Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 158, 22 September 1941, Page 4

Local and General

Prisoner of War. Previously reported missing Mikaere Minarapa, of Matata, is now listed as a prisoner of war. Waimana Riiver Deviation. The canal cut to divert the Waimana River near Kirkbride's: road is so far doing its work well and accommodating most of the flow of water. New Cable Text A new text "Best Wishes for New Year" is now available for use in connection with E.F.M. standard cable messages. This is the special cheap rate available to soldiers overseas. Wiring Damaged. So severe Avas the heat from Friday morning's fire that wiring cased in conjute piping connecting with the Grand Theatre was rendered useless and a rush job of re-wiring was necessary to fulfill the screenings advertised for Friday afternoon. Patrons found the smell of smoke strong in the theatre and noted the smoke stained ceiling and walls. Lighting Charges Reduced. At a recent meeting of the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board the board considered making further reductions in lighting charges. Aftei due consideration it was decided to reduce lighting by %d and commercial lighting by Id. Both these charges are now 7d per unit. When the board fil'st commenced operations the charge was lOd per unit. Lambing Freaks. A ewe owned by a Maclennan resident, Otago, recently gave birth to six lambs. Neither the lambs nor the mother survived. Five of the lambs were well nourished and normal in all respects. An extraordinary freak lamb was discovered by Mir J. McGool on his Wliakarongo farm in the Manawatu district recently. It had no head and no forequarters—only hind, legs and trunk. The lamb was born dead. Girls on Farms. The staff shortage at the Ruakura Ahimal Research Station brought about by war conditions has necessitated the employment of girls at the farm, where many important experiments are being . irried out. Two girls are already working at the farm and a further two will be employed shortly. It is intended when further members of the staff are called up for military duties to fill the vacancies with young women. Morning Milking Hours: Big herds now being milked on Whakatane district farms call for early rising by the milkers. On many farms' the people of the house are now astir at 4 a.m. (which is really 3.30 a.m. standard time), and many milking machines are going strong at 5 a.m., when a faint glimmer can be seen in the eastern sky. On such farms most of the cows are milked before the sun shows 1 above the horizon sometime after 6.15 a.m. Louder Alarm Needed'. Many residents, unfortunately including a number of firemen, were oblivious to the fact that a serious fire was ensuing in the Strand on Friday morning at an early hour. The reason for this was that the was given at the call box at the station and from this only the siren situated in the business area sounds and not the other alarm at Kopeopeo as well, as is the case-when

other alarm boxes are used. The single siren did not awake many residents and some firemen, although* a few King Street light sleepers were aroused. It is the intention of the Borough electrical engineer to make the necessary alterations so that the two alarms will sound simultaneously. Licensee Fined. On each of three charges of supplying liquor to an intoxicated native, a hotel licensee and barman were fined £1 each and costs 10s, at the Opotiki Court last week, while for supplying to a native for consumption off licensed premises they were fined £1 with costs of 16s 8d and 10s respectively. For the supplying of liquor to a member of the defence forces for consumption off the premises each was fined £2. Arising out of the same set of circumstances, a taxi driver for assisting the barman in the supply of liquor to a native for consumption off licensed premises, was fined £1 and costs 10s 6d and for aiding and abetting the barman in the supply of liquor to a member of the defence forces for consumption off the premises was fined £2. —News.