LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 7 August 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Death of Baby A Maori child three weeks old, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Karehana, of Parewanui, died after a seizure at 12.20 a.m. on Monday. The parents heard the child crying and death occurred in about 20 mi'nutes. Dr. Benson, of Marton, was unable to arrive at the cause of death consequently a post-mortem was ordered by the coroner, Mr. H. J. Highham. The inquest was adjourned. The Real Thing Boys from the Levin Primary Sehool on a sight-seeing tour of the Central Fire Station, Wellington, had j.ust arrived to view a demonstration when chance turned on a real show for ihem. As the party approached the main doors of the station a fire call was received and the boys were on the spct when the fire engine roared out of the station ,to answer _ it. Laier the promised" demonstration of the fire fighting. equipment was staged for their behefit, and some of the party were taken f y. a ride round the city streets. Bus Driver Guilty The driver of tne bus which was involved on May 24 last in a collision with a truck on the WairoaNuhaka road when five women passengers were killed and seven others injured, Denby William Boyd, aged 28, was found guilty in the Napier Supreme Court on five charges of negligent driving causing death and seven charges of negligent driving causing injury. The jury's decision was reached after a 3-h hour retirement at the end of a three-day trial. The jury added to its verdict a strong recommendation for mercy. Prisoner was remanaed for sentence. Physical Training Hon. F. Jones, in a reply to Mr. C. Carr in the House of Representatives, said the Government had given no consideration-to the question of the introducton of compulsory physical training in New Zealand. Mr. Carr regretted that no action had been taken by the Government in this direction. There was some difficulty being experienced today in persuaaing young people leaving schools to keep fit and he thought there was a danger of the development of a nation of "lounge lizards." He did not want to see any regimentation or Hitler Youth movement spring up in the country, but there was a need for strong healthy youths. The country could not do too much to ensure a virile manhood and womanhood.

Bird Life on Kaniti The uncrowned king of Kapiti Island is Mr. W. A. Lindsay. According to an appendix to the annual report of the Department of Lands and Survey on scenery preservation, tabled in the House, bird life is increasing. In July, pigeons, bell birds, tuis, whiteheads, Sout Island robins, and wekas were all plentiful round Mr. Lindsay's cottage, and were very tame. Two kakas were being fed by hand and a grey' kiwi had been seen. Young kakas and wekas were seen during. September, and grey duck, Californian quail, bellbirds and tuis were all nesting near the cottage. Two newcomers during October and November were the long-tailed and shining cuckoo. In February, in spite of the severity of the storm, bird life was still plentful and the yellow-fronted parrakeet was sighted.