Reporter's diary

Press, 18 May 1984, Page 2

Reporter's diary

New tack THE MINISTRY of Transport complaint that fewer speeding drivers are being caught because motorists flick headlights to warn other motorists of radar “speed traps,” has prompted a reader to suggest a change of practice. She says that instead of waiting in vain to catch drivers who have been warned of their presence well in advance, traffic officers should cruise the main highways in unmarked cars, flashing their headlights at the oncoming traffic every few kilometres. In theory, and if there were enough traffic officers on the road, she thinks that the M.O.T. could have every vehicle travelling all the way from Christchurch to Timaru at a cautious 76km/h. In residence THE STORY about the turkeys fossicking in the Hororata Cemetery pales to insignificance compared with what a Christchurch woman

has to contend with every time she visits her parents’ graves in the Anglican Cemetery in Ashley Street, Rangiora. An aged ram and a horse are permanent residents of the cemetery. The ram is tied to a concrete block, but it can drag the block about the cemetery, damaging graves, according to the woman. The horse’s long tether also allows it to range far and wide. The woman said that she had complained to the church committee in charge of the cemetery, but it had been unable to find out who owned the ram. (The horse was not in residence then.) She has had to clean the ram’s droppings off her parents’ graves. “The worst thing is that almost before you are out the gate, he (the ram) is nibbling on the fresh flowers,” she said. Stuck A QUICK try on a swing designed for toddlers became an embarrassing ordeal for a teen-aged *girl in Victoria Park on We<fjes-

day. The caretaker had to be summoned with a hacksaw after she became jammed in the much-too-small seat. She was cut free, but not before some spectators had had an amusing time at her expense. Epic journey ELEVEN years ago, Mr Ray Copland, of Ashburton, was among the crew of a 1903 Clayton and Shuttleworth traction engine that was driven by road from Ashburton to Lyttelton. He writes: “We were not allowed through the road tunnel so we had to steam over the hill, which was a major undertaking. The amount of smoke and escaping steam from the worn engine of the 13-ton monster caused a great turn-out of people lining the roadside vantage points near the summit. Many were using cameras and there must have been some spectacular shots, probably mostly colour slides.” Mr Copland has been persuaded to write an account of the journey, in

February, 1973, for publication in two magazines — one of which is distributed world wide — and would be grateful for the chance to borrow any colour or black-and-white photographs, especially of the engine climbing the hill. Anyone who can help may telephone Mr Alan Lewis at 498-073, Christchurch. Helping Kevin Barry GORDON FREEMAN, chairman of the Waimairi District Council’s works committee and an avid boxing fan, will take the hat round hotels, taverns, and workingmen’s clubs in north Christchurch this evening and tomorrow to help finance Kevin Barry’s Olympic boxing bid. Barry and his father and trainer, Kevin Barry, sen., will have to go to Britain to train for a month before the Games. “The effort this far has been a tremendous financial drain on the Barry family, and least we can do is try to case that,” said Mr

Freeman. He hopes that the people of the northern suburbs, where Kevin Barry grew up, will give tangible support for Christchurch’s great hope for a boxing medal at Los Angeles. Grand sham

JOHN HICKEY, bon viveur and full-back, arrived late and slightly inebriated to play in a first XV university rugby match in England. He was rebuked by the captain, but his explanation — that he had suffered a sudden family bereavement — put a different light on things. After the captain had explained to the referee, both teams stood in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect, no doubt admiring Hickey’s devotion to the game in the face of catastrophe. After the match someone asked Hickey if the deceased was a very close member of the family. “It certainly was,” said Hickey, “it was my cat.” He is now playing for the third XV.

—Peter Confer