Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 303, 9 May 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Maize Crops. Fine weather ill April following generous rains in March lias been beneficial to maize crops in the Whakatane district and some rccord returns are expected. One speaker at Wednesday's maeting stated that he had obtained results hitherto never approached with the result that he had to construct more cribs. Tale of a Note. A local lady had occasion to send a farmer £1 which she placed; in an envelope—so she thought—and despatched. On arriving back at her home in the, country', she found thai during the' day she had lost a £5 note), consequently there was much lamenting. But imagine the relief when a day or two later the lady received £4 change and a receipt. One can still get a square deal it seems! Increased Cultivation. The area of land in the Whakatane County in use for maize growing this year is 3.141 acres, of which 2,268 are being grown by European farmers and 873 by natives. This represents: a very large Increase of acreage over last year when the total for the county was !,765 acres. In the Opotiki area extra cfTort has also been made in response to the request of the Production Council and the total in that county isi 767 acres, 500 being European and 217 Maori. Last year in the Opotiki district the total was 657 acres.

No. 1 Licensing- Authority. A public sitting of the No. 1 Transport Licensing Authority is; to be held at the local Courthouse at 10 a.m. on Wednesday next. i Get in First. A local maize grower stated that he was in the back country endeavouring to arrange for native labour to pluck his: maize, crop, but without success. He said the Maori idea in the district he visited was "If I go out to pick others, maize the pigs will get in an eat mine." "Why didn't you tell them to* eat the 1 pigs first," remarked another grower. Maize Harvesting', At a meeting at Whakatane Judge Harvey,, of Rotorua, stated to maize growers of this district that soma difficulty would be experienced this year as the bulk of the labour would be native' women who would have to return to their homes each night. This would entail transport difficulties. "There are plenty of peoplei we could get to> pick maize if we could get them to their homes each night." To Court With Magistrate. When a motorist on the Auckland main highway stopped to offer an elderly Maori a ride, neither of them realised that""they would meet later in a less cordial friendship in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court. The motorist was Mr W. H„ Freeman, S.M., and the Maori a defendant in a claim for debt. "How would, you have arrived at Court in time if 1 had not given you a lift?" asked the Magistrate. "I don't know," was all the defendant replied.

Digging of Drains. A vast amount of land drainage work, cutting and dragging was ac complishcd in the> Whakatane district during last month, the workmen finding the dry conditions most (suitable in that all drains wore dry. Winter Show Schedules. The schedules for tha Winter Show have been distributed and any persons desiring one who have been omitted from the 'list ara asked to communicate with either the secretary, Mr Warren, or Mr A. J. Canning. Mr McCready's Campaign. The first round in the l County •electoral contest will take place on Monday evening, when Mr H. C. McCready will address the ratepayers of Ohope in the Captain's Cabin Hall. Mr McCready who is contesting the Taneatua riding seat states that he is prepared to accept either brickbats or bouquets. A National Effort. When it was remarked at Wednesday's meeting of maize growers of the Whakatane County that the prica for plucking mentioned by the Maoris was a very reasonable one. Judge Harvey, of Rotorua, stated that the natives this, year were viewing the work as a national effort. A Good Record. - _ Commenting on the great amount of work accomplished during the last three years, the chairman of the Whakatane Hospital Board, Mr J. W. Sumner, yesterday stated that nearly one thousand patients had been treated at the Annexe and its record had never been marred by even one "black mark." Hospital Statistics. The daily average patients in the Whakatane Public Hospital during April was 56.5. A total of 61 patients (29 males and' 32 females), remained inmates from March and admissions during April Ave re 101 (43 males and 58 females). The discharges for the month Ave re 112 (46 males and 30 females) while remaining at the end of the month AVere 25 males and 24 females. One death Avas recorded, while 8 major operations Avere performed and "2 minor operations.