From our Files: Wasp in the throat...women smoking deaths...pony kicks out

* * * * *

THE Humber Hire Service, of New Milton, has been doing its share in the collection of dollars from tourists from the USA. One of their fleet of Humber limousines met a party of three American tourists off the Queen Mary at Southampton, and during the course of their 27-day stay in this country toured over 3,000 miles, resulting in 800 dollars being paid into a local bank.

Mr C. N. Hawkins, one of the tourists, is the owner of a 15,000 acre ranch in Oregon and a director of the Bank of America. He is 84 and had not visited this country for 50 years.

* * * * *

FIVE dozen pairs of nylon stockings have “walked” on their way to New Milton.

Mr Reg Alderson told the “Advertiser & Times” that Bear Brand despatched by rail to his firm 15 dozen pairs of rayon hose and five dozen pairs of nylon stockings.

But when the parcel was opened, it was found that the nylon stockings were missing.

“It seems to me that the theft occurred in transit on the railway,” said Mr Alderson. “We must regret having to disappoint our lady customers, as nylons are still in short supply, but we shall do our best to try and get them replaced.”

50 YEARS AGO

“THE nine female deaths from smokers’ cancer is the largest total yet achieved in one year in this district”, says the Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of Lymington, Dr. J. J. N. McNab. “The women seem to be seeking sex equality with a certain measure of success, for whereas male lung cancer deaths have increased by only 1% in the past five years compared with the previous five, female deaths have increased by 39% over the same period”.

Dr McNab notes that there was an increase in the sales of cigarettes in 1972 of 6.5% and adds, “The cigarette companies advertise, almost as though it were a recommendation for their particular brand, ‘Every packet carries a Government Health Warning”. How they must laugh in their boardrooms, these purveyors of death.

* * * * *

MR JOHN CORDLE, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and Christchurch, asked the Secretary for Trade and Industry in the Commons last week to consider the use of hydrogen from the earth’s atmosphere as a possible source of energy. The Under Secretary, Mr Peter Emery, said in a written reply, “I know of no method of using the minute quantities of hydrogen gas in the earth’s atmosphere as a source of energy, but I am always willing to receive instruction.”

* * * * *

AN incident in which a New Forest pony kicked a woman in the back, without provocation, has been reported. The incident happened at the end of a walk undertaken by members of the New Forest Group of the Ramblers’ Association, when one of the walkers sat down to change her shoes. A number of ponies were grazing in the vicinity of parked cars, and suddenly a foal walked between her and its mare, and the latter lunged out with its hind legs, without any warning, kicking the lady in the back. Parents and children should be aware of the risk of ponies lashing out at any moment.

25 YEARS AGO

A BARTON-ON-SEA woman reckons the hydrangea bush in her garden boasts the biggest bloom in the New Forest. Margaret Derham, who lives in Western Avenue, says the pink flower measures 30 inches in circumference.

Her neighbour is the proud owner of an enormous hydrangea bush which covers the length of the wall of her front garden. Such is the splendour of the bush that it is not uncommon for tourists to stop their cars and gaze at the bush. “The other day, a coach driver stopped outside and I thought he wanted directions,” the neighbour told the “A&T”. “But he said that he often drove the coach past my house so that people could admire them. My neighbour has even seen people taking photos of them. I suppose they must be Americans.”

* * * * *

MAJOR General Edward J. Montagu Stuart-Wortley, the one-time owner of Highcliffe Castle, was relieved of his command after the first day of the Battle of the Somme because not enough of his men died, and he then spent eight years in vain trying to clear his name, formerly secret papers have revealed.

The 58-year-old Major was sent back to England by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, after “only” 2,455 casualties, 850 of them fatal, were suffered by the 46th (North Midlands) Division on a day that saw 57,470 British soldiers killed or seriously injured. He was the only divisional commander to be relieved of his duties after the tragedy on July 1st 1916.

Haig, who apparently hated Maj. Gen. Stuart-Wortley, reported: “I have relieved Maj. Gen. Stuart-Wortley from his command, and orders have been issued for him to proceed to England. I recommend that he should be given employment at home in training troops, for which his long experience fits him. I am not prepared to accept him as a divisional commander again in this country.”

* * * * *

CONSERVATIONISTS warned of a potential environmental catastrophe in the New Forest this week after animal rights extremists freed thousands of mink from a fur farm near Ringwood. Householders were advised to protect pets by keeping them indoors and conservation experts predicted the huge invasion of the small deadly animals would have a devastating impact on the wildlife.

The Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the release of the mink at Crow Hill Farm. All of the 6,000 mink at the site were freed from their cages after protestors cut through the perimeter fences.

Annie Righton, environmental protection manager at New Forest District Council, warned the public not to try to catch or corner the animals. “They can and will bite. They look a bit like large ferrets.”

Terry Smith, the owner of the mink farm in Ringwood told the “A&T” that they would wreak havoc in the New Forest. These animals are amongst the most vicious in the world. They are predators and will kill any small mammals in sight.