Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 67, 19 June 1942, Page 4

Local and General

Muttonbird Catch The catch was only half of thai of last year, reported the muttonbirders who have returned to Invercargill from the islands. Some attributed this to the i'act that in the very bad weather experienced the wind blew away the down on the young birds emerging from the burrows at half-season, thus enabling them to fly away almost immediately. Others say that vermin caused the deaths of many birds, some of which were found with insects under their wings. Newspaper Ceases Publication With its issue of Saturday last, the Inangahua Times, Keefton's sole surviving newspaper, ceased publication. The Times was established in 1875, in the heyday of the mining boom in the Rcefton district, and has successfully weathered many storms since, but with the shortage of newsprint, it was unable to continue publication. The decline oi the mining activity in the district also had its effect, and its contemporary, the Inangahua Herahl, ceased publication a few years ago.

How Brought Up

A rather zealous Otahuhu woman who made a practice of questioning children upon their Sunday School attendance received a shock recently. One small boy when asked if he attended Sunday School or church replied in the negative. Upon being asked what his regilion was, he appeared quite mystified. When the point was made clearly the query, "What were you brought up, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc?" the boy's face brightened up, and he quickly replied, "Oh 1 know. I was brought up Plunket." Sales Tax Increase Sales tax collections in the Dominion for ordinary revenue purposes during the year ended last March amounted to £3,545,178, or £29,561 in cxcjss of the total for the previous financial year, states the Abstract of Statistics. The monthly collections showed little variation over the yqar, with the exception of February, which had an exceptionally small return. In spite of this, the total of £B.'M,<S3O was reached for the three months, January-March, compared with £799,081 for the same period last year. Residue from Linen Flax The "chaff" residue from the manufacture of linen flax has proved to be a valuable stock food and is meeting with a ready sale. The manager of the Blenheim linen llax factory recently said that the complete chaff output of all flax factories was in the hands of one representative for sale. Much of it; went to the North Island, Avhere there was an excellent demand. The flax growers, however, had a prior right of purchase, and any such farmer requiring this valuable stock food with- its high oil content was entitled to secure the quantity needed. Napier-Gisborne Railway Optimism regarding the completion of the Gisborne-Waikokopu section of the railway to Napier has been increasing since the recent announcement that a six-day week is to be worked. Arrangements are being made to link up the final gap of a mile and a half in the rails, but much work on that short section remains to be done before it is properly completed. A great deal of ballasting has to be done before the line will be ready for regular running. It is expected that the Public Works Department will follow the usual procedure of allowing some light traffic through as occasion warrants. : Pence Become Pounds The value of giving to patriotic funds in small regular air ants was illustrated by Mr T. 1 • ,of Wellington, when report# on the result of his activM-k . lie current patriotic fund a ithe past' two years, he sau. < >arge number of the members tlvp Public .Service Association had been contributing amounts; frem (>d to 2s Gd a month, these sums being deducted from their-salaries. As a result more than £15,000 had been handed to $£e fund. His experience, he said, induced him to commend the idea of regular giving, even if the amounts were small, because the pence soon became pounds.

Caledonian Ingleside To-night The Caledonian Society will run the lirst of their popular Society Inglesides this evening in the Caledonian Hall. Music will be supplied by the Rhythm Aces orchestra and the Pipe Band Avill be in attendance. The usual excellent supper will be provided. Fishing Regulations By courtesy of the Minister of Internal Affairs Ave' have been handed copies of the Fishing Regulations and their subsequent amendments, for perusal. A noteworthy feature in these is the clause which requires holders of wholesale licences to sup- j ply retailers with fish when possible | on a fair and equitable basis. Maori Woman Aged 116 The death has occurred at Ketemarae Pa, Normanby, of prohably the oldest Maori in the Dominion, | Mangemangerau, aged 116. She was recognised as the oldest Maori of the West Coast tribes. During the tour of the Governor-General, Sir Cyril New all, in Taranaki, she was presented to His Excellency at the famous Turuturu Mokau Pa. No New Golf Balls In England no new golf balls are to be made in wartime because of the urgent need to save rubber. The golf ball manufacturers' conference has therefore recommended professionals to ration the supply to players of not more than two golf balls at a time. Meanwhile arrangements have been made to re-moukl all old golf balls, irrespective of make. Travel Restrictions in Australia Rail travel restrictions to be introduced in Australia on July 1 will be limited to inter-State journeys. A system of priority permits (military, business and private) is being prepared. Nobody will be able to travel between the capital cities Avithcut first obtaining a permit. Travel Avithin State borders Avill not be subject to priority restrictions, although feAver trains Avill run. Women Herd Testers No feAver than 180 women testers are employed out of 220 testing officers in the six herd testing associations, states the annual report to the New Zealand Dairy Federation, increasing support is being given to herd recording Avorlc and there was a general increase in membership during the past season, both the number ol' herds under group test and the number of coavs under test being a record. Dangerous Either Way The danger of boys playing Avith pea-shooters and darts made from pins Avas demonstrated in Palmerston North recently AAhen one lad, with a pea-shooter in his mouth, took a deep breath preparatory to bloAving out the missile. The intake of breath dreAV the dart doAvn his Avindpipe necessitating X-ray to discover Avhere the dart had lodged and an operation for Us removal which proved successful. Maize Yield in Bay of Plenty From reports to hand to date, the maize yield this year Avill be a good deal lower than the previous year. Many good crops are noAV being plucked but the later crops Avill be very light and in seme cases Avill be almost a complete failure. Crops, eA*en Avlien good, are aA r eraging out lighter than the previous year, Avhen the jneld Avas phenomenal. Fortunately, the Aveather conditions been very favourable in. the Bay of Plenty since the maize plucking commenced, and a continuation of dry conditions for another Aveek or two Avill see most of the main crops in the cribs. First County Council' From Mr P. ex-resident of Whakatanc of many years standing Ave have received a photograph of the first Whakatane County Council, together Avith the lavo reporters who recorded their deliberations and Avere apparently admitted to the family group. The photograph, which Avas taken 40 years ago shows Mr Fred Burt, the only existing member, sitting in the front row. The chairman Avas Mr A. Peebles, while others are Messrs E. Rawson, F. SthnlejV Brodrick, C. N. Buckworth (the clerk) and Messrs S. •Elates find Walmlsley (reporters). An enlargement of the same photograph is also hanging in the County Council meeting room.