Reporter’s diary

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Legal cost-sharing AN Innovation in dealing with legal aid applications by defendants was brought to Christchurch yesterday by Judge Carolyn Henwood, in the No. 1 District Court. She canvassed the willingness of applicants to contribute to their own legal costs. They agreed to pay between $25 and $lOO each, with the balance . being met by the legal aid scheme. Normally, applications are either granted or rejected outright. ... and slips VARIOUS /counsel and prosecutors suffered occasional slips of the tongue, it being the first time for several years that a woman had presided in the court. “Your Honour” and even “sir” were among the titles used in addressing her. “Your Honour” is fairly acceptable, but the most correct title for a woman judge in a District Court would seem to be “Ma’am.” Royal collection MANY countries produce stamps showing members of the British Royal family. A Christchurch woman, Karen Ragg, is exhibiting a thematic collection of Royalty stamps produced by different countries since 1981. It can be seen in the Philatelic Sales Centre at the Chief Post Office in Cathedral Square. Karen has sent another collection to Adelaide for Stampex ’B6. That exhibition traces the history of the British monarchy since the reign of Queen Victoria. First rowers “COUNTRIES not born in 1930 have far too much to say,” says a Blenheim man who represented New Zealand at the 1930 Empire Games at Hamilton, Ontario. Mr Charley Saunders, who as a member of the rowing eights and coxless four won a silver and a bronze medal at the Games, said that people in high places use their athletes as pawns to attain their ends. “I wonder how many of these people have ever trained and trained to compete in some athletic sport They deny the athletes the great privilege of representing their country,” said Mr Saunders, who is vice-patron of the New

Zealand Rowing Association. Overboard rules HAVE YOU EVER wondered what happens if a cox falls overboard during a rowing race? Apart from being downright embarrassing, losing bods over the side incurs penalties. According to a book just published, called “Guide to the Commonwealth Games,” by Desmond Lyman, if an oarsman topples into the water, the crew are allowed to carry on; if the cox falls overboard, the crew is disqualified. The crew is automatically disadvantaged by missing an oarsman, but the loss of a cox means less weight, and a possible advantage.

TVeir saw THIS BUMPER sticker was a new one on us: “Let’s not meet by accident.” All in vain? AN AUSTRALIAN man sent us copious details of a typewriter platen knob line indicator dial he invented last year. The “dial” is made from the bottom of a plastic container, and the instructions for determining the pre-set graduations fill a four-page pamphlet with complicated, but accurate descriptions. All of which becomes hilarious when the writer admits that he thinks there are only two people, left in Australia still using typewriters which need one of these line indicator dials, himself and an unidentified

author in Adelaide. “Unfortunately all attempts to contact him have failed.” So the luckless inventor has put out a call for any typists who are still using last year’s models instead of word-processors with “what you see is what you get” display terminals. Somebody, somewhere, must need his wonderful contraption.

—Jenny Clark