Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 12, 5 October 1943, Page 4

Local and General

Harbour Board 1 Rate At the meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board, it was decided after discussing the estimates presented by the secretary to strike the same rate as last year— 3 4 d in the £- Concession to Scouts The Whakatane Harbour Board decided at its last meeting to charge only half the usual hire rate for the Port Whakatane, in answer to a request from a Rotorua Scout troop •which desired to use the vessel for a fishing excursion. Only 39 Claims Only 39 claims have been received [by the Whakatane County Council in connection Avith the Government subsidy of £1 per man for entertaining the men home on furlough. They are from Otakiri (3), Waimana (18), Taneatua (7), Matata (..), Te Whaiti (3) and Manawahe (2). Boiling-down Works Reporting on the condition of the Awakcri Boiling-down Works, the County Health Inspector, stated, to the Countl Council that conditions were found satisfactory. Mr Klaus was having some trouble with people leaving live cattle in his holding paddock, and not leaving instructions as to disposal of the animals. Lnspector Carling had been called in on occasions to locate owners. "Miracle" Case In her support to the annual meeting of the Gisborne East Coast branch of the Crippled Children's Society, the welfare officer,, Mrs. JA. Dickson, stated that most of the cases were connected with such trouble as cleft palate, talipes and infantile paralysis. Amongst the many pleasing eases that had been cured was a most remarkable one, of a lad of 11 years of age, so tyadly crippled that even the specialist entertained little, if any, hope of his recover}'. During the 12 months it was found necessary to perform 1 operations of various kinds. The lad had now been sent back to his home practically normal, and able to walk about. He was regarded by the stall of the hospital as the '.'miracle.'' case of the year.

Ruataki Hospital Rates

'"lit is most gratifying to see that the Ruato'ki Maoris feel their responsibility in connection with the hospital rate," said Cr A. McGougan at the Whakatane County Council meeting, when discussing a letter from the Deputy Registrar, Native Department indicating that the sum of £2,10 would be paid in this connection. The Maoris, he mentioned, were using the hospital more and more and he was glad to see it. They were fully entitled to use it and were being given 'the same privileges as Europeans. The County decided to despatch a letter of thanks to the Ruatoki settlers for their grant. Letter From Argentine "If have here a rather difficult letter from Mr F. Portela Willman, of the Argentine Republic," said, the secretary at a meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. He read the. following letter:—"l, beg you the favour, the kindness, to tell the n&mes and addresses, of' all the vegetables, edibles, oil mills that are in all the territory of that country (New Zealand). I need these addresses to offer them articles of use in that oleaginous industry." The chairman said that as members were, aware, the Argentine Republic was not in very great, favour at the present time, and before any reply to the letter was sent it should be referred to the Ministry of Supply. This course, was agreed to. Welcome to Soldiers In Tauranga, there is a soldiers' travel service, the object being to provide accommodation for men on furlough who visit that area. A card received at a meeting of the East Southland Zone Committee, at Gore gave the information that any serviceman on furlough from the Middle East with a friend or family who would-like to stay in a private home should get in touch with, the Tauranga Patriotic Committee and "accommodation,, transport and a warm welcome will be arranged." l;f a trip were, contemplated accommodation could probably be arranged in towns en route. A letter from the organiser of the service which accompanied the card suggested that the scheme could be Avorked in other parts of New Zealand. "This is a necessary service, as the free rail ticket, is a farce without accommodation," the letter stated.

Low Barometer Pressures Fxcept'iona I.y low barometer readings. have been recorded in the Dominion during the past few weeks the cause of these being the series of depressions which have formed in the Taxman Sea and worked over New Zealand. This also is the reason for the strong winds and gales all over New Zealand.

Treatment of Frosted Potatoes Potato that have been frosted should not be dug up and replanted. All that is necessary is to cut the damaged tops oil" at ground level ami cover the remains of the plant right up by hoeing the soM up. The ■;:rop Mill soon come away again and will give good results although the digging of the matured crop will be retarded, by some weeks. Unable to Vote Heavy rain with flooding occurred on the East Coast last Thursday and Friday, with the result"' that many streams were flooded. It is stated that many Maoris were unable to record their votes as*they were unable to reach polling booths on Friday (Maori election day). The continuous rains have interfered in the Tikiti'ki area with the potato planting and much damage has been done, to gardens. ' Heart to Heart The chairman of the Whakatanc County Council, Mr J. L. Burnett, was discussing ways and means of cutting down the length of the monthly meetings and finishing if possible before lunch. He mentioned a scheme whereby the minutes of the Works and, Finance Committees could be in the hands of councillors the week-end before the meeting so that explanatory discussion could be divided, but said Jie did not wish to: restrict reasonable discussion. The position had improved in recent years, he went on but could still further be improved. He could remember the time when the meeting did not finish till 5 or f> o'clock at night Cr Burt: That's nothing. I can remember when Ave sat here till 11 o'clock at night!

Voting at Schools Quito a controversy is taking place in Gisborne following some school lessons in the working of the electoral system. As a result of a complaint a statement was issued that the voting by the pupils was secret. Apparently some parents consider that open voting by pupils Avould be a reflection of the opinions of their parents on the political situation. Despite the. denial that the voting is other than secret an indignant father has written to the Gisborne Herald stating that in the form in which his son is being taught the voting was: done by a show of hands. He concludes his letter by writing: "Parents no doubt draw their own conclusions Avhen their 'children are asked to vote openly on political issues." It wi.l be remembered that in the recent voting for the Gisborne seat, Mr Coleman, the sitting Labour member won by a handsome margin over the National candidate. Another correspondent stated that the voting at the school resulted in marked majorities, lor the National candidate and made the humorous adduction that the. children had more political sense that their parents*.