LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Muttonbird Season About 100 Maoris left Bluff on board the Wairua this week for the muttonbird season. A recent examination has shown that the birds are in splendid condition. A good season is indicated by the fact that the old birds have made only one flight in any number to the rnainland, proving that tbere must be plenty of food near their homes. Transport Licenges At a special meeting of the Buller Road Transport Alliance lt was decided to support the r'emarks made by Mr. T. JEJ. Langford, the No, i 3 Licensing Authority, when he ! claimed that the transport licensing ! system was a "tragic farce." The 1 branch considered, as it had often ! stated in the past, that appeals ishould be heard on a strictly judj icial basis, either by way of rehearing or by way of submissions on. ! the evidence given to the Author- ; ity. I Deep-sea Fishing Five fishermen caught deep-sea fish totalling 21581b. at North Reef, Whangaroa, yesterday. Mr. J. D. Edwards, of Whangaroa, landed a ; black marlin weighing 7001b; Mr. E. j A. . Brown, of Whangaroa, two striped marlins of 315 and 2441b; Mr. F. Slater, of Palmerston North, a striped marlin of 3041b; Mr. a. Louden, of Kaeo, a striped marlin of 3001b; and Mr. R. McGregor,, of.. Auckland, a striped marlin of 2951D, So far this Season 57 fish weighing more than six tons gross have been caught. Maori Songs "The Maori people are a noble race," £aid the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, at a farewell gatnering given to him and Lady Newall by the Ngati Poneke Maori Associatlon. "You have magnificent traditions handed down by your foreiathers; chivalry as well as fighting qualities is in your blood. I hope you" will preserve your folk song„ folklore and dances, arts and crafts. There is a tendency in this age of canned music and cahned entertainment to sit back and let someone else make the noise. Let your songs and dances be Maori, not American." Pipe Band's Display As part of the cpmpaign it is conducting to raise fupds to equip its members with uniforms, the Horowhenua Highland Band is- holding a massed pipe bands' display at the Levin Pomain on Mgrch 30. Froceedings commence at 2 p.m. with the massed exhibition and a drum majors' display. Appearing in Levin for the first time will be the M&rehing Midgets from Wanganui. The Horowhenua College Band is alSQ to participate. These activities will be supplemented with running and cyciing events and novelty pompetitions, while afternoon tea, ice creams and soft drinks wiU be available "on the ground, New Refreshment Rooras a start has been made in the ekecution of t.he Government's recent? ly-announced poiicy of modernising refreshment rooms at the large railway stations throughout the North isiand. First to receive attention are the rooms at Paekakariki, where reconstruction is at present in progiess. Seqond on the Government's list was Palmerston North, but it it not yef known when the work oi renovating the refreshment rooms there wiU begin. -'All I have been toid is that the new rooms wiii be ready before next Christmas," said the manager (Mr, W, J. MeadQWSj when questioned about it yester? day. Britons Need Fooil "The more this cpuntry can do fqr the poor, long-suffering people of Britain by sending them food, the better," said Major-General W» QStevens, formerly Commander pf the Second New ^ealand Expeditionary Force when he arrfyed in Auckland by fiying-boat from Syd? ney. Major-General Stevens, who said he was speaking not as a sqldier but as an obseryer, repentiy visited Britain from the Middie East. There were only 15 New Zealand personnel left in Egypt and Italy, he said, ahd the last draft of x4rmy men was on its way back on board the Arawa- Major-General Stevens took over command of the New Zealand Force f'roni Lieut,General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V,C„ after the battle of Tobruk.