NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22889, 8 March 1949, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sports Car Wrecked While negotiating a bend at the top of Mt. Stewart a light sports car driven by Mr. J. C. Blackmore, 36 Wellesley road, Napier,, with his brother as a passenger, capsized and caught fire. Mr. Blackmore was attended by a doctor from Feilding and admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital. The car, which was a new model, was wrecked. Weight of Ships’ Hatches The latest Gazette contained an amendment to the general harbour regulations, 1935, which probably bears relation to the Broompark hatch dispute in Auckland last year. It provides that where the top hatch cover of an overseas ship exceeds 1251 b. in weight it shall be lifted by mechanical means.

“The Glngernut Lady” Honoured Among the recipients of honours at an investiture held by the GovernorGeneral in Wellington last week was Mrs. Helena Barnard, Island Bay, Wellington, who is known as “the gingernut lady." Mrs. Barnard made a total of 56191 b. of gingernuts for men in the services overseas. She has been working for children in Britain since May 5, 1946. She was decorated by the Governor-General with the British Empire Medal for her patriotic work. Length of Speeches

A ruling of the Legislative Council about the length of members’ speeches was commended ifor use at social gatherings by the Minister of Education, Mr. T. H. McCombs, when speaking at the opening of the Christchurch Home Servicemen’s Association club ■ rooms. In the councfl’s standing orders there was no mention of a limit on speeches, but- on a point of order a member could rise and suggest “that the honourable member be no longer heard.” Animals For Zoo.

Wellington Zoo’s biggest need, a trained .elephant for children to ride on holiaays and week-ends, is expected to be filled early in the latter half of this year. The zoo’s long standing order for a six or seven-year-old female elephant from Calcutta Zoo is to be expedited by a visit to India of the owner of Wirth’s Circus, Mr. Phillip Wirth. Zebras, leopards, cheetahs and other animals may also be bought for the zoo by Mr. Wirth., •

Engine Fault in Maui Pomare The discovery of a fault in the crankshaft of the Government motor-vessel Maui Pomare is delaying her return to the Cook Islands and Niue fruit trade. The vessel was withdrawn for annual survey at the Devonport naval dockyard early in January and a crack in the crankshaft was revealed during the inspection. A new crankshaft has been, ordered from the United States and will reach Wellington from San Francisco in the Matson line freighter Ventura about March 18. The Maui Pomare is expected to be ready for service ; next month. Rostered Hosing?

A motion urging the Wellington City Council to “formulate some plan whereby water for garden purposes in the summer period can be allocated on a district basis, e.g„ a roster method whereby groups of districts would be permitted to hose (by attended hoses) during definite specified periods” was passed at a meeting of the Wellington Ratepayers and Citizens' Association, The association expressed its sympathy with ratepayers in the losses they had sustained in vegetables and small fruits, and considered that before next summer some such roster scheme should be tried. Out of ihe Bag

Citizens crowding into the Lower Hutt Post Office to make their annual contribution to the coffers of the State were only mildly interested when a woman joined the happy (?) throng clutching a large bag. It was an ordinary bag as bags go, or so it seemed. When she reached the counter and presented her demand to the man behind, he noticed that the sum due was well over the century mark. That, also, only occasioned mild interest, but her next move is still the talk of the Valley. She opened the large bag and paid "the whole amount —in silver. Wine Importations * A deputation of winemakers waited on the Minister of Finance, Mr. W. Nash, at Auckland to complain about, the “excessive importation of wines.” The principal spokesman, Mr F. S. Ilaigh, an Auckland solicitor, said that in 1989 imports of wines from overseas totalled 10,000 gallons. In 1947 the figure reached 276.000 gallons. That was a very grave matter for the men engaged in the industry here, lie sa.d. The sales tax of 40 per cent, was a serious handicap for New Zealand winemakers, he added.