Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 07, Issue 93, 25 July 1944, Page 4

Local and General

New Measles Treatment "Gamma globulin" for combating measles will soon be available to civilians without cost, according to the American Red Cross. "Gamma globulin," which can be salvaged from blood without reducing the amount of plasma or serum albumin required for treating wounds, prevents or modifies the efforts of measles,. Huge Potato Order Some indication of the magnitude of a recent order for New Zealand potatoes for the American forces in the Pacific is given by the size of recent shipments —36,000 bag's from South Canterbury and 28,000 bags from North Canterbury. These potatoes represent the finest grade f>f table potatoes that the province can produce', and in all comprise, a shipment of over 3000 tons. Opossum Trapping Opossum trapping in the North Island is attracting more interest this winter than last year, and a small early consignment of 60 skins was stamped in Rotorua last week. The main consignments are not expected until the end of September. The Waikaremoana hydro works have retained in full employment many men who formerly looked to the opossum trapping season.. for a considerable part of their income. Deprediations of Rooks Permission for the Army authorities to destroy colonies of rooks near Christchurch by the use of explosives at the nesting places is to be sought from the. Minister of Agriculture by the North Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union. A letter from the Yaldhux-st branch of the Farmers' Union t stating that the rooks were doing extensive damage to crops of oats and wheat at Yaldhurst, and in adjoining districts w r as read. Tame White Rait A white rat is reported to have taken up its abode at the Whakatane Paper Mills. The rat, w T hich is almost pure whitej is reasonably tame and so far there appear to have been no measures taken for its exj termination, it having assumed something after the nature of a pet. Its favourite time to put in an appearance is just after the men have finished a meal, when it can be seen searching eagerly for any crumbs that may have been dropped. Visiting Golfers Advice has been received that Dr. Wallace and a party of fourteen returned men from the Rotorua Hospital will be present in Whakatane during the week-end as the guests of the Whakatane Golf Club. It intended to billet the men on $ie Saturday night, and members and friends are kindly asked to do what they can towards this end. Any one willing to do so is asked to ring the Secretary of the Red Cross, Mrs Winstone, phone 348, at the earliest opportunity. Houses for Big Families "No provision is made for the large family class in Government houses already built* as is apparent in the number of tenants with small families occupying these homes," said the president of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Real Estate Institute, Mr A. McMillan, in a statement at Dunedpn recently. "The Government accepts the best paying tenants, preferably those iyith either small or no families, and leaves the* private landlord to provide accommodation for large families." Hero<& of the Traffic Department all realise, except perhaps when'we ourselves happen to be the unfortunate ones stung, that n traffic inspector's job is sinecure. From a direct source we have obtained permission to print the following qualities necessary in a man before he can successfully fill the position of a "traffic cop." It would appear that He must not only possess the strength of a Samson,, and The eyesight of an eagle, but also the tact of an ambassador, The worldly knowledge of an undergraduate The patience of a husband s The hide of a rhinoceros, and The memory of a wronged woman.