Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 100, 4 September 1942, Page 4

Local and General

New Zealand Boxer in Navy Tom Heeney, the New Zealand .heavyweight, boxer, has -been sworn in as a second-class seaman in the naval "Scabeas," an overseas constructional division, says a message from New York. Courthouse Gardens Those who have occasion to visit the Whakatane Courthouse cannot but help being struck by the brightness of the flower beds and the general air of neatness and tidiness which surrounds the place. The layout an'd gardens are a direct tribute to the energy and interest of Mr Morgan, Clerk of Court, who takes a pride in the appearance' of the grounds and can always be depended upon to have a goo'd floral show on display. The Thrush's Name ' "The thrush, also known as the j Thrasher, gots its name," says a writer in "Forest, and Bird," owing to the bird's habit of hol'ding a shell-back snail in its beak and thrashing the mollusc on a stone until the shell is broken, thus, enabling it to get at the contents. The actions of the thrush are exactly like those of a man with a flail threshing grain from the straw. In a garden there is generally one favourite stone, surounded by broken shells, on which the snails arc smashed." Many Potatoes from few Tubers)

Suburban gardeners need not be unduly worried by the shortage of seed potatoes, for if they follow the plan adopted by Mr W. Hall, Huirangi, Hawke's Bay, some years ago They can grow a large number of potatoes from very lew. When the shoots of the three potatoes had become well established above the ground, Mr Hall dug up the potatoes, broke off the shoots, and planted them. The potatoes were again planted. That was repeated three times, and Mr Hall said that he harvested a good crop, the tubers being of useful size. From three I potatoes weighing half a pound, Mr Hall's crop weighed 781b.

Soldiers' Predicament The position of soldiers released from military camps: to resume farming occupations is in some cases not quite as satisfactory as perhaps the authorities intended or expected, states the Waikato itimes. The case of one 1 young soldier on leave f0r.28 clays was brought to notice recently. Just prior to leaving for camp, expecting to serve continuously, he distributed his civilian attire among members of. the family and 1 friends. When he was suddenly discharged from camp, to return to the farm he had no civilian clothes. His mother came into Hamilton to see what she could do about it. She managed after explaning the position to the authorities to get a dozen coupons, but. quicldy found that a dozen was far too few for a complete re-equipment for her son. She pointed out that she and her son were hardly justified in getting a complete turn-out in view of the fact that the son had to> return t ( o camp in 28 days, so lie would have to rely on what are usually called "hand-me-downs" from his father's wardrobe.