Reporter’s diary

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

Back in business WHEN a Christchurch car dealer told two customers that they would get a free trip for two to Fiji if they bought a certain car, the customers fell about laughing. They asked the hurt salesman if the second prize was a free trip for four to Fiji. But statistics show that Fiji is regaining some popularity as a tourist spot. The latest figures show a 43-per-cent increase in New Zealanders visiting that country in the June quarter compared with the same period last year.

Popping that question PROPOSALS of marriage must be as varied as the people that make them. The man on bended knee, his hand over his heart (or wallet) in front of a swooning maid was probably mere myth — but who knows? Electric Pictures Film Television, of Christchurch, is trying to find the most interesting, unusual or off-beat proposals of marriage for a book or television documentary. The company wants contributions from people around the world who think their own proposal was sufficiently whacky to merit consideration. Please get in touch with Electric Pictuers, at P.O. Box 13540, Christchurch.

Remember the Maoris? ALTHOUGH there was only one vessel named Pakeha (which appeared in this column recently), there have been nine

called Maori, according to Master Mariner John Leslie. H.M.S. Maori was a small torpedo-boat destroyer in World War I. Shaw Savill and Albion had three Maoris, the first being a sailing vessel, probably chartered. The Union Steam Ship Company also had three Maoris; the best known were the two LytteltonWellington ferries. There was even a Panamanianregistered Maori, which was a molasses tanker, formerly called the Athelcrest. Most recently there was a French cargo liner with limited passenger accommodation, which foundered in the Atlantic in November, 1971.

Dogged stowaways PADDY the Wanderer was not the only memorable sea-going dog in New Zealand waters. John Leslie, who sailed with Paddy, also remembers

Willy, a fox terrier, who was snuffling around the shipping routes in the early 19305. Willy fancied the smaller, Nelson-based Anchor Line ships, whose black and white topped funnels he seemed to prefer. But once, after being given beer (presumably at the waterfront Pier Hotel, near Queen’s Wharf, Wellington), Willy boarded an Australian-bound vessel by mistake. He later returned from Sydney, ticketless as usual, courtesy of Huddart Parker’s familiar passenger ship, the Ulimaroa. Ministerial cars NEW Zealand Post has decided to relinquish its collection of cars and chauffeurs used by . Government Ministers. The department of Internal Affairs will take over cars of the fleet and their drivers, which will be stationed, predictably

enough, in five places in the North Island: Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wanganui and Wellington; and only in two places in the South Island: Christchurch and Dunedin. Does this mean that Ministers who want to go anywhere else in the South Island will either have to drive themselves, go by public transport, hijack a plane, or in these innovative days in the reign of Roger the Tightwad, even hitch hike? Passing the buck A FRAZZLED mother of four was trying to discipline her three-year-old. “What do we do to Lucy when she’s naughty, Humphrey?” “We smack Lucy.” “Yes, Humphrey, that’s right. So what do we do to Humphrey when HE’S naughty?” Short pause. Beam. "We smack Flora!”

—Jenny Setchell.