Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 88, 15 November 1939, Page 4

Local and General

Shearing Commences. Judging by the truck loads of bales passing through town on their way to the wharf, shearing is under way with the prospect of another spell of fine weather. Dark Deeds. "If a man isn't home by twelve o'clock he doesn't want any light on the subject." This was a bright remark passed at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening during a discussion on the hour at which to switch off the street lights. Workmen's Shillings. Following the good example set in [several other localities, men working on the Waikanae Beach development scheme —a Centennial memorial of the Gisborne district —are each giving Is a week from their wages towards the cost. Stark Comparison. A Thames resident was looking back through some old grocery dockets on Tuesday night, states the Thames Star, and the prices paid for a quarter of potatoes in various years were: 1931, 1932 and 1933, 2s 3d; 1934„ 2s 6d; 1935,' 2s 9d; 1936, 3s; 1937, 3s fid; 1938, 3s lOd; 19&), ss, 6s 6d and 9s 6d.

The Aerodrome. The District Engineer for the Public Works Department, Mr R. H. P. Ronayne, advises the Borough Council that he has forwarded a report to his head office on the jsroposed aerodrome at Paroa. Her Weak End. A young typiste had been babbling inconsequently all afternoon much to the annoyance of the opposite sexpresent. Finally at 5 o'clock she said, "Oh dear, here's another week-end. 1 1 don't know what to do with it." ! "Put your hat on it," said a masculine voice. Scotland's Millions. Scotland's population is now in excess of 5,000.000. Some commentators think this remarkable, but it is a very small increase in a small figure. In 1913 the population was 4,728,000; in 1900 it was 4,483,000. If w r e go back to 1890 we find that it then exceeded 4.000,000, and it has taken nearly 50 years to add a million. Between 1919 and 1939 the increase has been only 200,000. The recent rise is a good sign, however, and we may now hope that new industries will afford Scotland's gifted population the opportunity it deserves. The housing problem is acute and will become more so if the new industries thrive. Some 250,000 new houses are needed, to 1 say nothing of rebuilding many old ones. ' '

This Control. A number of letters from various sorts of Controllers had been read at the Borough- Council meeting on Monday night when His Worship the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, had oc6ftsi6ri to "read another of the same V - type. "Here is a letter from the Controller —" ~commenced, and then broke o(T, to observe, . . . . "'Everything seems to be controlled" Emergency.

Tabled at the Borough Council meeting on Monday Avas a request from the District Electrical Engineer for a full list of officers and employees in the Borough's electricit3 r department. The District Engineer desires full information regarding ages and classifications and it was stated in the letter that this information is necessary so that men can be called on in time of emergency. Water Supply. Trenching, laying, jointing and back-filling of new water main in Francis Street is completed. Government houses in this street have been connected up and alterations made to connect all other houses to new r main. Temporary galvanised main has been lifted and used for connections. Four Government houses in Salonika . Street have been connected. Applications for supply to another five will be attended to as soon as material to extend existing main is received. A total of 14 new water services have been connectcd in the last five weeks. This was revealed in the foreman's report tabled at the Borough Council meeting on Monday.