Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 105, 3 January 1940, Page 4

Local and General

New Military Badge. The new badge lor the New Zealand troops, the letters N.Z. surmounted upon a fern leaf, have been seen in Rotorua. The majority of the troops will not be issued with the new badge until their arrival back at mobilisation camps. All men will wear it before embarkation. Riding System Abolished. "The rate of one riding was as high as 8d in the £ for unimproved value; another was as low as 3-16 d, yet we -managed to do aw r ay with the riding system and now all are satisfied," said the clerk, Mr E. A. Mahoney, at a recent meeting - of the Hauraki Plains County Council. "I don't think you could find, a case of greater 'disparity anywhere, in New Zealand." he added. •

Short Pohutukawa Season. Glorious while it lasted, the Pohu tukawa bloom in and about. Whakatane has now almost completely disappeared. The blaze of vivid red which greeted the visitor motoring down to Ohope, has now faded to little more than a faint blush hero and there, and bronzed patches of dead blossom which are faintly discernable against the green. Maketu Centennial Memorial. Yesterday was a red-letter day in the history of Maketu. when the Arawa Memorial, to celebrate the Centenary of New Zealand was unveiled. Over 1000 visitors attended this auspicious occasion, and the committee in charge of the arrangements left nothing undone to make the day one to be remembered. Special provision was made for old identities who have been associated with Maketu in the past. Ministers of the Grown and other prominent officials were present.

Traffic to the Beach. The traffic to Ohope Beach, increased if anything, during the Nc>v Year week-end, and residents are of the general opinion that the number of vehicles using the coast rood from Saturday last till Tuesday evening must constitute something in the natuire of a .record; Caledonians Visit Te Aro'ia. The Chief of the Whakatane Caledonian Society, together with Hie secretary Mrs F. E. Berry, Mrs Craig and Mr W. Craig, visited Te Aroha last Monday where they were the guests of the local society at their Annual Caledonian Sports meeting. Dust Nuisance Again. Motorists in the Whakatane county have a double danger on the roads at this time of the year. While many of the visiting motorists are only holiday drivers, there is also the blinding clouds of dust from the unsealed roads to contend with. Ohope's Two Bonfires. The temptation of a ready-made bonfire, nicely stacked up on Ohope Beach, ready for the usual New Year's Day celebrations, was too much for the carefree holiday makers at our popular beach resort. The promoters on Monday morning, found to their surprise that the bon fire had dwindled to ashes overnight. However they were not dismayed and a willing band of helpers soon had another rebuilt for the evening's celebrations. Rolorua Fishing. Not many visiting anglers »are fish ing the trout waters of the Rotoru.i district at the present time, even though sport has been very fair. Largest fish taken recently was at Awahou early this week, when 'a trout weighing 9*2 poulnds, was landed, while good catches have been made at Waikite and Hamurana, except when the weather was rough at the latter spot. Mr A. M. Samuels, noted Auckland angler, secured a limit bag at Hamurana during the week, though none of the fish was of an outstanding size. The Waikato River has been fishing well at Fulljames' and Pye's, and the Waitahanui stream has been returning some good catches. A pleasing feature of the fishing recently, has been the large number of fish of six to ten inches in length taken at Rotoiti, and returned to the lake, a condition which augers well for the future fishing of the district. Flax Industry. Fiftv years ago the flax milling industry in this part of the Bay of Plenty had obtained a firm hold and frequent references were made with regard to the progress of the industry in a Bay newspaper of that time. One report gives notice of a shipment of flax by Mr Galbraith to Auckland from the Te Puke mill and recalls the high standard and quality of the flax produced. The load consisted of 27 cwt and it was surmised that .the consignment would rank high in the market. Matata was • also a centre of the industry and mention was given in the report of the work being done at the mill of Mr Savage where the material turned out had been declared by experts to be of the finest quality.