Reporter’s diary

Press, 17 May 1984, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Turned away A GRANDMOTHER who lives with her husband in their ownership flat in Simeon Street, Addington, keeps excellent health except that when she bends over for a prolonged period, her vision gets slightly blurred and takes time to clear. After gardening, she was not seeing as well as usual when she went to answer a knock at her front door last week-end. On the doorstep were two young boys, one with a cap pulled well down. “We’re coming in to warm our hands,” said one of them. “No you’re not,” she replied sharply, and closed the door. The boys kept knocking, and, fearing that they harboured criminal intent, she eventually telephoned the Christchurch police. A patrol car was on the scene promptly and next time she opened the door, a constable was standing with the boys. “Madam, are you sure you don’t know these children?” he inquired. She was about to say she had never seen them before, when one said beseechingly: “Oh, nana.” Vision dte restored to nor-

mal, she saw that it was indeed her grandson and his friend. They had been playing soccer and were very cold. Outward bound MR MARSHALL WRIGHT, of Christchurch, is the first Canterbury man to be elected as vice-president of the Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand. Mr Wright is the administration officer of the Christchurch City Council’s planning department. Aged 41, he has been involved with Outward Bound since attending the school at Anakiwa in 1963, its first year. Intruders A WOMAN reader says that she was disgusted, while visiting the Hororata Cemetery on Mother’s Day, to see about a dozen turkeys pecking at flowers freshly placed on a grave. “Surely the owner of those fowls must have more respect for such a place of peace and tranquillity,” she said.

Success story RANY ZACK is shying

Britain that you can still get rich in a bad economic climate. Four years ago, at the height of the recession, he began to tour auctions throughout Britain, picking up machinery for plastics products at rock-bottom prices. His bargains included a $128,400 injection moulding machine for $3210. For a mere $1605 he bought two vacuum metallising machines worth a total of $321,000 new. From this low-budget start, Zack expects a turnover this year of SI.7M, and, more important, has shown that he can operate against Taiwanese and other Far East importers. He is also turning out 5000 plastic hula hoops a day in the hope that the fad, which returned to fashion on the Continent last year, will catch on in Britain. Larger than life ALAN (“Bull Tosser”) Robinson, one of South Otago’s great horsemen, cattlemen, and characters, has died at his home, Rankleburn Station, near Tapanui. Mr Robinson, who was well known on the Canterbury

rodeo circuit, earned his distinctive nickname when, as a young man, he leaped into a stockyard at Middlemarch and subdued an enraged cattle beast. He never told anyone how old he was, said his wife, Dulcie, yesterday, and although he was old enough to have great-grandchildren, he still galloped his horse most days. Mr Robinson spent the last three days of his life mustering and drafting cattle on Rankleburn, which he and his wife carved from manuka scrub into one of the most admired properties in the area. His adventures with wild cattle are legend in rural south Otago. Among other things, he will be remembered for forming the South Island’s first rodeo club — at Tapanui in the early 19505. “Bull Tosser” Robinson and his wife had eight children. She said of him yesterday: “He judged every man as he stood, face to face, no matter what he had or who he was. Everyone will miss him.” It was a fine tribute. Comer