NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 93, 13 January 1939, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Friday The 13th

What may be regarded as potentially one of the most unlucky days. of tlie year is today, Friday, January 13. Friday has always been thought of as a bad day on which to begin a journey, job or undertaking. As it is also tlie 13th, which is an unlucky number, the coupling of the two together, as they are today, forebodes ill for superstitous people. Special care is said to be necessary when crossing the road, passing ladders and handling naked lights. As it is the first of the two occasions this year (the other being October 13) when this date and day of the week coincide, relief will be felt at midnight by superstitious people if they have gone through tlie day unscathed and without misfortune. 'Travellers’ Difficulties.

Strong criticism of the Government’s action in placing a restriction on the amount of money which can be taken abroad was expressed yesterday T>y a Wellington resident who wishes to make a business trip to Australia. When he applied for permission to take money with him he was informed that he would -be allowed to take £25 in a lump sum and would be permitted to spend £lO a week while he was away. This, he claimed, was quite inadequate for the expenses of bls trip. » Eyes on Mount Victoria. *The Mount Victoria signal station will convey glad or dismal tidings to hundreds of families next Wednesday, when the Wellington waterside workers’ picnic is to be held. All business within the Wellington Harbour Board’s jurisdiction will be suspended for the day. If the weather is unfavourable a postponement signal will be flown from the signal station from 7.30 to 8.30 a.m. Should a postponement be necessary, business on. the wharf will be continued as'usual and no holiday will be observed by the board. Thirty Lives Saved.

Nearly 30 lives have been saved by members of the North Canterbury branch of the National Blood Transfusion Service of New Zealand, who provided 116 donors for blood transfusions during 1938. Eighty-five of the calls were to the Christchurch Public Hospital. The Canterbury branch has a membership of 187, including 152 men and 35 women. The honorary medical adviser of the branch, Dr. Edgar Thomson, lias resigned as he has been given an important position in Australia.

Eel in Christchurch Fountain. Whether someone was serious in trying to imitate the work of the acclimatization society, by introducing new fish into new places, or was only trying to add to the attractions of the fountain, is not -known; but an eel was most certainly found in the pool round the Bowker fountain in Victoria Square, Christchurch, recently. The rumour went round that there was a tremendous eel in the pool, and by some accounts it appeared that it might almost be another Loch Ness monster; but the pool was drained, by workmen and the eel (an exceptionally big one) was caught and taken away, much to the amusement and astonishment of a few interested spectators. Hotels in New Zealand and Abroad. Though one heard, such a lot of criticism about New Zealand hotels, they were, generally speaking, quite up to the standard of the hotels in the larger cities abroad, said Mr. D. I. Macdonald, Christchurch, who has returned from a trip abroad, in an interview in Christchurch. On the price basis, the New Zealand hotels were better than those abroad. The New Zealand hotels were not able to give the same service because of the restricted hours of work, and in his opinion this was the only way in which they fell short of those overseas. One paid as much for bed and breakfast in a good hotel abroad as one did for a whole day in one in New Zealand.

Ski-ing on Water. To ski on the slope of a snow-cover-ed mountain is an exhilarating experience, but perhaps even more thrilling is the gentle art of ski-ing on the water. A graceful and daring exhibition of it was given to promenaders and bathers in Oriental Bay on Sunday afternoon when, mounted on a pair of skis about eight feet long, up-turned ends, an exponent entertained the crowd. With skilful facility he skimmed the waves, preserving perfect balance and poise as the speedboat hauled him backward and farward across rhe bay. How the start and finish of this exploit are managed is interesting. The skier, in bathing dress, fitted the skis on his feet on the beach and stood in shallow water holding the line. Then, as the power-boat went full speed ahead, the skis took a slight angle upward in front and rode the seas. The impetus did the rest. Similarly, at the finish of the exhibition the powerboat. swerved close to the shore and, at a signal, the line was let go and the rider, through the velocity attained, was able to ski gracefully on top of the water to the beach.