Reporter’s diary

Press, 12 May 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Long-legged cat?

A FAMILY in north-west Christchurch, having acquired a new cat, decided that the animal should have all freedom to come and go as it pleased. A cat-door seemed to be the answer. Accordingly, the father removed the door from its hinges and methodically measured, cut, rebated, hinged, sanded, oiled, and finally polyurethaned the miniature door. Satisfied that it swung perfectly, with not a squeak or thud to disturb his sleeping family, he replaced the big door on its hinges. Everything about the cat-door was perfect. It did all that it was supposed to do, but for one problem: It was at the top of ttabig door. ”

No-frills presents WE WONDER how many mothers would swoon over the imaginative list of suggested Mother’s Day gifts in a brochure distributed by a Christchurch hardware firm. Depicted in colour on the front are a claw hammer, broom, and alarm clock (to make sure she is on the job early, no doubt), followed by wheel barrows, assorted pruning shears, an electric drill, hedge trimmer, jig saw, and coal scuttle. Safety helmets are not yet on the list. Humble pie THE SUBJECT of New Zealand lamb arose in the columns of the “Evening Standard,” London, this

week. In the grill room of the plush and ultra-English Savoy Hotel, a diner asked if he was, perchance, eating New Zealand lamb. Recoiling as if struck by lightning, the waiter assured the customer that nothing but the finest English meat was served at the Savoy. The “Standard” said that on leaving, the diner presented his business card — revealing himself as the European director of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board... Morale bit A NEWLY-LAID concrete path in Fitzherbert Street, Hokitika, had been defaced by the imprints of a horse, numerous persons, and two bicycfe®, the borough engin-

eer, Mr I. F. Davies, told a meeting of the works committee of the Hokitika Borough Council. The “casual attitude” of those responsible had not helped the morale and attitude of the project employment programme workers who had laid the footpath, he said. Nuisance value? NEW ZEALAND journalists who have been lambasted by the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, and others recently might take comfort from a remark by the British Left-wing politician, Tony Benn: “Journalists are to politicians what dogs are to lamp posts.” —Peter Comer