Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 131, 4 March 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Low-hanging ' Mists. The blanket of mist which lay over the plains yesterday had the effect of screening the hilUops from view «nd giving the impression that the flats wore surrounded by mountains. Hillcrest Road. A great improvement is apparent on the hill road, where Borough employees hove been engaged for some time on cutting back the cliff. When completed better vision should be afforded motorists and added safety will ensue. Clarke Cup Cricket. Only one gt;me was played on owing to the inability of either P. and T. or Whakatane to muster more than three or four players. Paroa defeated Hillcrest on the first innings by 8 wickets. Details will appear next issue. Garden Party. The Presbyterian Ladies' Guild held a garden party in the church grounds on Saturday afternoon. Though the sky was overcast and conditions were far from ideal, the attendance was good and an enjoyable party resulted. Shipping Movements The Northern Company's Clan c -> man arrived on Thursday morning with 220 tons of benzine and general merchandise. loading f.a Friday she cleared port at noon on Saturday with. full holds of dairy produce and sundries and a deck cargo of benzine drums. Parking Direction. Cars which previously were parked in George Street on an angle, as in the Strand, are now to park in line with the kerb. White lines have been painted on the road-way to indicate this. The alteration should make for a better passage down the centre of t.lie road and should enable cars to pass with safety. All Maoris Combining.

It is pleasing to' record that all Maoris taking part in the forthcoming Centennial arc co-operating to the utmost in order to make it a spectacle worthy of the Centennial occasion. Hakas, poi dances, w aiatas are being rehearsed under the careful schooling of half a dozen leaders. More Fogs. Low-lying clouds have been responsible for several fogs over Hillcrest and Ohope Beach Roads during the recent dull weather. The effect at night for motorists using the road has been somewhat tvncanny, as the mist on the higher points made i' impossible to see more than a few feet with even the most powerful headlamps. Forming Main Highway. Gooci work in the lormalion of the roadway preparatory to tarsealing the main route between V* hakatane and i>lgerumbi\ is proceeding. A couple of miles • 1 have already been completed on the Awakeri stretch, while the building up of the main level is almost finished on the link with Edgecumbe. Awakeri School Picnic.. Ohope Beach was the rendezvous for approximately b)0 residents of Awakeri last Friday, the occasion being the annual school picnic. A full programme of games, races and competitions made the day pass all too quickly and parents and children were unanimous in saving that in spite of the dull weather iiie picnic was oi.e of the I'csl on record. Rainfall. Mr Muscutt advises that rain fell on 11 days in February, the total fall registering as 4.65 in. The fjill for the corresponding period last year was .65in, February, 1925, saw the heaviest fall recorded for that month when 10.20 inches fell. Last year the gauge showed 3.62 for the months January and Febraary and this year 9.64 inches have so far been registered. Maori Humour. This story comes from a small but busy stoi-e not :.vi miles fiosm Wnakatane. 4 ulaori a lill'e brighter perhaps for a visit fo Ihe town was returning li.mic and dropped in to make* a f <«w purchases. "Gimme a yard of milic,'' lie de/nnuded. The attendant, the m >re lo humour him than anything e:s<\ dipped his f.nger in the milk and drew a thirtysix inch line, across the counter. The Maori stared for a mor.ient, then without a sialic said. '* Righto, then, I take Jiim if you winp him up."

Benzine Regulations. The oil fuel emergency regulations No- 3, which ma]ke provision for the replacement . petrol coupons, enable the ISoSfimiSsioner to recall coupons should occasion arise. By way of penalty for a false declaration the commissioner may prevent a person from obtaining coupons for the duration of the war.