Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 277, 28 February 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Appeal Board. The Armed Forc'es Appeal Board will sit at Whakatane on March- 4 and 6 when about 50 appeals are to be heard. A Welcome Rain. The change in the weather which was experienced during Wednesday night Avas welcomed by many as a number of the lawns about the borough were beginning to take on a rather parched appearance. Farmers Being "Bled White." Concern at the depletion of manpower was expressed by Mr J. Anderson at a meeting of the Waimakariri River Trust. He said the drain of men in industry was being felt more acutely each week, and, he understood,, the farms were "being bled white." He considered that with the drawing of the next ballot there would have to be a reshuffle of labour right through the country. Additions to Vocabulary. Close in the wake of the transocean air services has come a crop of additions to our vocabulary. The word "transtasman" is now accepted generally, being spelt as one word. "Transpacific" has been used in the United States, but so far does not appear to have been accepted in New Zealand. The latest term is the use of the word "clipper" as a verb. An Auckland firm recently received a letter which included the phrase. "Please clipper us a cheque."'

Shipping at the Port. The Clansman from Auckland is ot present loading at Whakatane while the Vesper sailed last evening with a full cargo. Cricket Draw. The only club niatch to be played during the week-end will be Taneatua v Central at Central as a combined Paroa and P. and T. team will play at Te Puke. Ministerial Visit. The Bay of Plenty Winter Show Association has received confirmation that the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, will be present at the official opening ceremony of the Winter Show which is scheduled to take place on June 4. Bluegums at Domain 1 . Recently a correspondent wrote asking as to whom was responsible for the plalnting of the bluegum trees at the Domain. On Wednesday a local resident, Mr Eivers, called at the BEACON and stateid that these trees were planted about 1872 by Whaltatane T s first schoolmaster, Mir R. O. Stewart. At the time the Government was, to encourage tree planting, offering to give an extra acre of land for everyone planted. Mr Stewart's action caused considerable amusement at the time as he planted a Domain without being aware of it and went unrewarded by the Government.

First Offender. Before Judge Harvey, J.P., a first offending inebriate appeared at the local Court on Wednesday and was convicted and discharged. Native Land Court. The quarterly sitting of the Native Land Court h: at present being held at Whakatane, Judge Harvey presiding. The court commenced on Tuesday and will probably conclude to-day. "When Tennis is Over!" "There are two women fsom Waitara. each with 10 children, who," said a speaker at a New Plymouth Red Cross meeting recently, when referring to V.A.D. work, "come to the hospital to do their training at night. Yet some young people who have been approached said they would think about it when the tennis season was over." Artificial Wool Import. "Artificial wool wearing apparel is allowed into New Zealand dutyfree," said Mr W. A. lorns, a former chairman of the Dairy Board, in commenting on farmers' problems at the present time. Mr lorns said he had been shown in Auckland very large stocks of apparel made from artificial wool and manufactured in Bradford. If only one fibre or more of pure wool was incorporated, 20 per cent duty would be imposed. Shark Landed. A nine foot shark was hooked and landed by men on the local fishing launch "Outlaw" on Wednesday. It is estimated that the fish weighs in the vicinity of 400 ibs and is believed to have been the one which has been raiding their nets lately. There is some doubt as 1 to the particular family the shark belongs, and a variety of names were given by the many who visited the wharf yesterday to see the Ashmen's rather unusual catch. Fanners' Returns. In their annual task of making their agricultural and pastoral returns, the farmers of the Whakatane district made a strong start, but, according to the police whose responsibility it is to collect the returns, many of them show signs of fading out. Those who have not yet supplied their returns —and there are a good many—are asked to dlo so without furthsr delay, as failure to Qomply with the requirements makes .the defaulter liable to a fairly stiff penalty. Versatile Weapon. Apart from its use as a weapon, the bayonet can be employed on any number of common army chores; it chops wood, opens bottles, toasts a piece of bread or grills a steak before a camp five. Nor does this versatile weapon wait for the day when swords shall be beaten into ploughshares to turn its attention to agriculture, for a Papanui householder, who is also a Territorial (says the Christchurch Star-Sun), was seen on a recent evening using his bayonet effectively to lever dandelions from the front lawn.