Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 145, 10 April 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Thornton Settlement. Steady progress in the drainage activities in the Thornton area lu\s resulted in further swampland being reclaimed. The new areas will provide admirable farmlands following a few years consolidation. The Lake Road. With the completion of a further six miles of sealing on the Whaka-tane-Rotorua highway, motorists are now favoured with one of the finest scenic drives in the Dominion. The new stretch is an indication of what the highway will be when the complete scheme is finalised. Onepu Hot Springs. Visitors to the Onepu Hot Springs recently claim that -these littleknown thermal waters arc equal, to ; if not better than many of the move favoured Rotorua pools. The water is softer, they maintain, and the after effects more restful. It is a pity, in their estimation, that the Onepu waters are not better known.

Manawahe Farm Lands. The hill country at the back of Matata, embracing the rambling Manawahe district is fast being brought under cultivation and smiling farmlands have replaced the standing bush fox* which this country was once famous. A well known settler recently stated that for sheep and beef cattle grazing Manawahe, in a lew years time, would be hard to beat anywhere. Waterfront Control. The Harbour Board received a tccter from the secretary of the Harbours' Association submitting a copy o" the Waterfront Control Emergency Regulations for the Board's information. The regulations were issued in pursuance of the powers given to the Government under the Emergency Regulations Act, 1939, and authorise the Minster of Labour to appoint a Controller at any port in New Zealand with power to do all things that he deems necessary for the purpose of ensuring the utmost expedition in thief loadinrf. unloading and storage of cargoes.

The Things That Matter. Pointing out that within a small radius he had a cemetery and a church, and adding that ha lived with a doctor,, the Rev. John Pattison, at the welcome tendered to him the congregation after the service last Sunday evening, introduced a light note into his speech of appreciation. Matata Bird Sanctuary. With the approach of the shoot-, ing season game birds are already taking advantage of the protected waters of the Matata Sanctuary, By some uncanny intuition the swan, mallard, and grey duck, have found their way, ns usual, to a haven where they need not fear dog nor man. Special Meeting. A special meeting of the combined football club now known as Whakatane Star will be held in the Borough Chambers at 7.30 this evening and members are urged to attend. Members of the Old Boys Club particularly are requested to be present. The business to be conducted is the drawing-up of a constitution, and rules of membership. Patriotic Affairs. Attention Is called to the advertisement advising that Mr L. W. Goldstine, Deputy Chairman of the Auckland Provincial: Patriotic Council, Avill address a public meeting in the. County Chambers at 8 p.m. on Friday. Mr Goldstine will indicate how Whakatane County ■-<■ deavours on behalf of all patriotic funds can best be co-ordinated. All residents are invited to attend. The Hunt Was On. Some shoppers in the Strand on Monday were somewhat alarmed to see a woman dashing out of a shop The trouble was that a field mouse was .at large. The knights in shining armour were not far distant., however, in the shape of two lads on bicycles. They dropped their machines and instituted a hunt for the dangerous animal, playing hide and seek around various placards, j The mouse escaped.

Fortune Smiles. Six of the first ten prizes in an Australian consultation were won by people resident in New Zealand, ! according to advice received. Tliey included the first three, of £12,000, £2000 and £1250 respectively, the fifth of £/30, and the eighth and ninth, each of £250. With the exception of tlie first prize, which was won by a Nelson and the third prize, which was won by a Palmers ton North syndicate; the remainder went to eithen Auckland city or Grey Lynn. The Experts Err. Even experts make mistakes at times. When the judges appointed to sift the merits of the entries in the recent Centennial literary competition drew up their report, they inserted a paragraph which drew attention to the relatively large number of gramatical errors and misuse of words in the short stories submitted. Subsequently in this paragraph was discovered a gross gramatical error, find its discovery caused hearty laughter among the judges themselves. Needless to say, the mistake was rectified before the report was published. The Super Man. A good story is going the rounds of Rotorua concerning a local recruit who was particularly proud oi his physical fitness. After examination by the medical board, he was being asked by friends how he stood up to the ordeal. His eyesight had been found to be above normal# he stated, his hearing was excellent, his teeth good, his general physique better than the average, In fact, according to his own account, he was the perfect specimen of manhood sought b}' the army. Finally he was asked how his blood pressure was. "That's above normal,, too," was his prouu and innocent response.