ITEMS OF INTEREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 20, 31 October 1944, Page 3

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Suib-divisions at Lake Roloiti Plans are being prepared by the Native Department for the subdivision into quarter-acre lots of an extensive, area on the southern shore of Lake Rotoiti and a smaller area on the northern side. The former section "will require about five miles of roading. It is intended to offer these properties for lease for 21 years with the right of renewal for a further 21 years and compensation for improvements. Paper Parachutes It has been announced by the U.S. Navy Department that in future paper parachutes will be used in delivering foodstull's and other! supplies to troops isolated in combat areas. The parachutes can hold a load of 100 pounds when dropped from planes Hying 180 miles an hour; they are not alfccted by rain. The paper parachute costs approximately one-fifth as much as the standard human parachute and will effect a considerable saving in nylon and other fabrics used in ordinary escape parachutes. A Mifllion Pagans The announcement tnat there were a million pagans in New Zealand was made by the Rev. E. Drake during an open-air meeting in. New Plymouth. The service was held on the spot where Robert Ward pioneer of Primitive Methodism in New Zealand, held his first service 100 years ago, states the Methodist Times. "What has happened that there are a million people in this country who are pagans?" asked Mr Drake. On the same day that Mr Drake made his statement a preacher in Auckland said that there were not more than 3 per cent, of the people of New Zealand who Ave re regular attenders at public Avorsliip. "A Vicious Practice'' "A vicious practice,"' avhs how an Ashburton doctor described the habit of carrying small children on the backs of bicycles. In the last few Aveeks lie said there had been frequent instances of children being brought in for treatment after having their' feet caught in bicycle Avheels Avhile being carried in this manner. In many cases the injuries AVere Aery extensive. If children Avere to be carried in this ay ay it was only reasonable to expect that there should be somewhere for them to rest their feet otherAvise every lime the rider negotiated a corner or the balance of the cyclc Avas< interfered Avith, the child stood a fair chance of getting its feet injured.