Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 93, 27 November 1939, Page 4

Local and General

Mako at Waikanae

A mako shark had come ashore at Waikanae, after being shot in the water, said Mr D. J. Gibbs at the meeting of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. It was easily 2501b in weight. Perhaps, if the sea on that coast were explored, a new biggame fishing area in the vicinity of Wellington, might be discovered. Success in Competition. Arranged by Messi*s W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd., ? competition for the purpose of promoting winter bacon production was held at the Westfield Works last Tuesday. In the Bay of Plenty section the results were: J. B. Blackburn, Katikati (173) 1, W. H. Mathewson, Rotorua (168%) 2, E. A. Haultain, Rangitaiki Plains (168) 3, L. V. Looney, Opotiki (167) 4, A. Nicol, Opotiki (165) 5. Ninety-Seven Years of Age. An old Opotiki resident, Mr Valentine Savage, who is at present in Auckland, celebrated his 97th birtJLday last Thursday. Mr Savage was born on November 23, 1842, at the j Wade, now known as Silverdale, near Auckland. Ho lived in Opotiki through the troublous days of the Maori War and had many exciting experiences. For a number of years Mr Savage resided at Hawai where he cultivated a beautiful orchard and vineyard. Scooping Necessary. Silt in the river, and the absencc of rain to wash it away, has made scooping necessary in the channel near the Rowing Club's shed. On Friday a line was taken out and fixed to two stakes which had been driven in the river bed about 20j yards from the shed. A mobile winch was brought on the scene and a scoop employed to bring the silt up. Blasting was found to be necessary at times and this accounted for the explosions heard in the town on Friday. No Need for Conscription. A former employee, 19 years old, called in to see his old employer on a recent afternoon, states a Christchurcb exchange. In response to the, usual inquiries, he said he was quite well, very well, but he was out of work. "How's that?" asked the other, for he knew the young fellow was quite a good salesman. "The firm hasen't got anything to sell, and doesn't know when it Avill be able to import anything; so, out I go." As all the other importers seemed to be in the same predicament, he supposed he would enlist. "No need for conscription/' he laughed. "The Government just works a fellow out of a job, and then reminds him that there's a war on."

Park in Use.

Good use is being made of the Centennial Park at the Heads. Many people have taken advantage of it and bathers were observed there over the week-end, enjoying it as a bath-

ing place

Humorist at Work. A well-known garage has borne the sign "Park Your Car Here" until recently, but somebody has added "case" to the word "car." 'The sign now stands full in the public gaze reading "Park Your Carcase Here." It has been like this for some time now, and passers-by are wondering how long it will remain before the management notice it. Clansman Sails. The Clansman, which arrived on Friday from Auckland with 180 tons of general cargo, sailed on Saturday afternoon with 5515 boxes of butter, 512 crates of cheese, 300 benzine drums and a quantity of general goods. It had been anticipated that owing to the state of the bar, a full loading could not be made, but no difficulty was encountered in making from the port and all consignments were shipped.

Hoist by His Own Petard

[ The fact that it is illegal does not prevent morbid-minded people from occasionally dynamiting hawks. The recent experience of a Waikato farmer should serve as a warning to anybody with similar ideas. He liberated a hawk with a stick of dynamite tied firmly to one of its legs. The added weight worried the bird, which flew straight to the nearest resting place. This happened.? to be the roof of the farmer's house. After it had been there a few seconds the plug exploded, lifting the roof half off the house and scattering debris for yards around. Fortunately nobody was injured, as might lrave been the case, but the farmer was punished to the extent of nearty £100 for repairs.

Stout men, note! Man loses 151bs in 2 weeks with Bonkora. Obtainable F. G. Macklow, Chemist, Whakatane.