Reporter’s diary

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Calling Shetlanders A ROLL OF honour for Shetlanders who served in World War II will also encompass Shetlanders ( who moved to New Zealand either before or after the war. Organisers are

looking for anyone born in the - Shetland ■ Islands who came to New Zealand and: either served in the Armed Forces or in the Merchant Navy, or who served in the British .Forces before coming ,here.. ( Information needed for. the roll is name, rank, service, ship or ships (if applicable), and decorations other than campaign medals. The organisers would also like to know the original Shetland ad-, dress, and for those who did not survive, the date of death and age at the time. Details should be sent to Mr John M. Gray, 14 Law Lane, Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, who will return all documents and photographs sent to him. Hope springs ... TAKERS FOR the “Fiji

Special” Air New Zealand flights were noted for . their, absence yesterday. r An 'Air New Zealand reservations supervisor said that many calls, had instead .been from people : wanting information about flight? y in the ' area.: No decision about the Fiji ' holiday Specials would be made until normal flights resumed. • . ‘ Getting the message SIGN ON the wall of the home economics classroom of a Christchurch school: “Flies cannot eat solid food so to soften it up they vomit on it Then they stamp the vomit in until it’s a liquid, usually stamping in a few germs for good measure. When it’s good and runny they suck ■ it all back again,

probably dropping some excrement at the same time. And then, when they’ve finished eating, it’s your turn. Remember — keep food covered.” Word change A READER questioned the use of the word “ordination” in newspaper reports about Christchurch’s Catholic Bishop-designate, Monsignor Basil MeeKing. It is no error. Since Vatican 11, Catholic bishops have been ordained. The word “consecration” has been used for things rather than people. On the other hand, Anglican priests and deacons are still ordained, while bishops are consecrated. Slight voting HEARD IN A pub: “I suppose I’ll vote Labour

again, but this time I’ll make a much fainter cross.” Cutting down cuts TERRORISM and domestic violence notwithstanding, some people are making the world a safer place for children. The New Zealand Standards 5828 S mark has been granted to a playground surface material after passing tests for a safe fall height of 2.7 m. The plastic interlock matting softens falls, and grass grows through the openweave decking. Another manufacturer has devised a polyester rope (originally made for work with animals) which is nonburning, soft and flexible. It is used in playgrounds for swinging and climbing and compares favourably

with hemp ropes. Note, too, that pea gravel stones, when used to NZS 5828 guidelines as loose fill, must be smooth and rounded, each particle not measuring more- than 10mm. Will even grazed knees become a thing of the past? Left clothing McDOUGALL Art Gallery staff have been pondering the fate of articles left by the 147,000 visitors to Te Maori exhibition. The flotsam and jetsam comprise a pair of men’s white shoes minus the laces, a black-and-red woolly hat with a pom-pom, a violet chiffon scarf, and a pair of trousers without a belt. Rumour has it they are considering building their own tramp. — Jenny Feltham.