Local And General

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1949, Page 4

Local And General

-• — . Softball Results. Saturday's games in the Horowhenua softball competitions resulted as' follows: — Men: Wanderers 20, Athletic 15, Kimberley 19, Pirates 17; Raukawa 27, Punahau 13. Women and Junior Men: Wanderers Stars 26, Kimberley B 23; Wanderers Ladies 17, Punahau 11; Raukawa 31, Achilles B 28. Women Learn Toi Swim, A married women's learn-to-swim campaign is-toeing conducted by the Fhysical Welfare- Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs in Christchurch. The class comprises 30 women whose ages range from the late twenties to about 60. All are reported to be making good progress and some, including the older women, can swim across the bath after only a week's tuition. To Fly To N.Z. , lt A ftight half-way, . round , ,fhe. world will be begun shortly by two young New Plymouth men now in England, Messrs P. L. Lightband and P. G, Hobart. They have bought a three-seater Proctor, Three and plan. to leave between December 12 and 15 from an airfleld near Elstree, spend Christmas in India and New Year in the Straits Settlement, and to arrive in New Zealand in January. Why Ducklings Disappear. Small boys, eels, wild cats and rats are blamed by the superintendent of Pukekura Park, Mr. J. W. Goodwin, for the gradual dis- ■ appearance of ducklings from the park lake. He said eels up to 81b had been caught in the lake, and he had known a 51b. to 61b. eel swallow a 10-day duckling whole. Four ducks on the lake at present are one-legged, for which eels are blamed. Mr. Goodwin said that within the next two or three years the lake may be drained so that the eels can be killed. Bombers For Sale. If you want to buy a cheap light aircraft or a large bomber you can secure your needs from second-hand machines in the United Kingdom. A list of secondhand aircraft received by aero clubs in New Zealand shows- small two-seaters from as low as £195. You can buy a Halifax bomber with four engines for £10Q0, a Lancastrian for £2000 or an Aerovan freighter with a spare engine for £750. A six-passenger Rapide airliner with certiflcate of airworthiness costs £1400. Worm Breeding. How do you breed worms scientifically? An officer of the British Colonial Service in Southern Nigeria has written to the curator of the Auckland Zoo, seeking enlightenment so that he can spend more time enjoying himself in his leave periods and less time with a shovel digging for worms with which to supply his wife's ducks. The curator, Mr. R. W. Roach, promised to supply the information when it is available as meantime the zoo is seeking the answer, too — to feed its one-legged kiwi. Glasses For Nothing. The recent cable massage from, London telling of an ofidcial inquiry into the case of the optician who made £14,077 in a year under Britain's national health scheme prompted a Christchurch businessman to recall his experience while visiting Britain earlier this year. Breaking his glasses, he went to a London optician who made a repair, and told the New Zealander that he had better have a new pair of glasses, as they would not cost anything. After tests, the optician took the visitor's name and address. Nearly three months later, having forgotten all ahout it, the New -Zealander, now back in Christchurch, was surprised to receive by mail a fine pair of glasses from the London optician— and all free.