Local and General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 84, 23 June 1944, Page 4

Local and General

Not Wounded Advicc lias been received that Pie. J. H. Riddel 1, of Te Puke, previously reported wounded is now reported not wounded. Otakiri Gymkhana The attention of readers is drawn to the programme for the Otakiri Gymkhana to be held on July Ist which appears on page eight this issue. Serious Fracture A further accident on the football field occurred at Ruatoki on Saturday afternoon, when Mr U. Atarau of Edgecumbe suffered a serious fracture of the leg. He was admitted to the Whakatane Hospital and later transferred to Hamilton by the St. John Ambulance. Chapter of Accidents Although first class football was the order of the day at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday afternoon, the games -were somewhat marred by the number of accidents which occurred on the field. All told, there were nine accidents during the two games, all of which were successfully attended by the St. John Ambulance officer in attendance. Surcharge on Machinery "This branch wishes to know the true position regarding the 33 per cent surcharge on all imported farm machinery." This remit, sent in by the Waimairi branch of the Farmers' Union, was discussed at a meeting of the North Canterbury executive of the union recently, and it was decided to make further inquiries ino the surcharge. .Shortest Day Yesterday Whakataneans who shivered indoors under the abnormally cold conditions which swept over the town yesterday can take some comfort in the reflection that Thursday was the shortest day of the year, with the sun at the most northerly portion of its apparent path. The change in the length of the days close to the solstice is not large and it will be several weeks before any lengthening in the hours of daylight will be noticeable. Constant Patrons Although the shelter by the busstop at the Rock may at times be empty of human, inhabitants., it is never altogether vacant. During wet weather especially, dozens of sparrows flock beneath its loof to obtain shelter from the rain. Another factor which serves to attract these feathered wayfarers is the crumbs and pieces of food which lie in the corners and under the seats. This means that a passing sparrow can pause, to obtain food and shelter while passing—truly a benefit to the feathered world. Sudden Shower Many townspeople of Whakatane were caught, unawares shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday when a lull in the wet weather was brought to a sudden conclusion by a very heavy shower which quickly saturated everyone and every thing not under cover. The rain poured down with no warning whatsoever, and the result was that people were forced to splash their way as quickly as possible to the nearest shelter. Unfortunately for some, they were a fair distance from any covering, and as a result, were drenched thoroughly. Otakiri Hall Fund The Otakiri Patriotic quota having been met fully some time ago, a fund has now been started by the settlers, of Otakiri with the ultimate aim of paying off the debt on the halL and also making various renovations and improvements to it with the' object of constituting it as a War Memorial Hall. It is intended to place in it a suitable plaque to the memory of those men from the district who have given their lives overseas in the, present war. Towards this end, the committee is holding a gymkhana on July 1 and( has also inaugurated a Popular Girl contest. Mother's Appeal for Son "It is not right that a fit. single [ man should be kept out of. the Army while his father, apparently a fit man of 4.8 does not pull his weight on the farm," said Mr R. P. Smith, chairman of the Armed Forces Appeal Board (Hamilton) at a sitting recently. He was referring to statements made in an appeal on behalf of Mrs Ivy Cickers, farmer, of Pukerimu, for extension of leave from a military camp for her son, Sherwood Vickers, who she declared was essential on the. farm on which she had a herd of 140 cows. Questioning brought the information that the soldier's father helped with the herd only occasionally, and this prompted the chairman's remark. The board decided to recommend an extension of the son's leave, but directed the attention of the manpower officer to the position, with a suggestion that an effort be made to have the father directed to work that would require his; fulltime. attention.