Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 63, 18 September 1939, Page 4

Local and General

PAROA SCHOOL Mr A. G. Hultquist, M.PPs. s has been informed by the Hon. P. Fraser that a grant has been madtj for the provision of a permanent water supply, bathing facilities, new out offices, and a septic tank system of drainage at Te Paroa Totara Native School, Whakatane. RESTORING HISTORIC CHURCH An effort to replace the picturesque and historic parish church at Coromandel, which w T as built 70 years ago and was damaged beyond repair by a gale two and a half years ago ; is being made by the people of the district. The movement takes the form of an appeal for funds and voluntary workers to rer-crect the building before Christmas. PRICE OF WHITEBAIT Foxton whitebait is now selling retail in Wellington at 6s a pint. In the early days one could buy a bucket of whitebait for Is. The first man to can whitebait in New Zealand, it is said, was a Mr Woods. Hokitika. He offered the boys of the village 2s 6d a kerosene tin full. THE WISHING TREE The "wishing tree" on Hongi's Track, Rotorua } is allegedly the scene of wanton destruction by tourists and others. According to Maori tradition a sprig of greenery should be placed at the foot of the tree, but it has become common for tourists to pull up ferns by the roots instead of picking a sprig for the purpose, and the result is that the bush for chains on each side of the treec has been denuded of ferns. The matter has been taken up by the Rotorua Borough Council, which has decided to communicate "with the tourist transport companies to urge their drivers to point out to their passengers that the placing of a sprig of ; greenery is sufficient to comply with Maori tradition. The council is also to seek the co-operation of the Scenery Preservation Board in preserv- ! ing the ferns. '

THEY LAUGHED A saving sense of humour came to the aid of the different owners of three usually very prosperous little businesses in, Auckland when, on comparing notes, it was discovered that they ha?d on a. recent Saturday morning taken, 7s 6d, 3s Gd and Is lid. BACK TO NORMAL The return of public confidence and of the motor car—the two seeming to be inseparably linked in' our modern scheme of things—was well exemplified by the crowds in the Whakatane streets on Friday night. It was a contrast to the desolation of a week previously. Cars once again lined the and people wandered from shop to shop, window-gaz* ing and buying. PRECIOUS PAPER Whakatane garages are doing steady business in the new "currency" issued by the Government for the procuring of motor spirit. Tof both the motorists and the garage proprietors the coupons are as precious as bank notes. At the garages the coupons are collected in bundles of and are then sent to the Government. Should any be lost, the tally on the amount of petrol sold is disorganised. UREWERA DEER Successful operations against deer and pigs in the Urewera country are reported by the Department of Internal Affairs in their annual statement. A permanent highly-trained field officer and an assistant were established in the area with such satisfactory results that it is proposed to extend this principle to the Tarnrua Ranges and the Fiordland National Park next season. In the Urewera two men operated during the winter, and five during the summer. "There is evidence that their operations been.successful and already there are signs of an improve ment in the state of the forest sur-i rounding the lake,"* comments the report. In the Lake Waikaremoan.i and Urewera area last year, 1528 deer and 80 pigs were killed.

ENLISTING WITH FRIENDS CerCaikl Auckland. clubs and other organisations . are liivith)g members to hand in they- names lor with the possibility pf their being posted to units en blHc and serving together; PATRIOTISM From the Te Aroha News of August 10, 1914: Anything German is getting a very bad run in Te Aroha at present. Last week Messrs Hedge and Smith stopped the manufacture of German, sausage but a better article was substituted, manufactured to the same shape and highly coloured* called "British Sausage." It is certainly pleasing to see such evidences of loyalty in Te Aroha. HOW HATES ARE PAID As novel reason for delaying paying his rates was given by a man to an Auckland borough council. Writing to the town clerk, he said that his pigs were backward, but that as soon as they were developed he would be able to sell them and forward tho nioney'owed. A woman had to auction her cow in order to raise the sum she owed for rates. AWAKERI DANCE In, view of the casing of the benzine restrictions and the excellent cause to which the proceeds will be devoted, it is anticipated that the dance to be held in the Awakeri Hall on Thursday next will prove an unqualified success. All arrangements for a most enjoyable evening have been carefully attended to by an ener -gctic committee and dance lovers should thoroughly appreciate the evening after the recent enforced spell. The dance is in aid of the Crippled Children's ( Fund.