Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 233, 4 November 1940, Page 4

Local and General

Well Stamped. An Opotiki resident who received a large parcel was surprised to find that it was well covered with stamps of small denominations. An idea of the task given a postal official to canecl the stamps can be given when it is stated that it took no less than 36 stampings to deal with the mass of stamps. Some of the cancelling "stamps" dealt with four stamps at the time. Pohutukawas Bloom. Visitors to the Otarawairere Bay announce that the early Pohutukawa trees, which have aroused much comment in the past are again in bloom. One tree in particular stands out from the rest as a glowing mass of colour. Chinese Sworn In. The unusual sight of a witness beings worn in with a lighted match in his hand, Avas seen in the Supreme Court, Hamilton. The man was a Chinese, who could not under stand English or the English oath oif the Bible. With an interpreter at his side, and with a lighted match in his hand, the witness took the following, oath in his native tongue: "I',f I do not tell the truth, may my body die out as this match." Witness then blew out the flame and gave his evidence. Edgecumbe Garden Party. A cordial invitation is extended to the residents of Whakatane to attend the Garden Party on Wednesday, November 6th at the home of Mrs W. A. McCracken, Edgecumbe. A bus will be available if sufficient patronage offers. Enquiries may be made at the Beacon Office. Bachelors" Tax. Tax the Bachelors League, Inc.. at Sacramento (California) has set out to penalise financially those men who have escaped a marital state for at least 36 years of their lives. Beneiiciaries of the penalising process would be those women who also have failed to marry in the same length of time. Orabanchi Minor. This is not an attempt to spell something choice from ancient Ireland, it is the name of an all too common garden parasite which is making its appearance in numerous gardens in and about the town. It can be recognised by its purple brown colour, its thick fleshy stem and branching stamens at the top. It has no leaves, and virtually no roots, for it a parasite pure and simple, attaching itself to the tap root of flowers and vegetables and drawing its sustenance from them, lit has: a knob-like bulb at the end of its stem in which it stores its substance. It should be eradicated at once.

First Lady Herd Tester. The first lady herd, tester to be employed by the East Coast Asso- ; ciation was duly appointed last Saturday. The work in many districts is considered too strenuous for women, but where there is good road access and the 'distances are not too great it is felt by officials that there should be no reason why women should not be employed. ' Auxiliary Red Cross Classes. An advertisement in to-day's paper direct attention to the classes which are commencing to-morrow evening under the auspices of t"uo Women's Auxiliary Red Gross and St. John's Association. Those women who desire to undertake a course of Motor Mechanics should • attend tomorrow evening at the Borough Council Chambers for the first lesson Maori Volunteer's Reserve. "This is the first time I have beem at a meeting where all members were pakelias," said Pte Rangi when returning his thanks at the farewell tendered in the Borough Chambers last Friday. "Nevertheless I want to tell you that I appreciate what you have done and thank you very much." /