Several times recently no berth has been assigned to the ferry boat, with the result that 300 or 400 passengers have been landed away down towards the end of the Rattray street wharf, and have had to make their way past vessels discharging timber, with consequent risk of accident. At other times, it is said, the space allotted to the ferry boats is altogether insufficient for safe handling. This causes delay, much to the annoyance of those passengers who are supposed to be at business in town sharp to time. Complaints are also loud and long about the length of the wharf at Broad Bay and its exposure to the weather. During the last week or two there has been a succession of strong gales, which have made it very difficult to walk down the wharf with safety. It is generally conceded that to remedy this state of matters a shed should be erected near the end of the wharf, to which passengers might run for shelter and watch for a favourable opportunity to negotiate the landing.
• A Press Association telegram from Rotorua states that the small old crater on Frying Pan Flat at Waimangu became active yesterday morning, and has continued to erupt at intervals of 20 minutes. The material is ejected to a height of 40ft.
• A general meeting of the Broad Bay Amenities Society was held at the Broad Bay Schoolhouse on Saturday evening, when the reports of the Works Committee were discussed and dealt with. It was decided (1) to complete the track leading from Argyle street to the main road and to form working bees to carry out the work; (2) to put a jarrah rail and wire fence round the triangle opposite Mr Weir's store, to grub the ground, clear it, and plant it with ngaio trees; (3) either to erect a new bathing shed for ladies at the south end or to shift the present bathing shed into the cave at Cemetery Point; and (4) to erect a drinking fountain and horse trough opposite the church. This comprises the work which the society has taken in hand for the ensuing year, and members are now making a canvass of residents and visitors to find the necessary money for the material. Most of the work will be done by the members in working bees.
• As an example of the extraordinary communications which occasionally reach local bodies, the following letter, which came before the meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council yesterday, would be difficult to surpass. The writer was a resident of Waitati, and the terms of his communication were as follow: - ''I hereby make application for permission to keep a cow or even a little heifer on the street lines in Murchison township, Waitati, seeing that all my neighbours, even the police officer, has a cow running in the ''long paddock'' for which I am making application. I don't know on what condition you grant permission, but if it is necessary to produce evidence of good character may be able to produce the same at the next meeting of the council. It is no use speaking to the local councillor, as he don't know anything about it.''
This letter caused intense amusement among the councillors, and the clerk put the finishing touch by remarking that it was the policeman's duty to keep the cattle off the street. The chairman moved that the matter be referred to the member for the riding (Cr Kilpatrick) to deal with, and, despite the protests of the latter, this was carried. - ODT, 29.1.1913.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
