Local And General

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1949, Page 4

Local And General

War On Sandfiies. | Good news for bathers and campers is contained in the annual report of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson. It mentions that an investigation of the sandfly problem in New Zealand has been un'dertaken. The, object is to ascertain the most active species, :their places of breeding, range of fiight, and possible methods of control. A Nation To Reckon With. "My final impression is that the English at home are a jolly good people. They have their imperfections; but they are a virile race. They have a strong sense of jus— tice and law and order. They also have a strong sympathy for the under-dog. England is still a nation to reckon with."— Professor Ba, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Education in Rangoon University, giving, ,his impreBsions of Britain in a BBQ programme. U.S. Veterans' Insurance. A special dividend has been made payable to veterans of the United States arme'd forces in World War II who hold or held National Service Life Insurance polices. Veterans living in New Zealand may obtain application forms for the dividend from the American Embassy, Wellington, or the American Consulate, Auckland. Distribution of the cheques will not begin until January. Red Cross Clothing-. Another consignment of clothing has been sent to the Red Cross Society's headquarters for overseas and also a large carton of suitable clothing for the lepers. This was reported to the recent monthly meeting of the Levin branch, at which Mrs. F. W. Wilson presided over a good attendance. Thanks was expresse'd to citizens for their help, without w*hich the branch would be unable to continue its activities in relief work. Cricket By Television. While he was in England Mr. Winstone Harris, of Christchurch, saw the second Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's. Mr. Harris went to Lord's on the Monday, but on the Saturday and the Tuesday he saw the match on television, and he says that he preferred the television to being at Lord's. There was an uninterrupted view Of the game on television, and a watcher coul'd distinguished every action by the players, and even see the facial expressions of the batsmen. There was a commentator, but, unlike radio broadcasters, he. was silent for long periods when watchers could see for themselves -what was soins on.

ihe Grey Duck. "I have a distinct feeling that possibly your grey duck may one day be almost eliminated because of hybridisation with the mallard duck," said Dr. Clarence Cottam, assistant-director of the Fis'h an'd Wildlife Serylce of the United States Department of the Interior, in a letter to the Council of South Esland Acclimatisation Societies. Dr. Cottam visited New Zealand during the Pacific Science Congress early this year. "For conditions in New Zealand the grey duck is superior to the mallard," he said. "From what I saw of New Zealand I am compelled to say that much can be done, and economically, to improve waterfowl conditions. This, however, will require a clear-cut national programme, an'd a concerted effort to eff ectively develop and use existing marshes and waterfowl areas."