General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 14

General News

“No Planes?”

Alluding to more than 20 airline officers watching award proceedings in the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr Justice Tyndall asked: “Are no planes flying today? This perhaps explains why I had to wait four days to get a plane seat from Christchurch to Wellington the other day,” he said. "I could have flown to London and back.” He said he obtained a seat by special dispensation on account of the death of his mother.—(P.A.) Puzzled Richard Somewhere in Christchurch yesterday a puzzled small boy arrived unexpectedly at the home of a friend to spend the day. Yesterday morning Ben. aged six. telephoned the home of his friend. Richard, and got the consent of Richard’s mother for him to spend the day at Ben’s home Richard did not arrive, and late in the afternoon Ben's mother telephoned Richard’s mother, who told her that she and her son had been out all day and had not received a call. Ben had apparently got the telephone number bf another Richard with a friend named Ben. Capping Protest A protest against the standards of the Auckland capping book and street procession will be made in a joint letter to the next meeting of the Auckland University Council from the Anglican Bishop of Auckland (the Rt. Rev. E. A. Gowing), the Roman Catholic Bishop (Archbishop J. M. Liston), and the Mayor of Auckland (Mr D. M. Robinson).—(PA.) Still Stranded Another attempt to pull the 150-ton motor-vessel Picton off the sand bar near the mouth of the Waimakariri river where it has been stranded since Friday evening, failed at high tide at 5.30 p.m. yesterday. It was hoped to winch the vessel off with a wire rope attached to a bulldozer on the opposite side of the river. The bulldozer pulled the ship around, but could not pull it clear. Another attempt will be made today. Hanmer Weather The many visitors to Hanmer Springs for the school holidays had the first week spoiled by persistent light rain and drizzle, with heavier falls at intervals. However, the weather has cleared again, and yesterday morning, though cloudy, was fine and sunny. There have been no falls of snow, as in previous May vacations, and only a light dusting of snow is visible on the mountains. £2OOO A Year The Christchurch Drainage Board will now offer £2OOO a year as the salary for a chemist at the sewage treatment works. Earlier advertisements in Britain failed to attract an applicant, and the Institute of Sewage Purification advised the board that it was unlikely to attract a man with the qualifications required at the salary of £1750 The institute thought £2OOO would be the minimum. The board had advertised in New Zealand without success, said the chairman (Mr F. R Price) at a meeting of the board last evening. Meeting House Offer The Nuhaka meeting house in Hawke’s Bay, cause of a national controversy last year when its removal to Hawaii was proposed, has been offered to the Government by the Mormon elders. Because of the strength of representations in opposition to the move the idea was abandoned. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said yesterday the offer was now being considered by the Government. "The Mormons want the country to retain it as a historic building and we are now considering such aspects as which department would administer it,” he said.—(P.A.)

Sponsorship When N.A.C. and TEAL, were referred to as Govern-ment-sponsored airlines in the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr Justice Tyndall questioned the Court’s jurisdiction. “If they are Government services, then this Court has no jurisdiction,” he said Representing the two airlines, Mr G. A. Turner said they were Government sponsored in that they were operated by the Government through boards. Sir Arthur Tyndall commented that many things in this country were Government sponsored although they were perhaps not Government services. The Court would accept jurisdiction as it had previously— nobody challenged it.— Open Day The Aranui High School will be the first in Christchurch to try an open day on a Saturday to let parents from any part of he city see its facilities before postprimary enrolments begin in June. The school will be open from 930 a.m. till 12.30 p.m. on May 27. Parents of all district primary schools, which usually contribute pupils to Aranui, are being informed. and the invitation to parents and possible pupils from further afield has been given in response to the recent claim that they ought to be able to compare schools before making a choice.