LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 14 September 1946, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Building Permits During the month of August nineteen building permits representing work to the value of £8531 were issued by the Horowhenua County Council. Vegetable Shortage A shortage of vegetables in Wellington markets is indicated within a few days. Market gardners from Hawke's Bay, Manawata, Otaki and the Wairarapa report a shortage of cases, and as the present stocks held by the'distributing centre are likely to be exhausted within 10 days, stipplies of cases will probably be rationed and that will mean a reduction in the quantity sent to Wellington.

Athletic Club's Ball The social committee of' the Levin Combined Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club is leaving no stone unturned to make their first annual plain and fancy dress ball one of the most outstanding functions to be held in Levin for some time. The latest attraction announced today is the appearance of Miss Irene Oliver's pupils from Palmerston North, who will entertain with a tap ballet and ballroom demonstration. The committee is arranging for yet more attractions, which will be announced as soon as they are finalised. Care NeedeR with Kites The need for children to exercise care when flying kites or playing near telephone or power lines was amply illustrated on Thursday last, states thei postmaster, Mr. L. A. Whitham, when a piece of baling wire was accidentally thrown across a power line. This formed a contact with a telephone line, blew fuses, damaged telephone carrier equipment and ;put a 12-channel toll circuit between Auckland and Wellington out of action for some time. There was also potential danger to linesmen effecting repairs.

Lorry Over Bank When a lorry went over a bank about half a mile north of Kawatahi Store on the Parapara Road on Wednesday night a mqn was killed outright. The vietim was Mr. Parker, a resident of Raetihi, who only recently returned from service overseas with the armed forces. Two other 1 occupants of the lorry escaped injury. They were taken by the Waimarino Hospital ambulance to the hospital at Raetihi, where they were attended by Dr. R. W. Edgar, : a member of the Wanganui Hospi- : tal Stalf, who is at present relieving Dr. W. J.' Feltham. The names' of the two other occupants of the: lorry have not yet been ascertain-'; ed, nor have any particuiars of the accident. Effects of Forest Fires Fires lit years ago by irresponsible individuals are responsible for much of the bare and eroding land in the Mid-Canterbury district, states an early settler writing in Forest and Bird. A large part of the country through which the Midland-- Railway in Canterbury passes was once heavily forest, especially that part between Kowhai Bush and Staircase Gully. This part' now shows abundant evidence of extensive erosion. Hundreds of acres of dense bush and many settlers' homes were lost in a succession of disastrous fires; and much of the work done by the Waimakariri Forest Board, at a cost of many thousands of pounds, would have been unnecessary if the forests bordering the upper reaches of the river had been preserved. Weka's Intriguing Habits The weka is now becoming a rare bird, yet a few years ago it was common on many parts of the Canterbury plains, and 60 years ago was found in great numbers there and in Westland, states a writer in Forest and Bird. Wekas would swallow almost anything, including pea-rifle cartridges and tin tacks. The only thing that beat them was soap! The male bird does all the courting, and probably some birds after pairing off remain together for life. At a survey camp many years . ago a family of three females and one male made the camp their home They got very tame, especially the male, who would feed out of one's hand. It was amusing to watch the mother attempting to drive off 1 her almost grown-up §on. He would' 1 take shelter behind his. hurnan : benefactors,. who would thrQw 1 scraps of food to the mother while he escaped her. J i