Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 35, 30 March 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Back Frbm Westfield Several men from Whaltatane district are home again after a week at the Westfiekl meat works, where {hoy assisted to larger or smaller degrees to keep the wheels of the meat industry going while the regular hands were on strike. Strange Bird Caught An unusual bird, which may be a parrakeet, wks caught this week by Mrs Ron Smith of Opotiki in her garden. The bird Avas not as brightly coloured as parrakeets usually are, and is very tame. It is believed that the bird may be a pet that has escaped from its cage, and if this is the case the owner wiU be able to recover it. Plenty of Autumn Grass After a fortnight of showery weather there has been a good growth eif pasture throughout the Whaltatane district. Some farms which were burnt up in the dry spell will take a longer time to recover. Farmers arc now expecting plenty of feed for the autumn months, so that Stock should be in good condition before winter sets in.. A. Long Long Trail A drover Avith paclthorse and dogs who Avas passing through Whakatane district recently mentioned to a resident that he Avas returning to Gisborne after taking cattle to Morrinsville. The return trip Avould take him six days at Avalking pace, as he had to spare the dogs and horses. The day after reaching Gisborne he would start back Avith another mob of cattle for the Waikato. Wire on Roadside A certain Maori who in dismantling his fence deemed it unnecessary to remove the AA ? ires and left them on the roadside for the benefit of passing traffic and stock, Avill reeeive a rude awakening Avlien the County Inspector has an intervieAv with him. The matter Avas reported to the Whaltatane County Council and the inspector instructed to act accordingly. This Financial (?) Year March 31 is the end of the so-call-ed financial year. Taxpayers can make up their returns after March 31 and ascertain how large (or small) their incomes have been. No doubt the last 12 months, have been rather unfmancial for many people In vieAV of the many calls on their purses and pockets for good, causes, not to mention the cost of living in a year of AA'ar prices. How Sound Travels The: Whaltatane siren at 8 a.m. which (presumably) rouses tired ! business people from their pilloAVSis heard as far aAA 7 ay as Thornton on some mornings. LilteAAise the Edgecumbe timber mill AA r histle is heard for at least five miles aAvay, across the Plains. The engines af scoavs going to and from Whakatane can be heard distinctly by residents of the Rangitaiki Plains living several miles inland. Surfeit of Mushrooms Old residents of the Whakatane district find difficulty in recalling a season Avhen mushrooms been so plentiful during, say, the last 20 years. While some farms have produced very feAV, if any, mushrooms, other farms have had so liberal a groAvth that households have after a Aveelt or so of mushroom meals, become "sick o£ mushrooms." This applies particularly to those deputed to cooking the mushrooms. Silk Hose Stolen "Pillaging seems to be on the increase," said a representative of a Christchurch firm Avhen referring to 16 pairs of sillt hose Avhicli had been stoleln from a tiglitly-Avired case. The hose had been extracted Avith great skill through a hole a little larger than a half-crown. He stated that tea-toAvelling valued at £53 had been stolen in a similar manner recently. Evidence pointed to the Avork of an organised gang using special-ly-made instruments. Ragwort Eradication Reporting to the County Council, the engineer said that ragAvort clearing in the Braemar, KaAverau, Soda Springs and Paul's Road areas had been completed for the second time. The Waimana RiA'er bed operations were extended several miles above Matahi. Same 80 acres of CroAvn land at ManaAvahe Avere cleared, four men being camped, out for one Aveelt. During the last, three weeks of the scheme which terminated on the 10th instant, some 982 i acres have been covered bringing the total season's acreage cleared to 9928 acres. The full allocation of £2500 up to the 15th March has been expended.