Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 54, 7 March 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Sealed Tins Floating at Maketu Four sealed tins were found at the Maketu Beach last week, each showing signs of much in the. sea, though the contents were still intact. They contained sweets, sugar, biscuits and cocoa and were evidently some kind of emergency rations. Waimana Gymkhana The secretary of the Waimana Sports Gymkhana which takes place on March 25th announces that the committee has decided to have all 'local' horse events declared 'open' (events and 7). This is necessary as some horsemen have understood that events not specially marked open are local.. Competitors note. First Classi Garden Although somewhat spoilt by the beating it received during the Hood, the garden belonging to Mr D. V. Saunders is still one of the bef-/c. kfl its kind, in Wliakatane. Complete in autumn and jiastel shades, it attracts the eye from a long distance away, and.many people stop to ad-i mire it on their way into town.

Rotoma School Picnic The Rotosma annual .school picnic was held on Sunday at Oh ope Beach, in good weather, although they Avere fortunate in the fact that it w r as just over and 110 more when it commenced to rain. Forty or fifty children of all ages and stages were present together with a number of parents, and everyone enjoyed : hemselves to the utmost.

Big Returns from Seaweed For the purpose of gathering aegar or seaweed, under instructions from the Department of Scientific Research, there are now three encampments on the eastern side of Maketu Point busily engaged upon gathering seaweed. In the past twelve months it is reported that one. small Maori family has already gained £150 from this source and a lone Maori woman has made about £70. Wartime MaiJs Illustrating the wartime effects 011 the mail services, a letter has been received from Sussex (England) by an Auckland, resident dated September 7,, 1913. The envelope was marked "Air Mail." Recalling that the oldest tramp steamer used to take three months for the voyage from England to this country, the recipient, a former seaman, said that, although the letter was the third posted by his; sister in England, it was the lirst he had received.

Cycle Parts The latest reports from cycle dealers state that there is at present an extreme shortage of bicycle parts in the Dominion. None of th? big firms have much stock laid aside, a.s there is such a big demand, and most parts, are made in England. Also,' the. small number of spare parts that have reached New Zealand are in some cases two and three times as dear as previously, so the public can expect a sharp increase in the price, of cycles and cycle re* pairs. No Raffles' in Schools Ilaffles for patriotic purposes are prohibited in schools, according to a decision made by the Auckland Education Board. A letter had been received from the Auckland School Committees' Association stating that the practice of utilising funds for patriotic or other purjioses was not in the best interests of the; childr rcn's education and was prejudicial to the moral welfare of youth. The board agreed that no control could be. made about patriotic collections after school hours.

Cycle Lamp Batteries With the extreme shortage of cycle lamp batteries, it is now necesary to put in a permit if one is required. The existing tyre and tube application is used with the num-. ber 701 attached and these are fill-* ed in with the necessary additions and omissions for batteries. The applicant must be engaged, on night work or work after sunset for an application to be granted. Instead of the applications being considered by a local committee as for tyres, lliey are sent to one off the larger centres, and those whose, applications are approved arc provided with batteries at' a later date. Application forms may be obtained at any cycle dealers.

Held Over The report on the complimentary •Smoko' promoted in honour of the local boys who returned with the last furlough draft and which took place, in the Caledonian liall last Saturday evening has been unavoidably held over. Disparagement in Fares The Wliakatane Chamber ol Commerce at its last meeting to agitate for a standardised basis of transport charges commensurate with those charged from Tauranga. It was pointed out that from Tau-. ranga to Rotorua (o(> miles) the charge was 10s single and, l(is. rc-i turn,, whereas from Wliakatane to Rotorua (53 miles) the charge was 12s (id single and 'Jas return. This basis was considered entirely unfair and no reason could be found as to why Wliakatane travellers should be charged 40 per cent higher. The matter will be officially taken up with the Department.

Book Drive This Week As from the 6th (Monday) of March to the 10th, a special appeal for books for men on active service overseas, will be made in Whakatane in common with all other parts of New Zealand. The books mainly required are the smaller pocket editions, digests, magazines or novels of the Penguin, Pelican or White Circle types) which are handy and can be carried without discomfort. Those who desire to assist are asked to leave thelir books at the Borough Council Library or to contact the librarian Phone 308 for further information.