Reporter’s diary

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Brassed off? HIGHLAND Pipe Band competitors who sweltered in 30deg. on Sunday will understand the demands that extremes of temperatures make on musicians and their instruments. They would also probably sympathise with the plight of the Finnish brass band, which, when trying to play in minus 30deg. muffed its rendition of the Soviet national anthem. When the occasion was reported in the “Diary,” (a farewell to the Soviet Prime Minister, when an exultant fanfare was reduced to a muted squeak), we did not know then that the Finns have even designed special “mobile heaters” to take on parade. But even their special “instrument warmer” on wheels, shown above, failed to prise loose the

trumpet valves and trombone sliders.

Victory parade

OH, THE ignominy of it all. At the ticker-tape parade to honour Dennis Conner in New York, a British boat had to be used in the parade as city officials realised at the eleventh hour that they had no 12m yacht for the occasion. Frantic calls to London persuaded Peter de Savary to grant permission to use Victory II (one of the British yachts from the 1982 challenge) and it was transported from Newport, Rhode Island. Paving the way FROM THE Surrey “Comet” a few weeks ago: “A cement mixer was stolen from Birkenhead Road in Kingston on Tuesday night. A police spokesman said there was

nothing concrete to go on.”

A history of ...

SIX YEARS ago, Mr Robert Logan went to find a book about the Waimakariri River in the library. There were none, so he decided to fill the gap and write one himself, and the book is now complete except for the illustrations. There are two subjects in particular of which Mr Logan is keen to get photographs: one is the original White’s Bridge over the south branch of the Waimakariri, which was a tall and spindly structure much criticised by engineers even before it was built. Mr Logan said that the first White’s bridge was such a landmark that it is inconceivable that photographs of it had never been taken, but as far as he knows, none exist _ ••

... the Waimakariri River ONE OF THE other photographs which Mr Logan wants is of an armoured waggon, a “redoubt on wheels” which was designed as a solution to getting gold from the West Coast goldfields safely to Canterbury. Mr Logan remembers reading that the waggon was built and “was knocking about in Christchurch for years,” so he believes that someone, somewhere, must have captured this amazing vehicle on film, or an artist may have done a sketch of it? If anyone can help with either of these subjects, they can contact Mr Logan, phone 843-202. Golden anniversary A COLLEAGUE with an eye for dates, an ear for “the groaner,” and a mind for the trivial, pointed out that 50 years ago yesterday, Bing Crosby recorded the first of his hits which sold more than a million copies. Fifty years iater, the singer’s name is legend but the title is less familiar. (To put readers out of their misery, it was “Sweet Leilani.”) Happy returns TWO INMATES from the Rolleston Prison prerelease section have made an American tourist very grateful. Mr B. A. Moorfield dropped his wallet with some cash and $5OO in travellers’ cheques in a Christchurch street. The two inmates found the wallet and handed it to the police. Writes Mr Moorfield: “Prisons and their population do have a negative side, but we would do well to remember that there is also a positive side, one which is all too often neglected.” —Jenny