Reporter’s diary
Back to basics A RECENT circular to schools from the Canterbury Education Board was hardly helpful to teachers who had discovered that the blackboard compasses in schools do not hold the standard-size chalk. Unfazed, the board wrote: “If the jaws on the compass are broken, it is possible to secure the chalk in place by use of rubber bands.” Now that education has arrived in the technological age no doubt schools will receive the rest of the basic kit soon: pieces of No. 8 wire, used string, glue, quills and wood chips, so that pupils can make and write their own books. Poor winner A HUNGARIAN-bom Benedictine monk with a vow of poverty has received the world’s largest annual prize of 5NZ640.000. Professor Stanley Jaki was awarded the Templeton Prize by Prince Philip at a private ceremony at Windsor Castle. Professor Jaki said he would give the prizemoney to a trust taking care of Hungarian Benedictine, monks in exile. Almost right OVERHEARD in a Christ-
church shop yesterday, just after the news of the coup d’etat in Fiji had been broadcast: “What’s happening? What’s a coup?” “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s a cyclone.” Cleaning up FIRST there was a pooper scooper — now comes the pooper scooter, a motorcycle pavement hygiene aid which our London correspondent says has begun cleaning dog deposits from London streets. It is based on a Japanese trials bike and is equipped to act as a vacuum cleaner on two wheels, sucking up the offending mess and then washing and disinfecting the footpath. The Westminster City Council imported the idea from Paris, along with the operator, George Bonastre, who has spent the last four years picking up after poodles on the boulevards of the city of light. Alarming content A RICCARTON couple opened a new 10-litre tin of wood stain this week and wondered why they had trouble stirring it A little expert fishing produced the unlikely prize of a wind-up alarm clock, *
and a very soggy alarm clock at that. The amused couple, who are labouring to paint all the fences round their new home, said they already knew it was a long job, and did not need reminding. No fun HERE IS definitely the last mention (for a while) about appropriately named roads. Near Breakneck Road — No exit — is a sign: Mt Misery — 0.E.8. Outdoor Education Centre. (0.E.8. is Otago Education Board.) Ghost writer TAKE PITY on the illfated concert reviewer who conscientiously recorded every title, every name, every thought and impression that flooded into his mind at a concert in Christchurch this. week. Using his wife’s new expensive silver pen, he scribbled industriously. It would have helped if he had flicked the nib down — in the light, all he saw was nothing but blank page after blank page to show for all his efforts. Excellent recall, and a lucky change to a felt-tip pen half way, allowed the review to go ahead. — JennyFeltham
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Press, 15 May 1987, Page 2
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494Reporter’s diary Press, 15 May 1987, Page 2
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