Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 32, 23 March 1942, Page 4

Local and General

A Useful Bird X shining cuckoo which has been noticed lor several clays in an Opo--11 kL garden, is devoting much attention to the catching of caterpillars on llowers and vegetables. In the curly mornings the cuckoo feeds for quite a time on large caterpillars, of Avhich it disposes of a surprising number. The Caledonian Hall Work in connection with the Caledonian Hall, King Street, is proceeding satisfactorily, and the new addition lacing James Street has been nil but completed. Work on the internal sections will, it is hoped be finished before the end of the month. The Society lias gone to considerable effort to improve the building, and the new structure with its additional conveniences should become

very popular in future

Durability of Timber

According to an electric linesman of 15 years' experience, who was giving evidence in the Auckland Supreme Court, New Zealand timber put in the grounds always decayed first at ground level "between wind and water." When Australian hardwoods failed, lie said, it was not because' they had given way at the ground level, but because they had decayed at the top. Most Australian hardwood poles contained i lot of sapwood.

A Bull for 2s 6d

The extraordinary fluctuation in values that can occur in the same class of livestock over the years is being exemplified at present in the case of potter bulls. In the early stages of the war these rose in price until heavy sorts at onfc period topped £12 under animated bidding in the salcvards. The demand for the bulls, however, now seems almost ended, for at the weekly stock sale at Pukekahe on Thursday, the highest price for a potter bull was only 7s 6d, while the lowest was. 2s Gd,

Cull Bull Prices

Reports that cull bulls, for which the farmer received 3s a 1001b. at the works, were being used, with other classes of meat, in canned foods were received at an executive meeting of the Auckland Farmers' Union. It was decided to ask that cull bulls be paid for at the same rate as cull cows, 20s a 1001b. on hooks, the reason being that this would help to rkl the farms of surplus bulls and would protect the farmer against the canning or exporting of this meat to the operator's own advantage.

Welcome Rain

The rain which fell up to and over the week-end was warm and penetrating. It was general over the Rangitaiki Plans and was particularly welcome in those parts where the dry spell has been responsible for the absence of pasturage. At Waimana and Nukuhou the rain took the form of heavy showers which thoroughly drenched the countryside. In the opinion of many old settlers it will not be of long duration unless the wind changes and brings in the easterlies which can be guaranteed to introduce heavier rain, and perhaps a gale or two off the sea.