General News

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 14

General News

Birthday Present “Today is my birthday,” i said Mr R. M. Macfarlane, MJ?., a former Mayor and councillor, when he was welcomed back to the City Council last evening. Mr Macfarlane bas taken the seat which became vacant because of the death of Cr. W. J. Cowles. He would not be "leader of the Opposition,” Mr Macfarlane said—apart from the Mayor tMr G. Manning) he is the only Labour member of the council—but would serve in the interests of the whole of the city. Mr Macfarlane recalled that it was 34 years since he first took office on the council. Try-Scoring Wing France is sending to New Zealand the best try-scoring wing in the world—Jean Dupuy—in the opinion of a former senior Wellington Rugby player, Mr K. C. F. Spring. Mr Spring recently returned to New Zealand after three years in England and on the Continent. In that time he saw French teams play Wales, Ireland, and England. "Dupuy is rather like a much-faster edition of Tom Katene,” he said.—(P.A.) £lO,OOO Lottery ' The first prize of £ 10,000 in a Melbourne lottery drawn today went to a New Zealand ticket holder, “April 25,” of Kaiapoi. The ticket number was 21868.—(Melbourne, May 17.) Milk Consumption The average consumption of town milk under the national i milk scheme is .72 pints a day, according to the New; Zealand Milk Board’s annual report. A survey of consumers in the four main centres showed that 2.74 pints of milk was drunk daily by a household. The survey covered only household sales and did not include milk consumed in restaurants and milk bars. Census Checking Provisional census figures for Christchurch would; probably be known about the beginning of June, after the| schedules had all been checked, the Deputy-Chief Postmaster (Mr J. W. Lincoln) said yesterday. The checking had been going very well, and not one person so far had had to be pursued; to fill in his form correctly, | Mr Lincoln said. The only! queries sent out were to two or three persons who had i left the district after the forms were delivered, but; before the census date. In such cases, a check had to be! made that these persons had! in fact sent in schedules in: their new districts.

“Provocative’’

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) told farmers at the Lincoln farmers’ conference yesterday that he had been pro Vocative ail his life. “Wherever I am l! set out to make people think and act for themselves.” said the Minister, who added that it would be his aim to inspire farmers to continue the efforts that had made New Zealand the cheapest and most efficient food-producing country in the world. New Zealand today was facing difficult conditions with some degree of recession in overseas markets, but New Zea-' landers were never better than when they were on their own resources, said Mr Hayman.

Pedestrian Beacons

Trials of pedestrian cross-! ing beacons had been made! in other centres, but al-’ though they were considered satisfactory by the councils concerned, they were awaiting recommendations from the New Zealand Traffic Institute before buying the beacons, the traffic committee reported to the City Council last evening. The council agreed to await a decision of the institute before taking any action. Imported Fruit A good supply of mandarins and tangerines, and a limited supply of grapefruit and oranges arrived at Lyttelton from Raratonga on the Moana Roa yesterday. This shipment is the first of three or four expected from the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands fruit season lasts until the end of June. The mandarins, tangerines, and grapefruit will be sold by auction in Christchurch produce markets today. The oranges will be sold at a fixed rrice of 49s a case. Royalist Recording The captain of the cruiser Royalist, Captain H. D. Stevenson. RJJJ., has sent a tape recorded message to Mr D. W. G. Saunders, of Takapuna. The Royalist is in the Far East Mr Saunders sent more than 400 tape recorded messages to the men on the Royalist at Easter from their relatives in New Zealand. In his recording Captain Stevenson says that it was wonderful to have the recordings on board They were a great success, and he thanked Mr Saunders and his assistance.— (PA.) Bahy In Polio Ward A. baby w r as born in the polio ward at the Auckland 1 Hospital at 1.50 a.m. yesterday. The mother is a suspected case of poliomyelitis and diagnostic tests are still being undertaken. The baby, a girl, is in good health.— (PA.) Milk From Machines '

The sales of pint bottles of milk from vending machines have not been as high as the New Zealand Milk Board hoped, says the board's! annual report. Two machines 5 were in operation throughout! the year, one in Christchurch and the other in Wellington.! But as the machines create interest the board intends to instal more machines of an improved type, the report ways.