Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 132, 6 March 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Motu in Port. The Motu arrived on Sunday, bringing 150 tons of cargo. This comprised mainly building material for the new wharf. Sailing yesterdajr afternoon, the Motu carried 201H boxes of butter, 151 crates of chcese and 150 benzine drums. False Alarm. Whakatane was disturbed yesterday afternoon by the unusual sound of the lire siren and many were the necks that craned for a sight of the flames. The operating of the automatic alarm system was caused by linesmen working on the King Street section inadvertently making a short circuit in the wire.

New Wharf. Men are at present employed in the preliminary work in connection with the wharf renewal. On the Northern Steamship Company's section are piles of timber and steel rods and the latter are being measured and cut for use as reinforcing in the concrete. Breast-stroke Plus. At the Whakatane school's swimming championships on Monday several races, styled 'breast-stroke/ proved to be 'all-in' contests. Any old thing seemed to be allowed and one or two contestants covered the 25 yards in live or six stages, using legitimate breast-stroke, side-stroke back-stroke, over-arm, crawl, flounder and even the despised 'dog-pad-dle.'

Large Cortege. The popularity enjoyed by the 'late Mr John Reardon was strikingly demonstrated on Monday, when the funeral took place. Apart from the many residents of Whakatane who attended a lax-ge number of people from the surrounding districts paid their rejects. Over one hundred cars formed one of Lhc longest corteges seen in Whakatane for some time, Te Tcko Weather. The difference between areas as regards rainfall is demonstrated by the fact that the total registered on the gauge of Mr McLean, at Te Teko, for the months of January and February, was 15.96. Last February, one of the driest on record, saw only .29 inches recorded. Thte heaviest fail, this year was registered on February 24th, when 3.41 inches fell. The figures for the years 1936-1940 are given for comparison. February rainfall, 1936, 11.37; 1937; .64; 1938, 15.03; 1939, .29; 1940, 5.66. Early Easter, Easter, with its accompanying holidays, will fall this year almost as early as it is possible for it to do within the range of 35 days allotted. Sunday, March 24, is Easter Day. The only occasion in this century when the day fell earlier was in 1913, when it was on March 23. The earliest possible date for it is March 22, but this is of % extremely rare occurrence. The latest date on which it can fall is April 25, and this will be experienced in three years' time. The irregularity of the date is shown by the fact that Lasjt year it was on April 9, and next year it will be on April 13.