Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 16, 26 May 1939, Page 4

Local and General

POOR MAORIS The majority of natives are indigent here, said a councillor at tiie meeting of the Whakatane County Council on Tuesday. "Only until five o'clock of course," said Cr F. J. Burt with a smile. PUNCTUAL PLAYERS At the meeting of the Whakatane Rugby Sub-Union executive on Tuesday night, Mr iF. Peebles said he wanted to place on record the punctuality of the Whakatane and Ruatoki teams which took the field ten minutes before the game. This was the way it should be said delegates. COUNTY INSPECTOR The Whakatane County Council appointed Mr Noel Smithy Otorohanga, as County inspector and ranger, to succeed Mr H. J. Marks, at its meeting on Tuesday. Three other j applicants were interviewed by the council before the final choice was made. AS I SAY" "The Government is more at fault than the natives in the matter of rate arrears.,'' said Cr C. McCready r,t Wednesday's County Council meet ing. "They tell us what to do and don't do it themselves.'" Cr McCready added that he tried to bring the matter of the Government remissness up at a recent conference, but other speakers took the native question up and he could not speak. MOCK REGRET "Mr Lucas has reminded me that there is a duty on the shoulders of newly elected chairmen. I suppose I must follow suit,'" said Cr J. L. Bun. nett after his election as actingchairman at the annual meeting of the Whakatane County Council. "I move we adjourn then " said one councillor. ''I suppose there is no amendment to that motion," said Cr Burnett showing heavy Scots caution. "OFF THE LINE" The great difficulty caused by the crowd encroaching on the line at the Domain was emphasised when the construction of a fence along No. 2 ground was approved by the Whakatane Rugby Sub-Union at its Tuesday night's meeting. The standard of line umpiring was poor at times also, said delegates, and the union might consider appointing four for the Do- j j main. It was pointed out that this was the responsibility of the clubs. THEN AND NOW "Thirty years ago," said a farmer at Waimana the other day, "when I was in North Ota go you would see twenty or thirty young fellows at a dance standing by the door. They would mostly be ploughmen and thev would be talking of how much land they had ploughed during the uay each outdoing the other, and boasting of their teams, each claiming that his team could out-pull any other. Now if you ever hear young ploughmen talking they are boasting of how little they ploughed during the day, and cursing their employer's tractor." MAILS Mails close at Whakatane on May 26 at 12.15 p.m. for Argentine, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay Falkland Islands via the Port Wellington. There is a despatch for Europe (letters only) via San Pedro by the Mariposa, closing on Saturday May 27, at 12.15 p.m. and for Canada, U.S.A., Mexico and West Indies on the same date by the same vessel. Mails will also be accepted for Fiji, Japan and Pago Pago. The Empire Air Mail due London June 15 closes on Monday, May 29 at 12.15 p.m. This mail crosses , the Tasman on the Aorangi. Mails for Australia, India, Ceylon, Egypt_ East and South Africa, Italy, Balkan Malaya, Hongkong, China and Japan also close at the same time and are despatched by the same vessel. On Wednesday, May 31 at 12.15 p.m. mails close for Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the despatch being by the Matua. The next inward air mail from Great Britain and Ireland is lue at the Whakatane post office on May 30, and the next mail from U.S.A. and Canada on the same day. The air mail which left Whakatane on April 27 arrived in London on May 13; . ,

JUNIOR RUGBY Old Boys' Reserves, the newly formed team, will practice with Taueatua Thirds on the School grounds, Whakatane, a t 3 p.m. on Saturday. FIRST AID CLASSES More pupils ar e wanted for the First Aid Classes which arc to be held in the Borough Council Chambers this year. Those who wish to train may leave their namc s with Mr A. J. Canning or Mr H. Carr. SCOTTISH DAY AT SHOW At a meeting of the executive committee of the Winter Show Association held on Wednesday last, il was decided to hold Scottish Day on June Bth, the second day of the shew The Association has been unable to procure a minister of the Crown to open the show and lias therefore! invited Mr Hultquist, M.P. to officiate. This invitation, has been accepted. GIRLS AND LICENSES The Whakatane County Council had before it at its meeting on AVednesdav a letter from the Commissioner of Transport detailing three special conditions with which learner motor cyclists must comply. "It's rather serious, they can't carry a pillion, ' passenger," said Cr C. McCready. "While he is trying to get his license he may lose his girl." Another councillor remarked in a cynical tone that that would save him taking out a more oppressive form of license. BURIED TREASURE Thirty shillings has so far rewarded the workmen engaged in demolishing the bar portion of the old Commercial Hotel, the money including a half-sovereign Avhich the finder retained a,s a souvenir, the rest of the money being put into the ''kitty" The men say they believe that much more than 30s has been lost under the old but they believe that the rats have carried some of the money away. In proof of this they •:ay that the half-sovereign and a 2s piece were found in a rat's nest. STAFF DEPLETED The depletion of the county office staff through sickness was mentioned at the meeting of the Whakatane County Council on Wednesday when Mr C. G. Lucas reported that Miss McConnell will be absent for a montl; and Mr Ward is in hospital. The resignation of Miss S. Parkinson was also notified. With the staff so depleted and with no inspector available to issue drivers' licenses, heavy traffic licenses and such like, work is falling sadly in arrear and difficulty plicants for drivers' licenses said Mr Lucas.