LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Newsprint Cargo The Norwegian motor-ship Vmiand, is expected 'to arrive at Wellington tomorrow to continue discharging her cargo of newsprint. The Vinland arrived at Auckland from Nova Seotia at the end of last month and has been discharging at Auckland and Napier. The ship brought a full cargo of newsprint fco New Zealand last April.

Careless Motorists „ Levin's freedom from road accidents during the past month was apparently due more to luck than good management. The. district traffic inspector, Mr. M. Kehoe, said this morning that the standard of driving is still very poor, and motorists were continuing the practice of driving in the centre of the road instead of keeping strictly to the | left-hand side. Vehicles, particularly those towing caravans, were not paying full attention to the safety rules, and it was noticed that many tail lights and number plates were obscured. Swimming Carnivals Members of the Levin Amateur Swimming Club are reminded that the first carnival to be held iri^the Manawatu Centre will be at Woodville on Saturday, January 25, and that entries will be taken at the baths tonight and tomorrow during club hour. The temperature of the water at mid-day today was 70 degrees and members, are urged to get down to training as club competitions will be commencing next week. Any crippled person who is desirous of hqving le.ssons is asked to communicate with • the- club secretary or ' Mr. Tilley, and a special clg.ss will be arranged.No Apples in Sight It is nearly two months since apples were on sale in the shops, and it may be two more before they are procurable. These are the usual off months for New Zealand-grown apples and' the period has usually been tided over by importations from Canada. Mainly because of the lack of shipping space, there have been no importations to bridge the gap on this oecasion and the public has had to go without. Some New1 Zealand-grown apples will be available early next month, but these will be diverted to hospitals. It will be late February or early March before there are full supplies available for the retail shops. Redoubtable Tuis In the virgin bush near Paraparaumu the tui is monarch of all he surveys, writes a' member of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. He appears to be social to the extent that he liyes in eolonies, and the community invariably comes to the aid of the ipdjyidual. A perfect example of this community spirit was seep recentjy. "Put of a clear blue sky on a summer's afternoon the serenity of the bush was disturbed by the screeching of a pair of magpies. Looking up I saw a tui being hotly pursued by a pair of them — one on each flank. As he swerved and dived to avoid the ;harp beaks of hjs enemies, the magpies manoeuyred with the speed " and dexterity which is characteristic of them, in an endeavour to hea| him off from the bush. Then", frpni oyer the tree tops came a pa# of tuis, followed by a dozen others. Their evqlu'tions were delightful to watch as they quiqkly fahned oufc to .encircle tlieii enemies. In a few ipoments pandemonium raged as the natives attac#ed t#e f.orejgner§, who gave up the uneyen fignt and retreated to their owp preserves."