Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 270, 12 February 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Home Guard Expenses. According to a report in the Opotiki News the Opotiki County Council decided under protest to pay Us * quota of the expense, incurred establishing Home Guard headquarter? at Rotorua, councillors being of the opinion that the outlay for the office was too great and that in any vent was the liability of the Government. Film on Sunday. The National Patriotic Fund Board intends screening throughout the Dominion on Sunday evenings the film "One Hundred Crowded Years"—the progress of New Zealand. All proceeds are to go to patriotic funds and the local Borough Council has agreed to allow the screening at Whakatane provided the entertainment does not commence before 5.30 p.m. Misuse of Playgrounds. Adults have been using and damaging the children playing facilities at the Heads, and although the Borough Council has no real objection to "youthful adults" so working off their high spirits they point out that most of tho damage is done by larrikins and that in any event the facilities are built only to stand the weight of children. A notice is to be erected drawing attention to the fact that only children are permitted to use the swings etc. If Hitler Won. The opinion that some New Zealanders did not seem to understand the position created by the war was expressed by a resident of Scotland in a letter received recently by a Fordell farmer. "Thank you for the New Zealand newspapers you kindly i sent. I have read them all with much interest," the letter stated. 1 "A lot of your people do not seem : to understand the peril the Empire J 1 is exposed to, for if they did there 1 would be no such thing as a 4ft-hour week. If Hitler gets his hands on New Zealand it will be 80 hours a week and no pay at all, with a mis- c erable food ration and loss of lib- ] erly and freedom of speech."

Unusual? "There is no request this time— only thanks," was the remark of His Worship the Mayor at Monday's meeting when reading a letter from the Chamber cf Commerce extending appreciation of the council's assistance with the New Year Carnival. Methodist Garden Party. The annual Methodist Garden Party will be held to-morrow on the beautiful grounds l of the Misses Ramson in, King Street. Various competitions will be held, afternoon tea served,, and all are; assured of an enjoyable afternoon in pleasant surroundings. Swimming Across the Narrows. Some time ago when land was being reclaimed near the Heads a notice board, which had been erected by the Harbour Board forbidding swimming across the narrows, was removed, and has not been re-erect-ed. Mr J. W. Sumner, chairman of the Board, on Friday remarked that he had learned that swimmers were crossing the dangerous passage and, although strong people might accomplish the crossing, it was dangerous and it was decided that the notice be replaced.

Cost of Home Guard,

"I say definitely that this is a Government affair and should be a charge on the war account," stated Captain J. Mitchell, of Mount Maunganui, at .a conference to discuss the Emergency Precautions Scheme recently, when the cost of administering the Home Guard was me'nf tioned. Captain Mitchell's remark was greeted with cries of "hear hear!" Mr G. Spratt was in favour !«f the meeting entering a protest and asking the government to take over this responsibility, but it was pointed out by the chairman (Mr H. O. Cooney) that the question had nothing to do with this conference which had been called to discuss the Emergency Precautions Scheme.

Building in Whakatane. Building permits issued in the Borough during January were four three new residences and additions to one, the sum involved being £3452. Borough Finance. Accounts totalling £2554 Is lOd Avere passed for payment by the Borough Council this month. The balances at January 31 were —General account i.er) £.3433 8s 2d; electricity department (dr) £1125 9s 2d. Hawk and Rabbit. Fiying with difficulty across the load near Taneatua, a hawk dropped its burden at the approach of an oncoming car. Upon examination this proved to be a deiad rabbit, but whether it had been killed by the bird, or run over by a car is another matter. Five Pound Puff-Ball.

You must have seen those small puff balls growing in the paddock aftejr rain. On the average they cannot be more than an inch or two across. The editor of the BEACON was astounded yesterday by a special edition of the species, which was produced by a settler from Onepu and weighed no less than olbs. Injury to Hand. A local native, Harry Melbourne, is an inmate of the local hospital as the result of an accident with his motor car. He was making adjustments to the engine when he caught his ring finger in the fan which was revolving and practically severed the diget at the first joint. Tt was found necessary to removei the first joint from the finger. Daddy's Wife. It happened not a hundred miles from AVhakatane and concerned a little girl whose mother had been on a visit to friends in Australia. The absence of a few months rather effected the child's memory and in answer to her mother's pained - surprise at the non-recognition, the little tot with dawning enlightenment convulsed the adults by exclaiming "Now I know you—you're Daddy's wife." Whakatane Publicity. Correspondence was received at Monday's Borough Cbuncil meeting that the Automobile Association was continuing to prepare an advertising pamphlet relating to Whakatane and the town clerk, Mr D. V. Saunders, had been asked to supply information. His Worship the Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) remarked "If you wish to know what a wonderful district you live in you should read the article Mr Sanders has prepared. He should have been a publicity agent.' ? "Or a land agent," rejoined a councillor.