Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
New Year greetings to you all. Thanks to all those readers who were kind enough to send friendly e-mails in the last week or two. Reader responses are always appreciated.
A topic which keeps coming up is the descriptive openings which have become the norm in recent months. At least with those who have written, they seem to find favour by about a hundred to one. If there is a silent majority out there who have a different view, you will need to speak up, because on the basis of feedback to date, they will continue.
Mary is always concerned to ensure that I get away from the keyboard to take some sort of exercise, and so often persuades me to accompany her on a walk somewhere around the valley. A few nights ago, it was the walkway beside the Hutt River.
Having seen at least some of the world's great rivers, I have to concede that the Hutt River lacks the majesty and romance of mightier waterways. At 8:30 on a fine summer evening, however, it has its own charm. In the region of the Melling Bridge, it is shallow enough to make music as it tumbles over its stony bed, deep enough to deter casual wading across it, powerful enough when flooded to have necessitated the building of stop banks along its length from Upper Hutt to the harbour. The stop banks and the grassy areas between them and the edge of the river itself are very popular with strollers. The willows and other trees planted along the river's edge are home to many types of bird, and on this occasion they were all singing their hearts out in celebration of a warm and successful summer day.
To the West, traffic noise from the Hutt Road (S.H.2) was almost muffled by roadside planting. To the East, activity in the City of Lower Hutt, already slow in this holiday season, became even quieter, and the yellow lights shone on empty streets.
We walked downstream in the direction of the setting sun, under the elegant concrete arch of the new Ewen Bridge, and towards the older iron railway bridge at Alicetown. An electric commuter unit on its way to Upper Hutt burst on to the bridge, and for a few seconds its clamour echoed around the valley. Once the unit left the bridge, the sound of its wheels clicking on rail joints receded in the direction of Waterloo and Taita. Soon the river and the birds were once again the dominant sound.
Eventually we passed under the rail bridge, and come to Sladden Park, with its stands of tall dark pines, and discovered that the clusters of flowering pohutukawa trees left quite a perfume in the still summer air. At the Southern tip of the park, where the river is deeper, wider, darker and more purposeful, a family was fishing. A few spotties and a baby kahawai lay forlornly on the plastic bag with only the occasional wriggle of protest.
Against the last light of day, an Auckland bound 737 with landing lights on and beacons flashing soared silently into the Southern sky, and moments later, the distant thunder of its engines followed its course out over the South Taranaki Bight. Darkness covered the valley, but the sun lit up the receding Aircraft. Already over Kapiti, the crew could almost certainly see the last pink rays of sunshine on Taranaki and Ruapehu marking their way ahead. We turned and walked in the companionable darkness back to the car and home.
On with the News
In November 1996, I reported on the story of the hoax "Glock-3" gangster site. It has been brought to my attention that the person who uncovered the hoax was Brock Meeks. Brock has acquired a degree of fame for his Hotwired.com newsletter, as well as for his work in uncovering some extremely shoddy scholarship on net porn which Time Magazine chose to publish.
The two ANZAC frigates ordered fro the royal New Zealand Navy in 1989 were estimated to cost $927 million. The latest estimates say that HMNZS Te Kaha and its yet unnamed sistership will come to a whopping $1,263 million. Almost two thirds of the $336 million increase is due to escalating material and labour costs, and fully $120 million is due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
The Wellington fishing trawler, Maria Luisa was run over by a small container ship, the Sydney Express near the mouth of the Wellington harbour. The bulbous bow of the 7,000 tonne Trans- Tasman container ship overturned the trawler which passed under the bigger ship, and was left floating upside down. Of the six people on the trawler, one survived, and one is yet to be found. Deceased were Melvin Vernon Webster, 40, of Paraparaumu (the skipper); Patrick Allan Webster, 45, his brother; Paul Eric Sundgren, 49, of Waikanae, a relative of the Websters; Andrew Nigel Bettison, 24, of Te Horo. The missing man is Robert James Smith, 43 of Brisbane, also a relative of the Websters. An inquiry will be held, but early speculation has suggested that floodlit preparations on the main deck for rapid unloading and turnaround of the container vessel may have left its master unsighted. Police and rescue agencies were quickly on the scene, and the survivor was winched to safety by helicopter. Police divers recovered the bodies of the four deceased, and have been engaged in a so far fruitless search for the missing man.
The floating crane Hikitia was eventually used to right the trawler, and it was pumped out and towed to a Wellington wharf. The vessel's owner believes its keel has been bent in the collision, and that it will be written off.
In the expectation that Tropic Cyclone Fergus would make landfall along the East coast of the North Island, campers were urged to abandon low campsites or caravans and head home or at least away from the beach. Warnings of heavy rain and winds to 150 km/hr sent some campers home early, others chose to tough it out.
The round the world one-class yacht race fleet was somewhat astonished that its attempts to be in Wellington to celebrate the New Year were somewhat frustrated by, of all things, a lack of wind. A number of yachts made it in time, but others were still ghosting in the direction of the windy city.
(Reproduced here by kind permission of David Farrar who posted it to nz.general - BH)
DNZM (to be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit): Dr Ella Orr Campbell, Palmerston North. For services to science.
KNZM (to be Knights Companion of the said Order):
Terence Power McLean, MBE, Auckland. For services to sporting journalism.
Peter Wilfred Tapsell, MBE, Rotorua. For public services, lately as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Thomas Murray Thorp, Auckland. Judge of the High Court 1979-1996
CNZM (to be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
Associate Professor Judith Mary Caroline Binney, Auckland. For services to historical research.
David Francis Caygill, Christchurch. For public services.
Warren Ernest Cooper, JP, Queenstown. For public services.
John Howard Falloon, Bideford, Wairarapa. For public services.
Colin Campbell Fraser, Christchurch. Judge of the High Court 1989-1996.
Ida Margaret Gaskin, New Plymouth. For services to education and the community.
Donald Kent Hunn, Otaki. State Services Commissioner.
Alan Ronald Kerr, Auckland. For services to cardiothoracic surgery.
Professor Peggy Gwendoline Koopman-Boyden, Hamilton. For services to the elderly.
Charles Seymour Luney, QSO, Christchurch. For services to the building industry and the community.
Dr Geraldine McDonald, Wellington. For services to educational research.
Elizabeth Welch Orr, Wellington. for services to education and the community.
Dr Clive Bentley Ross, Auckland. For services to dental surgery.
Kuru (Te Kuru-O-Te Marama) Waaka, QSO, Rotorua. For services to Maori culture. .
ONZM (to be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
Toni-Maria Allwood, Wellington. For services to women.
Peter Warwick Averi, Paraparaumu. For services to music.
Ian Hugh Boyd, Levin. For services to athletics.
Dr Margaret Elaine Di Menna, Hamilton. For services to microbiology.
Elizabeth Jane Evans, Nelson. For services to painting.
Kerry John Everson, QFSM, Victoria, Australia. Lately Chief Fire Service Officer, New Zealand Fire Service.
Jacqueline Mary Fahey, Auckland. For services to art.
Sean Brian Thomas Fitzpatrick, Auckland. For services to rugby.
Ross Goodin, Te Kauwhata. For services to viticulture.
Elaine Clark Herbert, Tapanui. For services to floral art.
Bronwen Scott Holdsworth, Gisborne. For services to business, art and the community.
John Virtue Ilott, Wellington. For services to the community.
Duane Paul Kale, Havelock North. For services to swimming.
Danyon Joseph Loader, Dunedin. For services to swimming.
Neville Epplett Lobb, Mt Maunganui. For services to the tourism and travel industries.
Mary Elizabeth McGiven, Christchurch. For services to the National Council of Women.
Stuart Ross McRobie, Hamilton. For Services to the community.
Michael Stewart Morris, Wellington. For services to business and the community.
Professor George Bouet Petersen, Dunedin. For services to the community.
Eric Matehaere Ropiha, Woodville. For services to racing and equestrian sport.
Peter Webster Wilson, Auckland. For services to tennis.
MNZM (to be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit):
Struan Robert Anderson, Winton. For services to the community.
Marjorie Roseanne Blythen, Warkworth. For services to the community.
Graham Thomas Bone, Greymouth. For services to sport and the community.
Zinzan Valentine Brooke, Auckland. For services to rugby.
Kevin James Campbell, Wellington. For services to aircraft safety.
Joyce Alberta Carmichael, Riverton. For services to the community.
Garth McMillan Cassidy, Waipukurau. For services to transport communication.
Robert Cooper, Auckland. For services to the port industry.
Anthony Robin Thomas Corcoran, Christchurch. For services to the community.
Ashley James McLean Crampton, JP, Whangaparaoa. For services to welfare work.
Victor Bruce Cunningham, Mt Maunganui. For services to local government and the community.
Lois Dorothy Daish, Wellington. For services to the food industry.
Dr William John Dart, Auckland. For services to art and music.
Emeritus Professor Paul Woodford Day, Hamilton. For services to the community.
Robert Knox De Castro, Blenheim. For services to horticulture.
Lawrence Samuel Dennis, JP, Wellington. For services to tourism and the hospitality industry.
John Burnett Dodds, Wellington. For services to music.
Rae Margaret Frampton, Auckland. For services to the community.
Gary Freeman, Sydney, Australia. For services to rugby league.
John Joseph Lawrence Going, Whangarei. For services to tourism.
Michael Niko Jones, Auckland. For services to rugby.
June Seeta McBride, Tauranga. For services to education and the community.
Bernardine Mary Meech, Pahiatua. For services to the community.
Francis William Bruce Miller, Christchurch. For services to the pork industry.
Dr Peter William Moller, Christchurch. For services to medicine.
Dorothy Lillian Nicholls, Eltham. For services to the community.
Brendon McPadden O'Connor, Wellington. For services to public speaking.
Beryl Emma Jean Paine, Nelson. For services to the community.
Tangiia Nooroa Paniora, Tauranga. For services to the community.
Rewiti Pomare Kingi Paraone, Auckland. For services to Maori and the community.
Apryll Hiria Parata-Blane, Ruatoria. For services to education.
Valarie Winnifred Penty, Timaru. For services to the community.
Alan David Ralph, Auckland. For services to the disabled.
Kenneth Robert Rutherford, Alexandra. For services to cricket.
Kevin Ryan, Auckland. For services to the community.
Noma Jeanne Shepherd, Kawakawa. For services to the community.
Bruce Cameron Smith, Ohaupo. For services to farming.
John Ru Hoani Tahuri, Rotorua. For services to the community .
Other Honours such as QSO and QSM are not listed for the sake of brevity.
There were the usual rash of disorderly parties last night, especially in Whangamata where about 3,000 mostly young people celebrating the New Year began throwing bottles and other missiles. Police in the end resorted to baton charges, and arrested about 100. Six police received injuries, and a number of police vehicles were seriously damaged.
Among the many incidents to which police were called during new year parties, was one at Trentham racecourse, where a 24 year old woman from Upper Hutt was found with massive lacerations to the throat and face. When ambulance staff arrived, the woman was also having a heart attack. She died soon after. Police have been investigating probable causes, but in the end have decided it was a freakish accident in which the victim fell on her own glass. At the request of the woman's family, the name of the deceased has been withheld as it is a very unusual name, and would easily lead to identification of the family.
Auckland Watercare Services paid $70,000 to Huakina Development Trust for cultural advice in respect of its application too run a pipeline to bring water to Auckland from the Waikato. To Watercare's subsequent astonishment the Huakina trust was one of the objectors to elements of the proposal which were based on the advice so obtained. The hearing was adjourned and Watercare were sent away to improve its consultation.
The parents of a young boy who was sexually assaulted by a 17 year old youth were outraged when the perpetrator received a 15 month sentence suspended for 12 months. In other words he would not have to go to jail at all. They took their own action by printing 2,000 posters with a photo of the offender, and a warning that "this person is a convicted sex offender... he is loose on the streets of Wellington and is a frequent visitor in your neighbourhood. Keep him away from young boys". The parents have also established a website outlining the facts of the case. (I was unable to find a URL for it - BH)
The declassification of previously secret documents in Australia have revealed that the Holyoake government went begging to Australia for a A$50 million loan prior to the 1966 elections. The Australian government of the then prime minister Harold Holt agreed to a secret loan of A$20 million.
Second thoughts by both parties have disclosed that a motorist stopped at a random breath test check point prior to Christmas was a senior police officer. When the "sniffer" tested positive for the presence of alcohol, the officer changed places with his wife, who drove off. The constable at the checkpoint apparently later regretted what he termed an error of judgement in permitting this to happen, as did the officer concerned. The matter is now subject to a formal investigation.
Keith Hay, former long time (1953 - 1974) mayor of Mt Roskill, founder of Keith Hay Homes, and Conservative Christian Activist has died in Auckland aged 79. He unsuccessfully organised a petition opposing Homosexual Law Reform championed by Fran Wilde in the 1980s.
(I can't say I ever had any affinity with Mr Hay's various crusades, but for the sheer length of time he was politically active, he was something of a landmark figure - a contemporary of the late Sir Dove Myer Robinson... and equally idiosyncratic - BH)
A Cessna 310 hired from its Auckland owners crashed soon after takeoff from Queenstown. It crashed through power lines and into a paddock about 1.5 km from the airport, where it burst into flames.
The dead were the pilot, Kalen Dale Burns, 25; Sharon Gillian Annett, 22; Fraser Robert Kendall, 25; Stewart Duncan Kendall, 20; Laverne Ernest de Cooke, 24; and Mason Peter Gillespie, 22.
Date: 3 January 1997
Brian Dooley
Wellington, New Zealand
CURRENCIES
The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm.
The rates given are for telegraphic transfer and are
as given in the Wellington Evening Post today.
To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.7143
AUD 0.8999
GBP 0.4225
JPY 82.74
CAD 0.9814
FRF 3.7221
DEM 1.1038
HKD 5.5384
SGD 1.0021
CHF 0.9638
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 8.00
90 Day: 7.90
The prices below are given in cents.
To buy NZ Investment Trust:
21 June 1993 409
Today 555
To buy TeNZ:
1 June 1996 103.7
Today 118
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Text Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer,
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