RUBBISH FROM STREETS

Chronicle (Levin), 7 February 1947, Page 4

RUBBISH FROM STREETS

MAGNETIC TRUGK GETS GREAT HAUL IN LEVIN Although building nails were in short supply during the war, Levin bad enough to throw away — at yleast that is the paradoxcal conclusion to be drawn from the fact that 56 lbs of assorted hardware was retrieved from some 15 miles of Levin streets by ~ magnetic truck employed by the Levin Borough Council recently. The bulk of this was pieked up in the business area and included nails of surprising proportions, fret saws, razor blades and large' pieees of metal. The driver of the vehiele, Mr. D. J. McNicholl, of Dannevirke, has only recently commencjd his unusual occupation, ana is being besieged with contracts from councils in all parts of New Zealand. He belives his vehiele is the only one oi its type privately operated. The Main Highways Board has magnetic trucks operating on all main roadc, Lut has been loath.to extend this work to incorporate boroughs and towns. The truck was a military one which has been fitted with o. powerful electric magnet, driven by a separate engine and generator. Mr. McNicolI claims it can life 1000 1b dead weight and raise 400 Ib four inches of a flat surface. There is no fortune to be picked up in this work, however, as the n.agnet is not attracted to coins, gold or silver. Mr. McNicolI once picked up a watch, but it was not .in very good condition when finally retrieved from the other articles 'collected. Operations in Palmerston North recently realised two 44-gallon drums of nails and scrap metal The only disturbing factor in his work, he claims, is the energy required in retracing his path to repia ce the 'metal fire plugs, v/hich are invariably removed by the powerful magnet.