Reporter’s diary

Press, 1 July 1988, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Voyage 0f... FUND-RAISING efforts such as Telethon are impressive, but consider this early example of Kiwi generosity. Exactly one year ago, R.R.S. Discovery was opened to the public after being restored and installed at Victoria Dock, Dundee, Scotland. On board was a harmonium, which had been presented to the crew of Discovery on December 18, 1901, in Lyttelton Harbour. The harmonium was a gift from the people of Christchurch to Captain Scott and officers and crew before they left for the Antarctic. The instrument, now also restored, was on the Discovery as a result of a swift fund-raising effort, after Bishop Julius suggested an American organ be bought for the ship’s men. Thirty pounds was collected after a service in the Cathedral for the installation of the Dean. The organ was used at the farewell service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, a few hours before Discovery sailed for Port Chalmers.

...the Discovery THE American organ, which “greatly pleased” the crew of the Discovery, was only a small part of

the booty the people of Christchurch gave the crew for the expedition to the Antarctic. Some of the items loaded at Lyttelton included nine flour sacks of books, half a ton of periodicals, several cases of sheep’s tongues, and, from the Victoria Brewery, “a hogshead of ale for the warrant officer.”

Short-lived champ INSPIRED by the SpinksTyson title bout, the ZM/ FM announcing team of Peter Mac and Ken Ellis arranged for the radio station to have its own title fight. This week they offered the ZM/FM 60minute challenge (which has to be completed within an hour of the challenge being issued) to a Papanui High School pupil, lan Hudson, who accepted their challenge to go 10 60-second rounds with a New Zealand Olympic silver medallist, Kevin Barry, jun. Hudson, as the “Papanui Panther,” survived the 10 mock rounds, and was unanimously awarded the $lOO purse by judges Kevin Barry sen. and John Tyler. Having gone from obscurity to fame in just 10 minutes, Hudson promptly decided to retire.

For the record DR Geoffrey Martin, Keeper of Public Record, London, and vice-presi-dent of the Royal Historical Society, will be in Christchurch this month as part of his visit to New Zealand, sponsored by the British Council and New Zealand National Archives. The Public Records Office in London has staff of more than 400 and a computerised system to cope with user demands. The office houses census returns, Admiralty records, War Office files, and apprentice indentures, among other types of archives. Dr Martin will speak on the P.R.O. and public records at the Stringleman Room, on Thursday, July 14, at 8 p.m. Defying the odds SOMETHING for people who are sceptical about computer crystal-ball gazing. An elderly man recently answered 20 questions on personal health posed by a computer program to assess his life expectancy. After 18 questions he was told he should live to be 82. But by the final question he was down to 67. “As I am

77 years old,” he writes, “I am much relieved to be told that the forecast was only approximate and not dead accurate.” Secret code?

WITH the introduction, of Fastpost, a peculiar datestamp ventured on to letters posted in Christchurch.' This week many have appeared with the curious code “28 JbJF, 1988” in the black circle. Where there is normally the legend "airmail,” there is now only the word “mail.” Staff at the New Zealand Post were unable to explain this return to earth and the unusual coding but have said they will, ah, sort it out. Rural life

DEAR Mrs Greig: In reply to your inquiry, you are quite right. The Patearoa Hotel, which was sold by the Rabbitts to the Warrens, is sadly not anywhere near Bunnythorpe. It is in Otago, at the foot of the Rock and Pillar Range. The settlement is on the banks of Sow Burn, and not very far from Ewe Burn. Just letting you know.

—Jenny Setchell