Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 284, 17 March 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Stretcher for Home G(.iard. The Medical Corps of the katane Home Guard has received the loan of another stretcher from the Paper Mills. The Medical unit is making good progress as a result of its weekly classes of instruction. Garden Parties. Garden parties are a popular method of raising money and with »ne held on Thursday the local Plunket Society funds benefitted considerably. Two others are scheduled for this month, one to be held next Wednesday at Mrs Farley's residence, Thornton, to aid the fund of the Church of England and the Patriotic funds, and another on March 29, organised by the Rangitaiki sub-branch of the Plunket Society.

Young Farmers. A reminder is given that the annual meeting oi' the Edgecumbe Young Farmers' Club is to be held oil April 7 and all those interested are invited to attend. Off His Compass. Hori had been "pinched." He knew he was in for a fine, but did not want it to be too heavy. Therefore he felt he should consult a lawyer and, ambling down Whakatane's business area, espied a notice drawing attention to the fact that there Avas inside a man who would mind other peoples business for a small consideration. Diving his hand to his hip he entered the building which housed a number of offices and, as he thought, went through the door to a lawyer's room. He threw some money on the table before a man there seated and said : "I been pinched. You get me off light, eli." The man at whom the cash had been aimed looked very startled and was about to become very indignant. You see he was a local J.P. next door to the lawyer —Hori had taken the wrong entrance and narrowly cscaped a charge of bribery.

St. Patrick's Day. , To-day is St. Patrick's Day and is being observed as a holiday by the bunks and lev/ offices. Mounteds on Leave. A number of men in the unifoiin of the Auckland East Coast Mounted Rifles were in Whakatane during the week-end being on leave from Waiouru cainp. St. John Ambulance Association. Good work continues to be accomplished by members of the local St. John's Ambulance Association and to-morrow evening First Aid Classes re-open. Farmers Returns. Not all farmers have made their annual agricultural and pastoral returns as yet and as the time jv getting short the local Police wish to remind them of their duty in this respect. Train Timetable. Particulars of train arrangements and issue of cheap excursion tickets in connection with the Bay of Plenty Race Meeting at Tauranga on 22nd and 24tli March, are advertised in this issue. Work at Cemetery. The fact thai the cemetery has been tidied by the Borough staff is one which has pleased a number of residents, those who pass to and fro to business stating that the improvement is very marked. Visits to Whale Island. The Harbour Board's lounch "Port of Whakatane" has been busy during the summer months and lately with conditions so favourable has, been engaged regularly at the weekends and on other days taking fishing parties. lo the Islands, both Whale and the Raurimus. Boy Falls in Water. A narrow escape from drowning was experienced by a young boy, son of Mir Charlie Grace, on Supday at the Opotiki wharf. Mr Grace was standing on the wharf when he noticed that the boy had fallen into the water and disappeared below the surface. The father immediately sprang into the water and succeeded in dragging the boy to safety. Another Fine Week-end. Conditions for the week-end did not look promising on Friday when rain fell and although outdoor enthusiasts have been very fortunate during the past two months, every week-end being fine, disappointment was being exorcsscd. However, Saturday brought blight weather again and Sunday was also excellent for swimming and other summer pastimes. The beaches were popular while many fishermen were taking advantage of Ihe favourable conditions. Awaiting the Draw. Waiting for the numbers to go up after a close finish has nothing on the anxiety of awaiting the allocation of State houses just com-*' pletcd it appears, as the most popular question in Whakatane during last week seems to have been "Who has the State houses." To-morrow the question will be answered, the interested ones hope, as the Inspector from Tauranga is expected to again visit Whakatane and nominate the lucky applicants. After the allocation of this batch of homes there will still be many still without suitable accommodation, many of whom have been in that position for a long time.

Whnkataneites on Tour. Messrs E. J. Bell, James Bell, A. .T. Mclsaac and A. J. Canning, of Whakatane, who are on a holiday tour in Taranaki, arrived in Eltham last week and, being enthusiastic bowlers, are engaged in their favourite pastime with a four from the Eltham Bowling Club. They will stay the night in Eltham and play bowls at Stratford to-morrow. All four visitors have previous acquaintance with Taranaki, Messrs Bell at one time being engaged in farming near Eltham, Mr Canning in storekeeping at Kaponga and Mr Mclsaac in the hotel business at New Plymouth. They were also members of the Bay of Plenty touring bowling team which played a* series of games in Taranaki two years ago, says the Eltham Argus, of Marcih 14.