Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 115, 26 January 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Public Meeting at Ohope. With the idea of combining forces in the common interest, of the progress of the bcach, a public meeting, of Ohope residents has been called for Wednesday evening next in the Captain's Cabin, by the Ratepayers' Association. A special invitation lias been extended to the members of the Progress League. Driftwood in the River. Some of the sandbanks in the river are still topped with branches and other driftwood left there on Mondaj r . After the heavy and consistent rain over the week-end the out-going tides drew down large quantities of sticks and some of these were caught on the sandbanks when the water level dropped.

Maori Battalion. Staff Sergeant-Major H. Lowe arrived at Taneatua on Wednesday evening to take charge of the No. 2 Area quota for the Maori Battalion. The total; for the area is one huiVdred and sixty-six, and includes 83 men from the Bay of Plenty district. Staff-Sergeant Major Lowe will accompany the men to the Maori Battalion camp at Palmerston North and will, return at the weekend . Business First. According to reports from several recruiting centres there have been frequent requests from men enlisting that they should not be called up until the third echelon, thus enabling them to place their businesses in order before going into camp. It is understood that wherever possible, arrangements are being made to permit this, w lie re the Defence Department is satisfied that the request is a genuine one. Road Closed. As advertised in last Wednesday's BEACON the Hillcrest Road is closed to motor traffic from 8.30 a.rrv. to 4.30 p.m. on the days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. It is anticipated that little inconvenience to business men will result as the old access road can be used and those accustomed to using the other to get to work in Whaka--tane have plenty of time in the hours allowed.

Turned Down. The representations of the local sub-committee to Princess Te Puea of Ngaruawahia for the loan of one of her Centennial Canoes, to enable the re-enaction of the landing of the Matatua Canoe on the occasion of the local celebrations, have met with negative result. The Maori Princess states in her reply to the secretary, that there would be too great a risk involved, and further that the object of their construction was not for loaning purposes. Seven Sons Enlist. Seven sons enrolled for service with the Maori battalion is the fine record of the Waenga family, of Opotiki. Two of the brothers enlisted for service at Gisborne and were passed as fit- Four more were examined in Opotiki last week, aii passing the medical test. The seventh brother, who is married, arrived in Opotiki too late to be examined, but lie is also expected to pass as [it. Should he be accepted for service the family will have the distinction of having seven sons in the main body of the Maori battalion. Nearly a Sensation. What appeared for all the world like an upturned boat with two persons clinging to it, caused quite a sensation at Ohope Beacli last Wednesday evening. Dozens of anxious campers watched the dark objects rising and falling on the waves, some half mile from the shore. A pair of field glasses were brought to play upon it, from one of the higher bungalows and under their magnifying influence, the shipwrecked mariners assumed the outline of a large log with short upturned limbs. Tribute to Government. Paying a tribute to the work of the Labour Government, Mr A, Harris, who was Reform M.P. for Waitemata for 24 years, and who was narrowly defeated by the present member, Captain W. J. Lyon M.P., in 1935, said that although he could hot agree with all the legislation brought down by this Government, he thought that they were making a good job in the circumstances.- Mr Harris, who is Deputy-President of the Auckland Savings Bank, left for Rotorua on Wednesday morning after staying at the Whakatane Hotel.

■-J& "Hallo, Fred!" The occupant of the 'plane which was doing a spot of cruising over the town on Wednesday was evidently acquainted not only with Whakatane but with one at least of the > inhabitants thereof. Cutting out his engine over one portion of the residential area, his voice was heard drifting down in a hail, "Hallo, Fred!" Fouling Power Lines. "To date this, year, in spite of recent warnings to farmers, three stackers have fouled power lines in this Board's area. Fortunately no injury to human beings or stock occurred."' This paragraph in the engineer's report caused some consternation at the Waitomo Power Board meeting on Monday, when the comment was made that it was most fortunate that no one had been hurt. The accidents were held to be due to gross and foolhardy foolishness. * Betting Increase. Heavy totalisator investments marked all three days c>f the Wellington Racing Club's \ Centennial summer meeting at TFFkfham, the turnover on the second and third days exceeding £100,000. The total for the meeting was £300.225 10s, made up of £87,515 10s on the first day. £102,803 10s on Saturday and £•109,906 10s on Monday. This total exceeds that for the three days last year by £fi7,7OS. Saturday's investments were a record for a single day at Trentham, but this figure was easily eclipsed on Monday. The Anniversary Day holiday in Wellington brought a very large attendance, the weather being fine.