Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 7, 23 January 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Anniversary Day

In this issue the Whakatane Retailers' Association announces that together with other centres throughout the Dominion it intends to observe a holiday 011 the Anniversary of the Auckland Province which falls on Thursday next, January 29.

Ragwort Not Cut

On 100 many good farms in Whakatane County one sees isolated ragwort plants in full bloom at the present time. As each head of yellow Mowers carries thousands of seeds the consequences of such neglect can be most serious.

Land Drailnage on the Plains

The Lands Department's Ruston dredge which for the past six months or so has been working on the eastern side of the Rangitaiki Plains, lias completed the deepening of several miles of the Eastern Drain and Platt'S Drain as far as the Western Drain. It is expected that this will give much better drainage to some thousands of acres of land which drains into the Orini Creek. This dredge is expected to work back towards the Eastern Drain to take up still more fall.

Naval Flags Aloft Many residents' curiosity was aroused when the array of flags was seen aloft on the Regent Theatre this week and the questions aslced the theatre stafl' were many. Hasty assurance was given that the display was not a signal to the Japs, but merely a novel way of advertising the film "In the Navy," the signal flags spelling out the title. Perhaps this week the perpetrator of the stunt will arrange a similar display 4o read "In the Army." which since Wednesday has been a phrase effecting many. County Management The- Whakatane Covinty Council is to hold its monthly meeting 011 Tuesday next. At the December meeting the position was regarded as so serious that it was thought that benzine would not be available to permit the councillors' attendance at meetings

and an emergency committee consisting of the chairman (Mr J. h. Burnett) the chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr W. A. McCracken) and Messrs C. G. Lucas (clerk) and R. O. Tomkins (acting engineer) was appointed to control the county affairs if necessary. However, by sharing cars it has been found that it will be possible to have a full meeting of the council.

Water Restrictions Householders in the Borough should be prepared for a visit from the Inspector, who is to make, a house to house inspection with a view to locating leakj* taps, fittings etc., and to ensure that hoses are j not used for the purpose of watering gardens except during the hours 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. ami 7.30 p.m. each day when the hose must be held in the hand. The borough water supply has been severely strained during the recent dry spell and has caused some anxiety. The machinery ordered from overseas with which the plant was toi have' been improved to bring it up to the increased consumption capacity has long been overdue and its wiiereabouts are unknown.

Nobody Home ! A local resident received something of a scare this week and, according to reports, between the fright and the unusual exertion was too hot under the collar to later settle down to the placid war-time business life of Whakatane. He Avas at business when he noticed a pall of smoke at his residence which was nearly. Home Guard training (toughening exercises) came to' his aid and, emulating the famed Maori Battalion charges, he "broke the 10' in his dash for the domicle. On arrival he found that wifey had tossed some ashes into long grass— the grass ignited, so did some trees nearby and a merry blaze was ensuing. Frantically he rang the exchange to get the Fire Brigade.i The Brigade did not arrive. He rang again and still no iireman to save the child (if any) or to subdue the Hames which were revealing a liking for the kitchen door. He made another call and soon the engine with two men arrived and everything In the garden was lovely—except of course where the tire had been. A 1 bedraggled and sorry figure returned to work to learn that during the time he had been excitedly calling the Brigade, the siren had been disconnected by P. and T. linesmen at work, and all but he had been blissfully unaware that the temperature was soaring at a residence in Louvain Street.