THE OPOTIKI NEWS Wednesday, April 27, 1938. LOCAL AND GENERAL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 26, 27 April 1938, Page 2

THE OPOTIKI NEWS Wednesday, April 27, 1938. LOCAL AND GENERAL

An Old Newspaper. I.A, copy of “The Opotiki Herald and East Coast ■Gazette” dated March 12th, 1889, has been handed to os for perusal. The copy is most interesting with its local news of some fifty years ago. In it is recorded the obituary of the late Mr John Parkinson, oik; of Opotiki’s pioneer settlers. Many interesting incidents of the early days are related. r Another Taro Flowers.' Another taro plant in the garden of Mr si Warren, Wharf Hoad, has flowered, and -Mrs'Warren’s mother, Mrs Matchitt, who is 103 years of age, states that it is the first taro bloom she has ever seen. The taro is not a native to New Zealand, but was brought to this country by the Maoris. As far as is known, the present season isi the first time it has been known to flower in Opotiki. The flower stalk is thin and long, the yellow flower being nearly foot in length and in appearance resembles a lily. A “Fit” Car. During a discussion on traffic control at last night’s meeting of the Opotiki Borough .Council, a member related how his car received two .certificates of fitness. He had: received the first certificate before leaving Opotiki on a trip, and on arrival in Auckland put his car in a garage.for the night, with the request that it be left in a position so that it could be driven awav the following morning without trouble. He was very surprised on arriving at the garage to find another sticker on his windscreen and also ait envelope tucked at the side of the screen. On opening this he discovered another certificate of fitness and also an account for 2/6 for same. Needless to say ho did not pay a second lee on asking why the car had been tested again. Pedestrian Crossings. At last night’s .meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council. Or. F. J. Short referred to. the fact that motorists were ignoring the pedestrian crossings. When, pedestrians were using the crossings the motorists' were driving straight on and it was the pedestrian who waited for the car to go by, instead' of the car pulling up for the pedestrian to get across the street. He considered local motorists had no excuse as they were aware of the position of the crossings. Cr. ■Stevenson said the inspector should go on duty at the school crossings so. that the motorists might ho instructed a little. Cr. Johnson expressed the opinion that motorists were ignorant of the regulation requiring them to stop when children and other pedestrians were using the crossings. ' Cr. Stevenson moved that the inspector be asked to devote, a certain amount of bis time at the crossings 'The motion was seconded and carried.