Local and General

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1949, Page 4

Local and General

Native Pigeon Chick Tne native pxgeon previously reported nesting within two chains of a house at Ngamatapouri, has a chick about the size of a quail. The chick, which appears to be progressing satisfactorily, is beginnmg to grow its pin feacners and..wil± soon be too large for the nest. The parent bird does not appear to visit the nest very often, howjever, and has not been seen covering the chick for at least a week. ; . i A Growing Membership Membership of Federated Farmers totalled almost 48,OUO at the end of January, says a statement issued by the federation. The increase for the -last thrfee mohths was 500 and that for the year 4100. Over th'e past two years the membership has grown from 37,263 to the present flgure of 47,635, Auckland, the largest provincial .area, has the biggesr membership at 11,787, with Waikato in second place at 5777. Southland, in third piace, has 3836. , Every province showed an increase/ for the whole year.

The Ultimate "Worst" Searching for a term which would aptiy describe the condition of back-country roads in certain paris of the Wanganui region, Mr. C. D. Coriiss, Federated Farmers' representative on the Wanganui Ohamber of Commerce, at its meeting, paused in the midst of an einphatic denunciation of the roads ana his firm advocacy of the benefit generally which would follow improvemenits and! declaimed: "Wny, Mr. Ohairman, in winter time those roads would bog a ducK ! " Another New Car Inspected Adaed to the iist oi new model motor cars whi^h have been arnvmg witn monotonous regularity outside Parliament Buildings is the lates-t Ford V8. A compieteiy new model, it is an impressive car. It was shown to -tne Minisrer of Finance, Mr. Nash, the Minister of Befenee, Mr. Jones, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Cullen. Its new type coil springing was given a severe test when 18-stone Mr. Cullen slid in behind the steering wheel. The car sank a good six inches.

Damages Claim Succeeds Afier a heanng lasting four days, the.case in which Arthur Sidney West, carpenter, of Palmerton Norch, claimed £6000 damages from che C.M.B. Construction Company m respect of injuries received while engagea in work at the Longburn Freezmg Worxs on August 4, 1947, concluded at ihe Palmerston North dupreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Christie. The jury recurned after five hours' retirement lo award plaintiff general damages amounting to £2875. The claim arose .through an accident to the plaintiff whenhe fell from scaffolding at the works. To Be Or Not To Be Is it to be- the "British Commonwealth" or just "thev Commonwealth." While the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was overseas he,denied chat the British Commonwealth lirime Miniis'ters' coitference had decided- to drop the word "British," and added thac personally he would continue to use it. Yet in oue of the first jublic statements after his return — that about the Prlritate of Hungary, Cardinal Mindszenty, Mr. Fraser referred: to "Commonwealth eountries." Th-is was no hurried statement given "on the cuff." It was a carefillly-prepared 'typewntten "handout," prepared by Mr. Fraser with the assistanice of the two heads of the Department of External Affairs, Messrs A. D. Mclntosh and Fos s Shanahan.