Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 12, 4 February 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Medical Examinations Men called in the last ballot are being medically examined at Wliakatane this week, the first on the list going before the doctors on Monday night. Freak Deer When a party of fishermen recently visited Goal Island, Paterson Inlet, one of them shot a three-legged deer. The animal, it is stated, had not lost a limb, but apparently had been born with only three legs. A Bluff deer stalker who vouched for the story, said he had never before, heard of such a caseSacks Round Fruit Trees A loL*al resident claims that he has solved the problem of the dry weather by placing old sacks around the fruit trees. The action he says brings the moisture to the surface and keeps it there.,JVliereas in other years lie has been forced to water his orchard owing to its sandy nature he has this year had even better results without watering.

Attractive Trees Domain road has been greatly enhanced in appearance by the flojvering of the gum trees and these, growing on the roadside, are now bearing beautiful red flowers. Bottle of Twirps, Please I The innocent coining of a word now very much in use, convulsed a local household yesterday. The six-year-old was endeavouring to assist father with little job of cleaning and was sent inside it get the bottle of 'turps'.-(Turpentine). His mother was staggered to hear the hopeful demand that he be given a bottle of twirps. Men Leave For Camp Last week was marked by many functions promoted by the Maori people of the Wliakatane district, these being arranged to honour the some fifty men who left on Tuesday to serve with the Maori Battalion. Waimana, Taneatua and Ruatoki sent a large, share of these recruits and suitable functions were held in each centre. On the morning of Tuesday the Taneatua station presented a lively scene when 22 men entrained.

Rain Wanted One local gardener, who has fault to find with the clerk of the weather in that insufficient rain has fallen lately, was disappointed and envious yesterday when he" made a phone call to Awakeri. He asked for the farmer to whom he wished to speak, and was informed by the lady of the house that the man was busy haymaking. "However," she said, "he should be home soon with this heavy rain falling." The amateur gardener gazed sadly out of doors At the brilliantly sun-lit Whakatane. Movement of Sheep This month will see many sheep change hands when fairs are to be held both at Whakatane and Opotiki < Commencing to-morrow the sales are to bo held by Dalgety and Co who will offer 8000, a large fair at Opotiki on Thursday when the tally penned will total 15,340, while later in the month, Wednesday 11th, the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency will offer 12,000 sheep. A ram fair is also scheduled for Friday 13th when at Te Puke 200 rams will be offered. Keen Recruits Two volunteers for the Maori Battalion who belong to the Ruatoki district were so disappointed that their names were not included in the list to leave for camp on Tuesday that they endeavoured to go just the same. When the train at Taneatua was being boarded by their ( friends who had been called up these two keen recruits also climbed aboard and it was with some difficulty that the officer in charge could induce them to alight and wait their turn for entry into camp. Brawl in Street The fact that the resident constable was absent on special duty from Taneatua on Saturday last brought regret to many and will have its repercussions in the Taneatua Court to-day. It is stated that during the afternoon some Maoris staged a "xlonnybrock" in the main street which provided a large sized diversion. Two participants later departed to a vacant section to settle their difference and are both now licking their wounds. It is understood that as a result live men will appear in the Taneatua Court this morning charged with fighting in the street.

Farmers Responsibility "At present the. main responsibilities of the farmers are the organising of suitable labour on farms, especially where one or more have gone overseas or even into camp in New Zealand," stated Mr G. W. Tilly, of Takapau, in apologising for his absence in a letter which was before a recent meeting of the Southern Hawke's Bay Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union. "If we do this we will be doang ourselves, our organisation and the community generally a greater service than by attending meetings or worrying as to whether farming is an essential industry or otherwise." Bicycle Travel Although without petrol to use in their cars many people are determined not to have their week-end leisure spoiled and the enjoyment of the children marred. At the weekends many use "Shanks Pony" as a means of. reaching the Heads while others who have bicycles make the walkers green with envy. It is now quite the usual thing to see mother, father and the youngsters cycling to the briny, while special pillion seats are in many cases added to bicycles by those who have smaller children to transport. The-Heads is now a very popular spot and attracts large Sunday afternoon crowds, while the swimming pool there is used by many. It is understood that the Borough Council is to endeavour to scoop cut the sandfrom this pool thereby to ljiake it of sufficient depth for swimming at .low tide.