Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 38, 11 January 1946, Page 4

Local and General

Ohope Paddling Pool Lt is. the intention of those in charge to plant several different varieties of shrubs in front of the children’s paddling pool, together with suitable seats for the benefit or parents and visitors who may be watching file tiny tots.

Penguin at Head's

A young penguin which arrived at the Heads Beach recently excited quite a lot of Interest. The bird which was apparently injured was quiet and sought tlie shelter oi the cliff. A day or two later it A\as found. dead, apparently having been badly mauled by dogs.

Islands of Luxury

There were few luxury items, which could not be bought in Fiji at the present time staled a New Zealand Army major who returned to New Zealand recently after a tour of duty in Fiji. Money (lowed like water, he said and articles such as silk stockings’ cigarettes and whisky could be purchased without restriction. He added that pay for the civilians was exceptionally good and lie quoted the case of a female telephone operator who received nothing less than £6 l(>s sterling a week.

Welcome to Sheep Train A large crowd assembled at the Hastings railway station recently to welcome home a draft of troops. The troop train was late, but shortly before, its amended arrival time, an engine whistle was heard in the distance and smoke from the engine set up the cry of “Here she comes.” The pipe hand promptly started playing a tune of welcome; breathless people started to run to the station from all directions; an excited crowd got ready to extend a real welcome—and in steamed a train load of sheep.

Nf.Z. Red Cross Society (Incor) Winners of competitions Xmas sale conducted by the Whakatane branch of the Red Cross Society were: Ladies’ Watch, Mrs Joe, Haig Street. Round Fruit Cake, Mrs 1. Hogg, .Ohope. Square Xmas Cake, Mrs T. Cairns, 64 Salonika Street. Dinner, Mrs Whitehead. Blankets, Agnes Baker, Luxton’s Road. Three Boxes Sweets, Mrs Goodall, 5 Hawera Street. One Box Sweets, Jean Armstrong. Dolls: “Claudette” E. W. Bryenton. “Diana” Diana Waterman. “Janet Mary” D. Hockin. “Margaret” Mrs Booth. “Christine” Janice Guptill.

Wheart Production in Britain

Although the war lias ended, the world i'ood situation remains very difficult says, a British official publication. For 1940 the Minister has already reminded farmers that there, must lie no easing-off in wheat production. It is essential in the national interest that all suitable land that comes into turn for wheat should be sown this autumn, and the target is 2*4 million acres. All wheat of this season’s, growing is wanted for milling. Controls have not been relaxed. The last harvest was down 875 000 acres on the war •9 peak production.

Unfamiliar Uniform A serviceable but unusual uniform to New Zealanders was worn by two men who were disembarked from 11.M.5. Atheling at Lyttelton. The uniform is of a greenish colour, the tunic cut to Australian Army style, with slacks and white gaiters, and; the slouch hat similar to that worn by Australian infantrymen. A showy shoulder flash is a black panther mounted on a red and white background. The wearers of this uniform are men who have served in the Burma Coastal Defence and the Malay Occupational Forces and were picked up at Colombo by the aircraft carrier.

Pay For Police The question of adequate pay for the police was one of the matters discussed at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Crusade for Social Justice. It was pointed out that those who protect the public’s property and maintain law and order were not in a position to organise like an industrial union. If they were to enjoy better conditions and keep in step with progress, they must be supported by public opinion it was stated. Other topics discussed at the meeting included mental hospital reform and penal reform, members expressing the view that a complete overhaul of New Zealand’s prison system was overdue.

Sixth Year on Rations “In Britain the food situation, ho-v-* ors perilously close to the line that separates the barest sufficiencies from postivc under- nourishment,—'” says Sir Patrick Duff, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New’ Zealand, in the Christmas issue of the Grocers’ Review. “The weekly rations are still two ounces, of butter two* or three ounces of cheese and three to four ounces of bacon a week for each person. Try it for a few weeks! Then, imagine weeks growing into months, months into years, and weary year succeeding weary year 1 of it. This is Britain’s sixth year, and there is no easement yet in sight.”

Insect Pests Scarce Insect pests have been unusually subdued this season as chilly conditions and high winds have combined to discourage them from venturing from sheltered breeding places or have taken heavy toll of those on the wing. Gardeners have, therefore, experienced w’dcome immunity from their annoying activities, particularly of white butterflies. This is in contrast with a year ago, w r hen white butterflies made the iriost of a favourable season. It isj however too early to regard this aal an off season, for the worst monthJ are normally February and March* and a change to more summery weari ther would immediately eneourage all pests.

Fruit Under-Sized

Fruit supplies in Auckland are showing the effects of the dry and cool conditions of November and December, said an Auckland fruit merchant. Peaches, plums, strawberries and longanberries are below normal standard and early apples are backward. Early tomato crops are more than a fortnight later than usual in coming to maturity, and only in the most sheltered and warmest aspects has ripe fruit been harvested. The cold nights have retarded the development of tomatoes in all localities. In vegetables, however supplies are reported to be ample and. peas, beans and lettuce have apparently responded well to cultivation and hosing.

Where There’s a Will Business has never been so brifelc as during the last few months, say local barbers. Many more customers have beer attending the saloons for shaves and trims, but there appears to be a reason for this increased business according to one barber. He said he w r as surprised, the other day to see a man come in for a hair cut when he had been given one only a feAv days before. He politely told' the customer that he (lid not think he needed another hair cut for a Avhile, but, Avith a tAvinkle in his eye, the man replied: “Well, the girl at the counter tells me if I Avant a packet of cigarettes I’ve got to be a saloon customer. I’m out of cigarettes and here I am.”