General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28258, 22 April 1957, Page 10

General News

Arthur’s Pass Popular One of the most popular resorts in Canterbury during the weekend must have been Arthur’s Pass, where hundreds of trampers, mountaineers and ski enthusiasts taxed accommodation to the full. The ski enthusiasts had the arduous task of [preparing the ski grounds for I the first fall of snow, and spent most of their time on road work or packing up the mountain sides heavy loads of fuel for the ski tow engines. Many of the visitors to the National Park were drenched by heavy rain which fell on Saturday. Rabbit Repellent A string impregnated with fats; distilled from the paws of certain animals had proved a better obstacle to rabbits than the strongest fence, the newspaper “Het Vrije Volk” reported. The Dutch “anti wild-life damage institute” had established in six months of experiments that the smell of these fats was so repulsive to rabbits that they would not come near it.—The Hague, April 20. Slaves To Colour Books Colouring books are nothing but artistic straitjackets for children, says a fine arts professor from Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Viktor Lowenfeld. Speaking at the National Art Education Association convention yesterday, he said that use of the books thwarts the child’s creative instincts and develops a slavish dependence on prescribed “I regard the colouring book as the number one enemy of creativeness in the United States,” said Dr. Lowenfeld.—Los Angeles. April 20. River Explorers A party of 16 members of the New Zealand Canoeing Association became the first to negotiate the Whakapapa river above Taumarunui when they completed a five-mile stretch from Owhango to the junction of the Whakapapa and Wanganui rivers at Te Rena on Good Friday. There were several capsizes, and many canoes were damaged, one being put out of action for the rest of the Easter cruise.—(P.A.) Army Worms in North A severe infestation of army worms, unidentified until a week ago. has attacked pasture lands on the Manukau peninsula, Auckland. Large areas have been eaten bare, and farmers fear that they vill be seriously short of winter feed.—(P.A.)

Rocket Mystery ■When the Student Union building at Maryland University was opened yesterday, the University police found that a 3800 miles an hour rocket was missing from its display stand. In the place of the 15ft Terrapin rocket, which had been borrowed from the Republic Aviation Company, was a note reading: “Farewell, earth people.’’ University practical jokers are suspected.—College Park (Maryland), April 19. Delayed Arrival Twelve passengers ,for Auckland, who had been delayed at Norfolk Island since April 14 by the Qantas pilots’ strike, arrived at Whenuapai yesterday evening on board an N.A.C. DC-3 airliner which flew to the island yesterday morning. It was chartered by Tasman Airways. Normally, Tasman Airw’ays Skymasters, chartered from Qantas, are used on the Norfolk Island service.— (P.A.)

School War Memorial In a simple ceremony, the New Plymouth Boys’ High School war memorial building was opened and dedicated yesterday afternoon. The service was attended by more than 1000. The opening was performed by Sir William Jordan, and an old boy, a former moderator of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, the Very Rev. D. N. Mac Diarmid, dedicated the building. A former chairman of the school board, Mr H. R. Billing, unveiled a memorial window, and the headmaster, Mr G. J. McNaught, read the names of the 224 old boys who died during war.—(P.A.) Wasp Specialist Stung The inspector for the Takapuna Borough Council (Mr H. P. Collins), who specialises in destroying wasps’ nests in Auckland, was attacked by wasps while destroying a nest. He was badly stung on the hands and arms while protecting his face. Wasps chased him around the outside of a house and he took refuge in a shed. Through a crack in the door he watched the wasps flying around the house searching for him. He returned later and destroyed the nest with gas fumes. Amuri War Memorial The reservation of a half-acre site in Hanmer Springs township for a war memorial hall and a bowling green has been revoked by the Minister of Lands (Mr E. B. Corbett). The Minister has also cancelled the vesting of the reservation in the Amuri County Council, according to a notice in the latest Gazette. Temuka Milk Only persons licensed by the New Zealand Milk Board will be permitted to deliver milk in the Temuka zoning area, according to a notice printed in the latest Gazette. Deliveries will be made under the “Temuka Milk Delivery Scheme, 1957,” in a zoning area comprising the Temuka borough and portions of the Geraldine and Levels counties.