Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 256, 10 January 1941, Page 4

Local and General

New Railway Timetable. Attention is drawn to the new Railway Timetable which is printed in to-day's issue giving details of trains direct to Whakatane and also in connection with the recently constituted auxiliary services by road. Need for Church Co-operation. The opinion that there is need for the churches to draw closer togothei and to co-operate in doing their work more efficiently in this country, is expressed by the "Outlook" the organ of the Presbyterian Church, in an article discussing the proposals for union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches, "The churches ought to i get together," it sajTi, "because it j is part ol the Christian 1 aitlx that God's family is one family. Not only would it set a good example in war-time, but it would be a benefit to all the churches from the point of view of efficicncy and economy. Now, having been publicly asked to converse and negotiate about union, We haVe to return an, answer.

Where are the Tohiroas. Visitors from far and near, at Ohope declare that there are few or no toheroas on Ohope this year. Local residents smile broadly and remind them that the shellfish are there alright but that there is merely a knack in finding them. Serious Fertiliser Position. A serious shortage of fertilisers "n the Dominion, which Avill be aggravated by the recent enemy attack on Nauru, is predicted by sources closely in touch with the industry in Auckland. Immediate action bjf the responsible authorities, particularly the Government, is urged to ensure a continuity of adequate supplies. No More Conscripts. No more conscripts are to enter the Papakura military camp. From now on they are "balloteers." The word is the invention of the jTounger officers of the Infantry Training Battalion at Papakura, who, quite rightly deciding that the word "conscript"—or, worse still, "consliie"— had an unpleasant ring about it, cast about them for an alternative title. "Balloteers"—quite dashing!

Over 3,000,000 Fares. Petrol restrictions and fine Avcatlier have been responsible for a large increase in the takings on the Auckland tramway system for the 18 days ending yesterday. In that period 3,382,746 lares were paid, the takings amounting to £37,774, as against £33,005 taken in the same period of the previous year, an increase of £4769, A Fluke Return. A car driven by a Maori and we'll loaded with dusky passengers was passing the "Rock last Wednesday when one by one the bolts which held the wheel shot off to the road till finally the wheel itself sprang free. The car lurched and came to: a stop but the wheel after describing a wide circle round the roadway' came to rest an exactly the hub fr from which it had been wrenched. Fisherman's Luck. Browsing in the sun they sat on the Whalf tane wharf holding on to their lines and talking earnestly of the time when it was no uncommon thing to haul up the kingfish by the dozen from the self same spot some twenty, years ago. One worthy had just let go his line to light his pipe when there came a tug which all but unseated him. He hauled in {so rapidly that he dropped pipe and matches into the water. But an old boot Avas all that rewarded his efforts and the perpetrators of the deed, a couple of boys made quickly their escape from beneath the tim-> bers into which they had climbed.