Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 13, 6 February 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Shortage of Tin Smokers are having the fact brought to; mind that a shortage of tin exists and latest supplies of tobacco made by the New Zealand company is encased in cardboard packets made on similar lines as the tins previously used. High Price for Bullock A large bullock owned by Mr A. T. Smith, killed at the Kaiti freezing woirks recently, realised the highest price known in Gisborne for many years. The freezing weight of the beast was 16241b and it was graded prime and sold at the schedule rates of 31s per 1001b for overweight beef, making a total of £25 3s sd.

Useful Rifles The public, and the owners of the rifles themselves, did not realise the great hitting power of .22 calibre rifles vising modern ammunition, commented an army officer at Christchurch when discussing the purchase of these weapons by the army. Most people seemed to think they would not be very useful, but they were required for a special purpose, and the care which was being taken of them showed that that purpose, was regarded as important. Modern warfare and modern ammunition had entirely altered the value cf small calibre rifles, the officer stated. In the present war they had proved the most suitable weapon for certain types of work. They had the ting power, he said, and among their advantages was their handiness and lightness and the lightness of their ammunition.

Borough. Affairs The monthly meeting of the Whakatane Borough Council is to be held on Monday next at 7.30 p.m. Footpath to Hospital Workmen are progressing with the forming of a concrete footpath in Stewart Street. This will extend from King Street to the Hospital. Price of Eggs Hens have not been laying so well recently and as a result the price of eggs to the consumer has risen and shopkeepers are now asking 1/10 per dozen. W.W.S.A. Engineers Results of examinations held for trainees for engineering under the Women's War Service Auxiliary scheme reveal that 1(5 out of 19 1 re-, emits passed the test at Te Tcko and Ed gee um be. More Room Wanted Trainees under the St. John-Am-bulance have become so numerous that the Borough Council Chambers are no longer able toi accommodate them at classes, and as a result the County Council Chambers have been sought as a meeting room. E.P.S. Duty The enrolment of men for E.P.S. duty, which is to be completed by February 5, has raised doubts in the piSndjs of men who are 6G J'ears of age as to whether or not they should enrol. It is authoritatively stated that men who have reached 66 are not required to enrol, but are at liberty to do so if they wish to serve nnd.iye lit for E.P.S. duties. Poor Results A- sitting of the Opotiki Medical Board was held on Saturday last at the Opotiki Drill Hall, when 21 men who were called in the recent ballQ.t were" examined. 'The result of the examinations was disappointing as less than 50 per cent. c<f the men were passed as grade 1. Eleven men were either classed as grade 3 or grade 4. Revolvers Needed There is an urgent need for .45 revolvers, both in the city and country, according to the Army purchasing officers. They state that during their recent tour of the country districts very few revolvers have been handed in, but pay a tribute to the valuable co-operation of the police in the country districts in their task of buying .22 rifles and revolvers. Something to Crow About One of Wairoa's swans" has produced an egg, apparently in response to the Government's call for production —and still more production. And what an egg! A test with the calipers disclosed the following measurements: Diameter 2% inches, length 4% inches, circumference .5% inches. The discoverer was Mr George Jane, curator of the borough gardens, who came across the specimen in a section which is being cleared at the corner of Queen and Locke streets. Writing on the Cans Soldered to. the lid of each of the hundreds of milk cans in use by suppliers, of the Pupuaruhe cheese factory is a small rectangular piece of Miuntz's metal, a compound of brasg. This is intended to be used by suppliers for writing their factory numbers in pencil. Of late, however, there has been a tendency for many suppliers to duplicate their numbers by writing on the tin, or to ignore the brass altogether. This is a pity, as the daily cleaning off of pencil marks on the tin is unnecessary work for someone and must have the effect of wearing away the tin. Several farmers have mentioned this fact to a Beacon representative lately. Motor Licensing The gazetting of new regulations to allow the relicensing of motor vehicles without the provision of new steel number plates is shortly expected. The period of the current J licenses, will expire at the end of June, and the relicensing will be done in that month. It is; expected that comparatively little change in the" system will be necessary, transfers being issued for motorists to place on their windscreens to indicate that they have paid the current year's fees, while they leave the old plates in place.