Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 15, 23 August 1946, Page 4

Local and General

Bay of Plenty Scout Meeting The first meeting of the Bay of Plenty Scout Council takes place at Tauranga tomorrow evening when delegates from the Opotiki, Whakatane and Tauranga Local Associations will meet for the purpose of formulating a set policy of Scouting throughout the Bay. During the past year the Scout population has increased by over seventy members, the greatest improvement is noted in the country districts. Flags at Half-mast The death of Mr Harry Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, was marked throughout the Dominion by flags flown at half-mast yesterday. The late Mr Atmore was at one time Minister for Education under the ForbesCoates Cabinet and though since he was returned as an Independent he has ever taken a prudent stand in the House, and has won widespread admiration for his fearlessness and logic. Prolonged Wail of Siren The 8 o’clock siren last Thursday morning established an all time record for duration. Its baleful blare could be heard for nearly ten solid minutes. Even the most patienl looked round for something tc throw in the direction of the brazen yodel. Fortunately just as an indignation meeting of housewives was on the verge of taking direcl action, the yawning bellow subsided to a half-hearted gurgle and finally into peaceful silence. Opotiki Caledonians Tomorrow the Whakatane Pipe Band together with a large numbei of local Caledonian members wil make the trip to Opotiki where an effort is now being made to form a Caledonian Society. A special Ingleside programme will be staged anc from the gathering it is hoped tc form the nucleus for the new organisation. Whakatane members wil welcome the creation of a sister Society which must lead to an interchange of friendly visits, from time to time. “I’m a Little Tank—” In contrast to conditions afte] World War 1., when a mood of almost militant pacifism swept the world, the tendency today appears to be to perpetuate the warlike motif in many directions. Point tc this is given in a little ditty being taught four year olds at an Auckland kindergarten. Parents of one of these children were astonishec when their offspring returned home the other day and recited wit! childish enthusiasm: “Chug, chug chug! I’m a little tank, tank, tank I’ve got big guns, guns, guns.” That’s the Stuff to Give ’Em Considerable interest attaches the operations of the drag-line dredge which for the past week has beer busily excavating the rubble and metal which has collected in the bed of the Wairere Creek to a depth ol [ several feet. The dredge is yet another indication of the modern way, and its 2cwt. bucket takes only a few minutes to fill the waiting lorlies which whisk the spoil up tc Hillcrest, where it is converted intc a base for the new roadway leading to the highest section on the hills, owned by Mr Magnus Lennie. In the meantime the town has discovered an unusual number of loungers who spend hours watching the dredge in operation and passing the usual commentary and learned criticism.