Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 39, 12 January 1945, Page 4

Local and General

Pohutukawas in Bloom The harbourside has been considerably enhanced over the past few days by the young pohutukawa trees which are now in bloom. Those adjoining the Strand are looking particularly well, whilst even the smaller trees at the Heads are also' out and looking gay. They'll Be Sorry ! India intends to "attempt" to make Australian rabbits bried there to help feed the army. The trouble will be to stop them. Ten thousand have been sent. There are 390, 000 people in India and although they breed like rabbi Australians over here are willing to bet that the rabbits will outnumber the people in one human generation. Interesting Mission Lecture ■ On Wednesday next an interesting lantern Mission lecture will be given in the Presbyterian by Mr R. W. Sturt, a missionary recently returned from China and Mongolia. Mr Sturt had a "deep insight into the life of the Mongolians and his experiences have been lent a heightened colour by a period as a prisoner in the hands of the Japanese } who interned him along with others for a considerable time in 1942. His tallt should be full of interest and should attract a large audience.

Narrow Escape on Highway When the. car which she was driving skidded in loose metal about a mile and a half on the Wha'katane side of Te Teko early on Wednesday evening, Nurse. Naumann, formerly of Rotorua, and now of Ohope, had a narrow escape from serious injury. Nurse Naumann was travelling back to Ohopc with a small child and, as a result of the accii dent, the car heeled over on to its side ' the top of the vehicle being ripped clean away,, and the windscreen and other windows- shattered. The accident was noticed by two men who were travelling to' Rotorua. They rendered every assistance after coming on the scene almost immediately, but the two occupants of the car were unhurt. New Child Musician Prodigy Those who recollect the charming little girl pianiste who figured in the film depicting the California Children's Symphony will learn with pleasure her re-appear-ance in a further musical short which commences a three-day season at the Regent tomorrow. The little* prodigy, who is creating something of a sensation in America is Dianna Hale, who will be featured in the 'Melody Master short 'Child-' hood Days.' All lovers of children should make point of seeing this film, which is linked with a further outstanding screen production 'The Constant Nymph.'

Was it Intentional ? At the height of. the going-to-press rush in the BEACON office last Tuesday i the remnants of the staff, not on holiday were arrested by the sound of a sharp cracky almost indicative of a broken cam ) or a snapping cog. All machines were stopped and the press, carefully examined for any possible spanners in the works. However as nothing was discovered, the print- j ing process was gingerly proceeded With again. The explanation came as something of a rude shock to the operator when a few minutes later a neatly drilled bullet hole was discovered in' one of the window panes overlooking the main machine. The missile, whatever it was must have struck the metal-work of the press after passing through the glass and made the report which caused the temporary shut-down. As for the culprit we are still in the dark } though we have commissioned our sleuth reporter to get rooting round in the Whakatane underworld.

Struck on Head With Rock A note of warning is sounded in connection with those who may be tempted to thoughtlessly throw rocks and small stones from the cliff approaches to Ohope Beach. A young lady who is visiting the resort received a severe scalp wound from a rock which was flung from the cliff at the western end, of the approach to Qtirawairere Bay yesterday, which necessitated several stitches. It happened that she was strolling on the sands below the cliffy with a three year old child when the obviously flung from the cliff above, struck her. Ha£ it struck the. child the result would have been m'u'cji mox*e serious. A warning is I#ierefore issued to residents, to cease all such thoughtless actions and to generally take greater care during the holiday period in view of the growing number of visitors.