Reporter’s diary

Press, 27 February 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

High living PERCHED HIGH in a weeping willow tree, overlooking the lazy Wairarapa Stream near Fendalton Road, is a tree house which would have done the Swiss Family Robinson proud. Comparing this tree house with your average common-or-garden tree house is like comparing Bishopscourt with a tin shed, and it is nocoincidence that the two 13-year-old boys who built it, John Bennett and John Gray, both went on to become architects. John Bennett, who is with the Ministry of Works and Development in Christchurch, cast a critical eye over the tree house the other day and decided that, even with hindsight, he wouldn’t have built it much differently. “It looks pretty sound to me. The tree could be leaning a bit, though.” The house’s balconies have what the real estate agents might call “a delightful aspect” overlooking Mona Vale. It is still carpeted, and in its finest days had running water, electric light, and a telephone link with “the big house.” The tree house was the centre-piece last week of a ceremony to launch the book, “The Tree Witches,” by a Christchurch author and illustrator, Gwenda Turner. One-horse race LACK OF competition did not affect Mr B. T. Seddon’s keenness to exhibit his prized South Suffolk sheep

at the Kaikoura Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show on Saturday. He collected five first prizes, being the only entrant in each category. Mr Seddon is also president of . the Kaikoura A. and P. Association. Bulk carrier DOMINION BREWERIES’S West Coast branch, possibly mindful of the Coasters’ reputation as quaffers of ale, have bought a Mercedes-Benz tanker which can carry 17,000 litres of beer. The tanker trundles draught “D. 8. up and down the coast, and to Nelson and Marlborough, several days a week. “Minder” NAPIER’S city pound will soon have a guard dog. Twenty-three dogs have been taken from the pound since December last year, according to the chairman of the pound committee, Mr Alan Styles. “We don’t know whether people are stealing back their own dogs, or stealing valuable dogs. Either way, we have to tighten security,” he said. “Tinnies trail”

A “TINNIES TRAIL” to help victims of the Southland floods will be held at the Hornby Mall this week, beginning today. The mall will start the trail off with 200 tins of food, drink, household cleaners aqd so on. The public will then be

asked to add tins to the trail, in the hope that a substantial food contribution will be made to the flood victims’ cupboards, The Hornby Mall Merchants’ Association will give a $5O voucher and a double theatre pass to the giver of tins who writes the most original humorous comment on his or her can to cheer up the recipient. Just cruising... PASSERS-BY were mystified when a station waggon, apparently driverless, rolled for 56 metres down an Auckland street and struck a fence. A German shepherd and a Dalmatian were found draped over the handbrake and clutch, where they had apparently sought shelter from the sun. Lost film A KEEN photographer, who attended the floral parade on Saturday and stayed around afterwards to photograph a vintage car connected with the parade, may since have found his efforts wasted. Mr Doug Ridder found his 1909 Renault car the subject of attention by many photographers — one of whom left an exposed film on the car. Unfortunately, Mr Ridder does not know who the film belongs to, but anyone who lost a Kodak Vericolor commercial film in a wrapper can contact him at telephone number 228-528, to arrange its return.