General News

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 12

General News

Habit When Kitty, aged 39, the oldest tiger in captivity, saw Wellington zoo officials heading her way with a pair of bone forceps yesterday she lay down peaceably and pushed her front paws through the bars for her annual manicure. Just the same, she was roped before they began the job. Kitty I was given to the zoo by the Prince of Wales in 1919. The claws on her front paws have been cut each year for about five years. (P.A.) What’s In a Name Among passengers cleared through immigration at London Airport recently have been: Beetham, a school teacher; Cleanwerk, a housewife; Evill, a solicitor; Scrubb, a dyer and cleaner; Virginia Leaf, a tobacconist’s wife; Scoupe, a journalist; Death, an insurance broker; Longair, a scientific officer; Fouracres, a nurseryman—and one* named Kelly, from the Isle of Man.—London, April 30. Herons Reported A white heron has been at Barry’s Bay for several days. Describing his observations of the bird yesterday, Mr L. G. Lawrence said that it was ignored by the blue herons, mallard ducks and sea birds on the beach, and was timid when approached. Several persons saw a white heron last Thursday at Bowis’ flat, Lake Ellesmere. Visit of Comet Christchurch is to be host to the Royal Air Force Comet plane for an extra two hours and 20 minutes. A minor alteration in the aircraft’s arrival and departure times is the cause of this. The plane is now scheduled to land at Hare wood at 11.50 a m. on Saturday, instead of 1210 p.m.; and take off for Whenuapai on its return flight to the United Kingdom at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, instead of midday. Polar Photographs Christchurch visitors to Welliflgton wishing to inspect the Ross Sea Committee’s collection of photographs taken during the New Zealand Antarctic expedition’s summer activities should call at the committee’s office in the Government Life Insurance Buildings. The committee reported yesterday that it has received nearly 3000 black and white negatives and prints which have been catalogued. The best material has been enlarged, captioned and placed in albums. Interested callers will be welcome. Sheep Dogs in Square Persons passing through the Square at 10.30 p.m. yesterday were diverted and intrigued by the sight of eight frisky sheep dogs capering \around the lawn on the south side of the Cathedral. The dogs were being rested after a long day’s travel from Central Otago in a utility truck. Today they will compete in the Waikari Sheep Dog Trial Club’s sixtieth jubilee and provincial championships at Braemyle. Byrd Chapel The chapel-library at the United States Little America station in the Antarctic has been called the Richard E. Eyrd Memorial Chapel in honour of America’s leading polar explorer who died ’ last month. The chapel, finished only a few weeks ago. was dedicated at Easter. Boar Lassoed in Lake

A large black boar was lassoed in Lake Tarawera recently. Mr R. N. Elliot and Mr M. C. Campbell saw something moving across the lake, and thinking it to be a swimmer, went out to it in their launch. However, it was a boar making for the shore. They managed to lasso it and drag it to shore, where they killed it. The boar, which was about 300 yards off-shore when caught, was six feet long and weighed about 4501 b. It was the largest caught in the area for many years. Search for Sunken Boat Attempts by a Christchurch diver to locate a valuable speedboat which sank in Lake Kaniere during the Easter regatta have so far proved unsuccessful. The approximate position of the boat, which is owned by Mr G. West, is marked by a buoy, and it is estimated that the depth of water is about 100 feet. Diving operations on Sunday and Monday were hampered by poor visibility and rough weather, but although conditions were improved yesterday, the boat has still not been located. Moa Bones in Clutha Bank Two Alexandra men have discovered a deposit of moa bones on the banks of the Clutha river. The two men, Mr J. Lees and Mr. J Bryant, who made the discoveries last Sunday, saw the bones protruding from the bank. Rain had apparently washed away sand covering them. Mr Lees said he believed there were strong possibilities that a complete skeleton was in the area, and both he and Mr Bryant would like to find it. When the discovery was made the two men were on a picnic with their wives, but most of the day was spent in digging. The largest bones are two leg bones and a pelvis—all in a remarkably good state of preservation. Telephone Vandals Telephone-booth vandals are at work in Auckland after a lapse of three months. On Sunday night, handset wires were slashed and diaphragms removed from 26 public booths in the heart of the city. In the last year, more than 40 entire handsets have been stolen. Technicians needed for other work are still repairing the damaged telephones. The Post and Telegraph Department fears that if a further outbreak occurs they will not have enough parts in stock to repair the damage.— (P.A.) Transit of Mercury Planet . gazers watching the transit of Mercury between the earth and the sun on Monday, May 5. would be well advised to think of their eyesight first, said the Director of the Carter Observatory (Mr I. L. Thomsen) yesterday. “Observers could lose their eyesight in a matter of seconds,” said Mr Thomsen. “Persons should not look through telescopes or binoculars unless their eyes are carefully protected from the sun.”—(P.A.) Nuclear Fall-out Danger from the fall-out from nuclear explosions is to be examined by the technical committee of the Wellington Regional Planning Authority. This was decided at a meeting of the authority this week. The motion was moved by Mr P. M. Butler, who mentioned the dangers of ccntamination. A body representing a large and congested area should be concerned with such a subject and investigate the possibility of danger to watersheds and food supplies in particular, he added.—(P.A.) «.