Reporter’s diary

Press, 14 December 1985, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Doorways

A DISTINCTIVE archway and beautiful woodwork above and around entrance s

doors will disappear, at least from their present site, when the old A.N.Z. Bank building in the City Mall is demolished so that a modern office building can replace it. Inside, the banking chamber is spacious and airy. One of the pleasures of gracious old city buildings

like this one is the opportunity to stand inside looking out through such portals, into the movement of a quickly changing city. In this place, at least, that pleasure will be gone. Some of the fine work inside the building, including the door surrounds, may be saved for use elsewhere. The future of those features is being considered by bank executives. Hinakura

THE STORY of the well travelled halfpenny stamp reminded a Christchurch woman about a letter she sent to the North Island about 30 years ago, when her future husband was the sole charge teacher at Hinakura, a fanning community in southern Wairarapa. On the envelope, she specified that the letter was to go via Wellington, just in case the Post Office was unsure about the location of Hinakura. That was the woman’s downfall. She did not know that there was a ship S.S. Hinakura and that the ship was in port at Wellington. Her letter veered towards the ship, but did not get there before it sailed for Europe. The letter followed the ship, but missed it at every port of call. The letter finally found the ship at Hamburg, where the error was recognised by the ship’s master because the woman’s fiance had regularly brought his pupils down to Wellington when

the ship was in port. Coin drop BE CAREFUL when you get out your 5c pieces for city parking meters these days. By the end of the year, none of the meters will take the coins. They will take only 10c and 20c pieces. In the meantime, the 5c coins will not trigger the timing mechanism in many parking meters — they will go in with a clunk and just

sit there. Instructions on each meter tell what coins will activate the mechanism. New arrivals MOST DELAYS in airport customs checks at this time of year are caused by New Zealanders trying to bring meat and fruit back into the country. The Agriculture Quarantine Service is appealing to travellers to find out what is prohibited be-

fore they leave, and to declare everything when they return. Two of the items intercepted by officers during past Christmas holidays were a salami disguised as a cigar and a Christinas tree decoration made from a moose dropping. Coming to town WITHOUT BUSES, many elderly people who like to come to town during the Christmas season simply do not do so. A Spreydon woman this week was not letting the strike get her down. She had an appointment with a doctor, and her retirement home laid on a car to get her to the city centre. She was going to spend the rest of the morning and part of the after- ; noon in a leisurely stroll back home, probably stopping for lunch and a rest in Sydenham. Waxeye tips A SMALL waxeye that is fledged but not quite ready to fly was found by children in the founds of Avonhead

School this week. The bird was taken to a woman in the neighbourhood who is a zoologist, and who has taken care of young birds before. Her experience has been with blackbirds and thrushes, and so she could use a few pointers on how to nurture the waxeye through this part of its life and set it on the path to independence. Has anyone had success in rearing waxeyes, or does anyone have a captive bird that is up to a bit of parenting? The woman can be reached through us. Skulking FOR REASONS known only to themselves, but probably because they forgot to put out the rubbish on their collection days, some people in a St Albans neighbourhood have been spotted adding full bags to the pile that is picked up on Thursdays from outside Forfar Street pensioner fiats. From four to five cars a week come along the street and stop near the flats. Their drivers get out and look round to see if the coast is clear before they unload the bags. A van pulled up on Thursday at 6.30 a.m., and two bags were unloaded. One night, a car cruised up and down with only its parking lights on before the driver stopped to do the usual. One resident is reported to be keeping a photographic record of the goings-on, just in case everything is not completely above board.

—Stan Darlini