Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 288, 28 March 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Labour Party President. At the annual meeting of the Bay of Plenty Labour Representation Committee held at Te Karaka on Saturday, Mr T. G. Johnson, Opotiki, was elected president of the Bay of Plenty Committee. Not Fireproof. "There is nc- such as firc-proof reinforced concrete," remarked Mr J. Creeke when addressing businessmen on fire control on Mtonday evening. "The steel in the concrete still swells and then the wall drops. It is the action of fire and water," Vie said adding that such buildings were dangerous to firemen. Additional Carving. Motorists from Rotorua note with pleasure an additional carving on the roadside on the drop from Rotoma. This new work of art is in a cutting of some 30 feet and depicts a well executed swan in a swimming position. Added to the lion and the elephant, two well known carvings on the Rotoma road itself the route will soon become very well known for these novelties.

Tribute to Young Men. Before the Chamber of Commerce meeting closed on Monday, the president, Mr W. Sullivan, paid tribute to the young men who had shown their interest in the affairs of the town by attending. He hoped they would remain enthusiastic. Hot Water ? Plenty Of It. Said Mr W. Sullivan, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce : "We should be able to strike hot water at Whakatane by boring . . "You can strike it here alright—just-join a public body," interjected the Mayor. "Or join the Ohope Progress League," said another member with a glance at the president of that body who was nearby. Burns in -Water. Stating that careless use of ben-. 7-ine in homes and lack of care with electric irons were causes of many fires, Mr J. Creeke, when speaking on fire control to businessmen this week, added that celluloid was very dangerous and could not be extinguished. He told the meeting that a reel of film could be immersed in water and would still burn and when lifted out would again burst into flame.

8.0. ? It does not mean what you are thinking. It is the new term which means "black-out" which camc into use at the Chamber of Commerce meeting this week when the chair, man said : "We will consider th< 1 B.O'. next meeting." Fall from Horse. On Monday of this week a Maori boy aged about nine years was admitted to the local hospital with a fracture of the upper , arm. He had been riding a horse and. when falling off his arm had been trodden on by the animal. Hear ! Hear ! A speaker at a lecent meeting stated that present day houses did not havj sufficient taps indoors. On making the remark only one oi the large meeting loudly voiced approval with a hearty "Hear, hear P —He was a local plumber. Enthusiasm Nil. When referring to his particulai residential area a speaker at a re., cent meeting said • "I can't infuse any life into the residents on any subject," which seems to prove that the saying is true that some people sit and think and others just sit. Demand for Blinds. One effect of the publication of the lighting regulations in Dunedin was that business houses which sell blinds or blind material were besieged with orders as soon as they opened their doors on the next day. In fact, one firm which specialises in blinds of all types had a queue outside its door by 8 o'clock. Special Rail Excursion. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of special return excursion train from Taneatua to Tauranga, on Sunday, March 30, in connection with a special parade of Home Guardsmen at Tauranga, A special train also runs from Waihi to Tauranga and back. Cheap day excursion fares have been arranged. Search for Hot Water. Mr W. Sullivan has been interest ing himself in a search for hot springs in Whakatane. He feels that, with such springs at points practically circling the town, it is reasonable to expect that a bore would find a source locally, and he considered that to mako such a discover? would be a great benefit to the. town. He recently interviewed :v water diviner who had offered to make a search if he is provided with assistants and accommodation. There would be no charge if water was no! found, but the diviner considered that if he discovered the source a fee of £25 wouid be acceptable.

Government Library Service. A speaker at the Chamber o! Commerce on Monday suggested thai the possibility of obtaining assistance from the Government Library Service be considered >by the Whakatane Committee. The secretary oj that committee happened to be pre sent, and he stated that the scheme had been investigated, and had revealed itself as beyond the means of the local library. He added, before resuming his seat, that the libcommittee Avas in need of suggestions and of recognition by tlio community and expressed the hone that there AA r ould be a large attendance at the annual meeting of subscribers. An Understanding Wanted. Amusement w,as caused by Mr J. Creeke Avhen he related a story to the Chamber of Commerce on Monday. He explained that some local bodies neglected their fire fighting service. This had been so Avhen he was in Wellington when one of the suburbs out of his area found its service could not cope Avith an outbreak. Mr Creeke Avas called in Avith his city brigade. On arrival at the scene he saAV a member of the local body and put the proposition to him that the Avork he Avould do Avould cost "not under £10 and not over £15." Agreement was forthcoming and the fire fighting was then proceeded Avith.