Reporter’s Diary (Press, 22 December 1988)

In December 1988, conservationist and botanist David Bellamy visited the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch and expressed relief that the museum does not charge an admission fee, stating, “I wouldn’t have come in if you had.” He strongly believes in free access to museums and spent time discussing alternative income sources for such institutions. Bellamy was in Christchurch en route to Pyramid Valley, North Canterbury, where he was filming a segment for a four-episode conservation series titled "Moa's Ark." In another news, a church in Christchurch faced embarrassment after mistakenly accepting a tender to remove its hall. Initially thinking they would receive $800 for the sale, the church discovered they would instead be required to pay that amount for the removal service. Additionally, a peculiar development in robotics came from the United States, where a highly advanced humanoid robot named Manny was created at Battelle’s Applied Physics Centre for testing garments. This $3 million creation has features like a clammy 'skin' and a heaving chest to simulate human movement and physical exertion in clothing. Designed to evaluate the durability of textile products, Manny adds an unconventional twist to the garment testing process. The issue of unsolicited mail was also highlighted, revealing that New Zealand Post's initiative to allow citizens to join direct mailing lists attracted 55,000 participants who were keen to receive such advertisements. On the topic of road safety, a company in the United States has developed a device that can be attached to car bumpers to emit a supersonic whistle, aimed at deterring animals from crossing roads. The device operates at speeds above 50 km/h and is effective for multiple animal species, although it mysteriously does not affect cows. Lastly, a band from England has gained attention with their name, "Lesbian Dopeheads on Mopeds," previously known as the Hairy Marys, as they stand out in a crowded music scene where unique names are crucial for visibility. A humorous anecdote recounted a traffic officer who stopped a motorist for not wearing glasses as required by his driver's licence. When the driver explained he wore contact lenses, the officer quipped back, “Never mind who you know, why aren’t you wearing glasses?”

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