"Cheeky” Must Sail Away

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30802, 14 July 1965, Page 16

"Cheeky” Must Sail Away

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, " July 13. A South African bird, for four years the pet of the mother of a New Zealand missionary in Bolivia, cannot be landed in New Zealand. The bird, a blackwing oreole with beautiful red, black, and yellow feathers, ar-

rived in Wellington today from Southampton aboard the Southern Cross with' its owner, Mrs W. Searle.

Mrs Searle said that the Department of Agriculture had advised her that under no circumstances could the bird be landed, as it could introduce psittacosis. She said that the Wellington zoo was offered the bird, but could not accept it. The oreole had accompanied her through the United States, Canada and South America. Mrs Searle said that she had no idea that there would be New Zealand regulations forbidding the bird’s entry. The agricultural authorities had advised her that the bird would have to be destroyed.

Her husband had tried unsuccessfully in Wellington to get a reversal of the ruling, and had offered the bird to the zoo.

Mrs Searle has spent the last few years in Bolivia with her son. Mr W. W. Searle who accompanied his mother on the Southern Cross from

Panama. He said the bird was purchased from Bolivian Indians. If the bird—n a m e d “Cheeky”—is allowed to remain on the Southern Cross, which sails on Thursday, the ship’s hostess, Mrs D. M. Crowley, has offered to look after him.