events and one such

report was received from the captain of a flight from Auckland to Christchurch earlier this month. The report concerned an overshoot from 150 metres because of a passenger in a lavatory on board. One of the final checks made by cabin crew is to see that all passengers are strapped into their seats and that no-one is occupying a lavatory. In this case the final check had revealed the lavatory occupation and the flight crew were informed so they could delay the landing. “Problem resolved downwind,” the captain’s report concluded. This was, of course, a reference to the captain having to land downwind rather than into the wind. Safety move PROSPECTIVE and present private pilots will no doubt be relieved to know that the Canterbury Aero Club has succumbed to pressure within the aviation industry to have emergency locator beacons installed throughout their fleet of aircraft. The beacons are not mandatory, but the possibility of legislation concerning their installation is raised every time there is an aircraft accident in New Zealand. In particular, after the Turner family’s Cessna aircraft went missing on a flight from Tekapo last year and the wreckage was never

found, the calls for the beacons increased. The C.A.C. has had the beacons in their cross-country aircraft for some time, but has now extended this to all 18 of the club’s aircraft. Silent applause AUSTRALIAN news media coverage of the recovery of the Sydney harbour ferry Karrabee presents certain disparities. The 71-year old ferry sank at its moorings last Sunday after winning third place in the annual Festival of Sydney ferry race. On Wednesday the newspapers reported the salvage operation. “Police said about 1500 people gathered. But strangely, when the ferry peeped above the water, there was no response from the crowd,” the “Sydney Morning Herald” reported. Its rival, the “Australian,” had it differently, however. It reported: “Thousands applauded as the ferry broke surface ...” In defence of our Australian colleagues it could be suggested that perhaps the “Australian” reporter managed to secure a closer spot from which to view the salvage (and to hear the accompanying crowd reaction).