Local & General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 21, 28 April 1947, Page 5

Local & General

With Reversed l Arms To the members of the local branch of the Legion of Frontiersmen fell the honour of standing guard at the Cenotaph during the Anzac Day service last Friday. The four men selected once again carried out their exacting task in a ' manner which was impressive and moving throughout the entire ceremony. Port Busy The port presented a very busy appearance on Thursday morning. Three vessels, “Toa,” “Clansman” and “Motu” were in. The “Toa” and “Motu” were in the process of being unloaded with the “Clansman” lying alongside them. According to residents it is some time since three vessels have been in the port at one time, so that the occurrence was quite unique for Whakatane. Let Them Know ! A plea for more co-operation from sports bodies was made by Mr A. Carling of the St. John Ambulance Association in his address at the dance on Saturday night. He mentioned that the Ambulance men attended all sporting fixtures wherever possible and asked -sports bodies to let the Association know when and where their games would be held so that there could be members of the Brigade in attendance to render first aid if necessary. < Great Act of* Dedication In the course of his Anzac Address last Friday, Rev. W. Rangi referred to the recent broadcast .of -’ r Princess Elizabeth on the attainment of her majority. It was. to him, he said a magnificent act of dedication, to the service of others, and he was at a loss to find words to describe his feelings. The gesture however should ever remain a challenge to young people throughout the Empire as an inspiration for unselfish, living. Two Rolls of Honour Now that the Roll of Honour s ,< for men from the Whakatane district who gave their lives in World War 11. is nearing com- - pletion it may not generally be realised that the casualties suffered in the Second World War . v are nearly twice as great as far as this district is concerned as those sustained in the 1914-18 struggle. According to the Anzac Day programme, 68 men made the supreme sacrifice in World War I. In World War H. however the number was 126, -r and that list is still incomplete.

Girl Guide Movement

In charge of, their local captain aproximately twenty-three girls of the Galatea Guides travelled to Rotorua on Saturday. On arrival they were met v by representatives of St. Michael’s unit and entertained. Unfortunately the weather did not permit of, much outdoor activity as heavy rain fell throughout the day. During a lull in the rain the Guides did however visit a farm where they gathered round the bonfire in tradi- , tional manner. Afternoon tea was served by members of St. Michael’s patrol. The Guides returned after a , thoroughly enjoyable day by bus arriving home in the late evening, v

Double-Headed Pirnga Near Mr A. Kendall’s homestead at Rewatu, has been discovered one of the rarest freaks of New Zealand flora, a double-headed punga. The tree fern is a tall one growing some thirty feet before breaking into two distinct stems from which wave the graceful crests of punga fronds. Nikau palms are noted for their multiplicity on a single stem,, but the punga invariably keeps to the one crest which in many cases assumes a great height. Mr Kendall who has photographed the twin heads, is speculating as to the possibility of any other parallel growths in this neighbourhood.