Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 125, 4 July 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Generous Donation. The Borough Committee of the New Zealand Red Cross Society has voted £30 to the W.W.S.A. towards the cost of medical supplies for tliP E.P.S. clearing stations. Twelve Months Ago. It was twelve months ago on Tuesday since Germany occupied the Channel Isalnds, and the R.A.F. bombed, and heavily damaged, the battleship Scharnliorst in the Kiel Canal. Whitebait Season. Fishermen are keenly watching thei river awaiting the run of white bait, which may commence at any time this month. Good catches, were recorded last season and similar results are hoped for this year. Altered Dance Date. To avoid, clashing with other functions arranged the Otakiri Farewell Committee has altered the date of a dance arranged from July 24 to July 15. The Gaiety Boys' orchestra has been engaged to supply the music at this event. Old Sign Revealed. Residents who have been in Whakatane many years will no doubt' remember a sign painted on the roof of the old wharf shed now the location of Bridgers. Furnishing Co. The sign was that of a land agent operating in the town at that time and with the painting of the shed by thri Harbour Board the attention was drawn to faded signs l , the one in question being faintly visible. It reads "Ingram Sells Cheap Dirt" ind when old residents noted it old memories! were recalled. Use of Zinc Restricted 1 . Without the express approval of the factory controller, the use of galvanising zinc for galvanising i variety of metals, such as wires and guy rods, is prohibited, according tc a zinc control notice published in the Gazette. The- use of zinc in the manufacture of brass casting* or sheet for decorative and furnishing metahvork, such as towel rail:) and coat-ihooks, is also prohibited. New Half-penny Bearing the head of King George VI on the obverse side and a representation of a tiki on the reverse the new 1941 half-penny has been released in Whakatane. The old half-penny was similar to the penny bearing a relief of Britannia on the reverse side. The change is in keeping with the Governmental policy of producing coins designed on distinctive national lines. Nature Note. Intrigued with the actions of a kingfisher in Anzac Avenue last Wednesday, two motorists stopped to take stock of what the bird was' rloing. It was not long before they discovered that he had captured a large field-mouse and was in the process of despatching it by the simple expedient of dashing it against the limb of a tree. The mouse in the meantime was putting up a good struggle and though held firmly" in the* Kingie's bill fought back with claws and teeth. The bird was nevertheless the winner after a short tussle and the 1)1 ueback proceeded to his meal.