Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 145, 22 August 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Mild Weather for August,

Iu some years August id a frosty month, but this year there has been milder weather so far, a fact which is appreciated by farmers. A good 'leal of showery weather has caused some mud and discomfort on the farms, but the early spring growth or grass continues. Farmers are hoping there will be few frosts to check the growth in the next few weeks.

Benefit Pictures.

Local committees working in patriotic causes are considering the idea of benefit picture entertainments as a popular means of raising funds and in the near future a special attraction will be offered screen fans. When the initial benefit programme is presented it will not only supply first class film rare, but also will other attractions be offered dur'ng the course of the evening. ,

R.N.Z.A.F. at Tauranga,

•It is understood that the Royal New Zealand Airforce station at Tauranga is to commence operations on Monday next. Already cars, a fire en • gine and an ambulance have arrived.

Plum Trees in: Bloomi

Spring is here. At least a few early specimens of Christmas plum tree in the Whakatane district have responded to the warm August sunshine by bursting into white blossom. Other fruit trees are later in showing that blossom.

Fetrol Licenses,

The Petrol Revision Committee is at present engaged in reviewing licenses in the Whakatane district. 1 The Transport Department's Inspector, Mr J. Delves, is spending a great deal of time in covering the district and bringing the licenses

up-to-date. Some of these have been in force since 1939 and of course, as the petrol position is at present are in need of revision.

School Holidays. ■' The schools break-up to<-daj 7 for a fortnight's holiday.

Red Cross Effort.

A Red Cross afternoon will be held in the Parish Hall at 2.30 p.m. on Monday, August 25, and visitors will be entertained throughout the nfternoon with a concert. There will also btv a Bring and Buy Stall. Everyone is invited. School Sports, Whakatane school football and basketball teajns visited Te Puke recently to try conclusions with the local school. The visiting footballers were considerably heavier than the local boys, and ran out winners by 11 points to nil iifter a very good game. Both basketball games were won by Te Puke, the A team by 27 to 11 and the B team by 101 to 7.

Visit by Plane,

A twin-engined monoplane arnv- j ed at Opotiki on Tuesday from Auckland with a specialist to attend to. Captain H. WhUbred, A.D.C. to! Sir Guy Williams, who )ias been ly-; ing unconscious for five days in the Whakatane hospital. The plane was met on arrival by a taxi and the specialist was immediately hurried to Whakatane. The plane left with Sir Carrick Robertson,"on the return jonrney early during the afternoon. Police Force Strength. In 1901 the police force of New Zealand numbered 600 of all ranks: to-day the number exceeds; 1500'. Tn 1901 the force included 10 commissioned officers, GO sergeants and 25 detectives; to-day are 28 com-* missioned office"?, 155 sergeants and 97 detectives. The police cost tlhe country in ipOl 3s per inhabitant; to-day the per capita cost is slightly over 7s. These figures were quoted by Inspector G. B. Edwards at a police function tn Hamilton. A Busy Week. There have been many farewell functions in honour of soldiers during the past week and as a result the Mayor of Whakatane lias had a busy time. Mr Barry, accompanied by Mr S. S. Shapley (deputy-May-or) and Mr A. J. Canning were

present at the dance held at Poroporo on Tuesday night, later in the evening attending a similar function at Awakeri. On Wednesday the party also visited Te Teko, while last night they journeyed to Runtoki. At each of the functions His Worship made presentations to men bn leave on behalf of the Borough and County Farewell Committee, while when required by the absence of Mr L. R. Brown, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, Mr Shapley also spoke.

You Wouldn't Kid Me?

As is always the case the telephone exchange clerks \Vere bom* barded with enquiries "Where's the fire?" when the siren was sounded on Sunday night, but although they do not particularly relish that addition to their ordinary work tliey were rewarded with a good, laugh on this last occasion. There are two telephone lines at the hospital. No sooner had a voice on one line asked the exchange to sound the tire alarm than the shutter for the other fine fell, and the voice of a nurso curiously asked "Where's the fire?" The clerk replied "At the hospital,'' and with that the nurse pertly parried, "You wouldn't 'kid' me. would you," and hooked up. Imagine her expression when a minute or two later the engine screamed its way In to the hospital drive and men commencing playing water on the laundry only a few yards from the nurses' home.