Reporter’s diary

Press, 1 February 1986, Page 2

Reporter’s diary

New life A BUCKET from the old Kaniere gold dredge, which ended its work more than 30 years ago, has a new lease of life outside a house on the main road south of Hokitika. Allan and Carole Jones found the bucket in Shenandoah Creek, at the back of their house. The creek flows out of the old dredge pond. For the last two years, the bucket has been a feature in the Jones’s front graden. It is filled with ivy and climbing geraniums, and makes a colourful roadside attraction for passers-by. Close call

A UNIVERSITY of Canterbury student from Queenstown came close to losing a senior scholarship because the letter notifying him of the award went to Switzerland Instead of staying in the South Island. It was only, because of- the help of a Swiss man, possibly a postal worker, that the letter arrived back just in time for acknowlegement before the award lapsed. Tony Enright is now a fourth-year student in electrical engineering, and he was told in the correctly-addressed, window-enveloped letter that he had four weeks to accept the scholarship. This month, Jack Enright,

Tony’s father, received an urgent message from the Post Office in Queenstown telling him about a letter that had just returned from Sansstad, Switzerland. He had just a little more than 24 hours to let the university know, and they, put a “hold” on the scholarship. Inside the envelope holding the stray letter was a card that said: “It is for me a riddle how this letter came on

my desk. I send it immediately back so you can sent it to the right man in time. Love, Otto.” Thanks to Otto, Tony has his scholarship. Sappers THE SAPPERS of World War II built, repaired and demolished the works they did best — entrenchments, fortifications, roads, bridges, railways and wharves. They also laid and lifted mines. Their service began in the New Zealand mobilisation camps at Hopu Hopu in 1939. Successive intakes followed. Reunions of the sappers started soon after the end of the war, and have been carried on every two years at Christchurch and Levin. The latest reunion will be at the University of Canterbury Students’ Union next week-end. Wives now attend the reunions in rising numbers. Because of their age, many sappers would be unable to attend without the help of their wives. The average sapper was somewhat older than other recruits because experienced tradesmen from the Public Wdiks Department and

skilled men from engineering and other. industries were needed for the engineers. Reunion activities will include photographs, sightseeing and a memorial church service. Toothpick sales A CHRISTCHURCH man was surprised by the answer he got when he asked a colleague why she was going to buy toothpicks. She needed them for beer, she said. Why? Well, her friend made good home brew, but it was illegal to sell it, so he sells the toothpicks at a price you would not normally pay for a toothpick, and throws in a bottle of beer with each one. At your service FOR SOME years in England, milk roundsmen have been doubling as deliverers of such things as bread, eggs, potatoes and poultry. Some may be adding coal to their deliveries. The coal will come in packets that will be placed unopened oh a, fire. ■ —Stan Dating