Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 October 1939, Page 4

Local and General

Ruatoki Bridge. The new £7,000 Ruatoki bridge over the Whakatane river is now completed, but though there Was talk of opening it on Labour Day, the ceremony will not now be carried out until February. Painful Accident. A singular and painfull accident befell Mr Ronald Oliver of Tauranga on Tuesday. He was engaged at a garage hammering a piece of metal on an anvil, when a large chip flew off the face of the hammer and embedded itself deeply in his neck, grazing the jugular vein. After receiving attention he was taken I to the hospital and the metal was removed. Mr Oliver was able to return home in the evening. Poor N.Z. Letterheads. "New Zealand letterheads, as a whole, are a disgrace," said Mr G. M. I-lill, connected with the paper trade in Auckland, when addressing the Rotorua Cft amber of Commerce on Wednesday. Good letterheads and stationery were amongst the 1 best advertisement that a firm had, and good paper and printing need cost no more than an inferior .job, he said, in making an appeal for an improvement in this line of business.

Pijj Sale,

Pigs numbering 450 will be offered at the Edgecumbe pig sale on Wednesday. Five thousand feet of mixed timber will also be sold.

Little Rain in Whakatane

[ Though inland heavy rain was reported from several quarters Wha' katane itself escaped and yesterday on the main could be described as a day of sunshine. At Opotiki several heavy showers fell in the afternoon, while beyond the Rangitaiki Plains the dark cloud formation over the Rotorua hills indicated wet weather inland.

Hopu Hopu Camp Activities. Allegations that soldiers in the Hopu Hopu camp were going short of trousers in Avet weather, and con sequent\y were compelled to walk about clad only in hats, tunics, shirts and ground sheets,, converted into capes, were described by the authorities when interviewed as "grossly exaggerated." They stated that the men had been issued with denims, and some had been supplied also with shorts and putties. Negotiations were proceeding to provide the soldiers with light summer uniforms to replace the heavy ' khaki at present in use. It was added that the men were quite comfortable and their health was good.

"701bs of fat banished in 14 weeks" Try Bonkora. Pleasant, quick, safe. P. G. Macklow, Whakatane

Handling Fruit. An example set by an Auckland fruit shop might well be followed by similar establishments. Last week every employee handling fruit or vegetables was provided with a pair of rubber gloves. Not a Thrill Now. Only a few weeks ago great crowds gathered to watch the Aotearoa arrive from Sydney on the last leg of her flight from England,, but at the week-end before last her arrival over Auckland caused no excitement whatever. Fertiliser Prices. Sharp increases in the prices of all imported fertilisers are expected to result from the new freight rates and other conditions ruling as the result of the war. The largest increase is likely to be in basic slag, which is likely to be nearly 51 per cent dearer than last season, while the rise in African phosphates is likely to be about 35 per cent. Higher prices for fertilisers will mean

an increase in farmers' production costs, and will create an additional problem for them in their effort to maintain and increase production.

The Athenia.

The Athenia sinking is still a favourite topic of the German shortwave stations, and the ahnounc ers still claim that the sinking was the work of Mr Churchill. They do not still claim that she wa* torpedoed, but they say that she was shelled and sunk by three British destroyers and they add that the British admit this, but justify it on the pretext that the Athenia was then a danger to navigation. Needless to say no one has ever heard any such British admission, nor is one likely to hear the British government lying to save Germany from the shame which rightfully attaches to thai country. Competition Cricket Paroa's outright win against Wha katane on Saturday Avas a surprise after Whakatane's excellent showing the previous week, while Central's comfortable win against Hillcrest was also unexpected. In the former game low totals were registered in both team's first innings and Whakatane declared in the seciviHi tho hnnp r»f a nnssihlp nilt-

katane on Saturday Avas a surprise after Whakatane's excellent showing the previous week, while Central's comfortable win against Hillcrest was also unexpected. In the former game low totals were regis-

katane on Saturday was a surprise after Whakatane's excellent showing the previous week, while Central's comfortable win against Hillcrest was also unexpected. In the former game low totals were registered in both team's first innings and Whakatane declared in the second with the hope of a possible outright win, leaving Paroa 75 runs to get in three-quarters of an hour— which they did, unfortunately for their opponents. Central scored 153 runs against Hillcrest's 71. This game was played at the former team's ground. Full details will appear in next issue. New Zealand Oil Production. The Dominion's total production | of crude petroleum oil to December 31, 1938, was estimated at 2,883,650 I gallons, according to the latest Mines Statement, presented to the House of Representatives by the Minister of Mines, the Hon P. C, Webb. Following the passing of the Petroleum Act, 1937, considerable interest in the Dominion's oil potentialities was shown by some of the major oil com panics, the Minister added. Practically all the potential oil-bearing land in New Zealand was applied for. In all, 52 licenses, covering an aggregate area of P236 square, miles, had been granted, and applications for further areas were still coming to hand. With the granting of the licenses, the search for oil began on a scale unprecedented in the history of the Dominion.