LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10827, 26 March 1932, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

“Beware of overdone oratory,” said Miss D. West, of England, during an address at the Timaru Boys’ High School recently. Miss West explained that often at political meetings at Home a dramatic speaker left himself open to smart interjections. One politician had once asked a meeting; "Do you know what I would put into coal mines?” Only to receive the reply: “Yes, windows.” —Laughter). Another speaker's dramatic utterance had been: “What is England’s greatest menace at the present time?’’. A wag from the rear of the hall had supplied the answer in: “Don Bradman.’.’

The Chairman stated at the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board that he noticed that the Chief Inspector of Fisheries had paid a visit to Whakatane to investigate complaints regarding the operations of trawlers off the coast. He had met several fishermen aud in conversation with him they had complained of the scarcity of fish which they attributed to the operations of the trawlers close in-shore. He considered the Board should support the representations of the Chamber of Commerce in this matter.—lt was decided that the Secretary be instructed to write to the Marine Department in support of the request by the Chamber of Commerce lor the establishment of trawling limits.

It was decided at this wek’s meeting of the Opotikl Borough Council to write to the Audit Department protesting against the greatly increased audit fees. The town clerk pointed out that the fee had been increased from £23 to £4O 18s.

The National Mutual Life Assurance Association of Australasia, Ltd., inserts a notice in regard to a lost policy on the life of Keith Owen Putt.

The sporting attractions of New Zealand recently received publicity in both England and Canada. A prominent Piccadilly sporting goods firm made a window display embracing New Zealand deer heads, and mounted swordfish and trout. The trout a.ud swordfish grounds in New Zealand were also the subject of a comprehensive article published in the February issue of the largest Toonto sporting magazine, “The Thoroughbred Sports Review."

How easily may a fair reputation be ruined? An order for a ease of beer was sent to a Christchurch brewery from a suburban resident, and the van was duly despatched with the liquour. The carters found no one at home, so they proceeded to stack the beer in the cellar. Upon returning to the van they were struck by the words of two women who were regarding the van with a suspicious eye. “Fancy a brewer’s waggon outside here," remarked one. “Why the 's are strict teetotallers.'’ “H’m," sniffed the other, “yon never know who’s who nowadays." And it was then than the carter consulted (he docket and found that the beer should have been delivered to the house on the opposite side of the road!

“When good times return,” said M. D. W. Coleman, M.P. to a Gisborne Times reporter. “I feel quite sure there will be an excellent chance of having the work resumed on the Gishorne-Wairoa railway. At present, however, a public work of such magnitude is out of the question, according to tho view of .he Government." Mr Coleman said he !- ■' d ’men assured of wide support in tho House for the resumption of work on the line as soon as times became normal. After he had spoken in the House on the subject of the railway, he had received assurance of the support of quite a number of members. “Indeed,” said Mr Coleman, “one ex-Cabinet Minister said that, in his opinion, the suspension of the line was a blunder."

The Chairman, Mr H. R. Hogg, reported to this week’s meeting of the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board that Mr Gow has interviewed the Public Trustee in regard to a reduction of interest rates on the Board’s loan of £IOO,OOO, and that the Public Trustee would not agree to a reduction of the present rate of G per cent., and also that there was very little hope of a reduction in the near future. The Finance Committee has also been in communication with Messrs Mitchell, Buttle and Co. regarding a conversion loan at a, lesser rate of interest; but same is now in abeyance until the policy of the Government relative to the Royal Commission’s recommendations is known.

“I don’t know whether the Central Otago growers are making any money out of the sales, but I know that we cannot compete against them when they can sell peaches in the Christchurch markets for 2s and 2s 6d a case” said a Heathcote grower to a Christchurch Sun reporter. “When you consider railage and all the sundries connected with the marketing of the fruit, it is apparent that there cannot be much pioney in it. We cannot afford to sell at those prices when our fruit is being grown on £3OO an acre land.”

Among the hundreds of unemployed boys in Christchurch there are a few who arc practically destitute and homeless according t(P Mr V. French, of the Presbyterian Social Service Association (states the Christchurch Times). Recently the association had to deal with the cafie of a 17-year-old youth, whose only relative was his grandmother, an old-age pensioner, The old lady fed the boy from her scanty supplies, but •he was forced to share a tent with an unemployed man. The position needed immediate attention, and finally the boy secured three months’ apple-picking in Nelson. The association was co-op-erating with the Chamber of Commerce Boys’ Unemployment Committee, which was making an effort to do something for workleas boys. Two or three business men had agreed to create vacancies for youths with the hope that other firms will be encouraged to do likewise.

During his trip to the North, from which he has just returned, the Chief Inspector of Fisheries (Mr A. B. Hefford) found indisputable evidence that a full-grown quinnat had been taken in the Tarawera River about a year ago (says the Wellington Evening Post). It measured 36in in length, and weighed 15|lb. Whether this is a case of ordinary migration from some southern river—which would be quite possible—or not. cannot bo definitely stated, as it is relieved that a few quinnat fry were liberated in the Tarawera River oy ;.cme enthusiast. The Bay of Plenty is a long way north of the Turituki River which was the furthest north where quinnat had previously been seen on that coast. Qulunat are thus spreading up both coasts of i lie North Island, as a young one, evidently on its way from the river to the sea, was recently taken in the Wanganui.

"There is the sound of the plashing of crocodile tears,’’ remarked the Rev. F. L. Frost at a meeting of the Napier Secondary Education Board when a letter was received from the Department requesting head teachers to watch carefully for any pupils .whose parents might be too poor to provide them with lunch. - It was recognised, continued the letter, that any attempt to meet such delicate situations would call for the utmost tact and sympathy, but it was felt that the matter could safely be left to the discretion of the teachers concerned. The Department regretted that it was unable to assist in such cases, but thought that something might be accomplished through local effort. The letter was received without further' comment.

Correspondence was read at the last meeting of the Whakatane Harbour Board from timber millers operating at Te Whaiti requesting information regarding the Board’s wharfage charges for shipping timber through the port of Whakatane (says the Whakatane Pess). The Chairman Mr Sumner, stated that the usual charge was 9d per 100 feet, but on previous occasions when large quantities of timber had been shipped the fee was reduced to 6d. He had instructed the Secretary to reply to that effect and further state that the charges would be again reviewed if considered necessary. Mr Sumner said it was probable that another company operating in the same locality would direct its output through the port when the Galatea Road was completed and it was likely that a total of 2,000,000 feet of-tim-ber would be exported annually. This would make an appreciable difference to the revenue of the Board. It was resolved that the Chairman’s action be confirmed.

A special cattle sale will be held at Ngongotaha on April 4, when 750 head of cattle from the Galatea station will be offered.

The Town Clerk inserts a notice to-day in reference to the special order granting the right to the Shell Compny of New Zealand to lay a petroleum conduit pipe and gas pipe in Cliff Road, and Marsh and Chapel Streets.

“It is an amazing feature of the history of New Zealand that, within a very few years, the nation has changed from one of pioneers to one of urban dwellers” said Mr S. J. E. Closey president of the Papatoetoe Chamber, of Commerce, yesterday, at a joint conference of chambers of the South Auckland district this week. The conference gave unanimous support to a proposal favouring semirural settlement for workers in seasonal trades, such as glassmaking, tanning, killing for the freezing industy and the assembling of agricultural implements.

Advices front Auckland state that supplies of eggs have been moderate this week, but the demand has not been nearly as strong as usual at this time of Lent. Prices are for hen eggs; First grade 1/91 per dozen: B grade. 1/4*; and C grade, 1/I|. Duck eggs: First grade, 1/91 per dozen; B grade, l/0£; and C grade, 1/3J.