NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Native School Improvements The member for the Eastern Maori electorate, Sir Apirann Ngata, has received .from the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, information that the Cabinet has approved of a grant for additions, improvements and renovations at the Whakaangiangi Native School, Te Ararat. llawa County Metalling The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, has advised Mr. A. C>. Hultquist, member for the Bay of Plenty, that £270, at the rate of £3 for £l, has been provided on the Supplementary Estimates to assist the Uawa County Council in completing the metalling of the Tolagn BayArikihi road. Good Weather for Growth An indication of the rapidity of growth induced by the week-end rain has been supplied by Mr. F. W. Peddle, of the Willows Settlement. Mr. Peddle completed the planting of 20 acres of wheat on Saturday, and the rain which commenced that night brought about germination with such rapidity that by yesterday the seed had commenced to sprout. Of course, the shoots had not appeared above the ground, but if the rain had not fallen a week or so might have passed before any sign of the bursting of the seeds was noticed.

New Meeting House at Nuhaka.

An interesting ceremony wag performed at Mohaka on Saturday when the first block of the new community meeting house at the Kahungunu inarae was laid. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Hemi Huata, and among the visitors from Wairoa were the county chairman, Mr. A. T. Carroll, and Mr. D. McGregor. Later a meeting was held to discuss the organisation of the district to meet any national emergency. The necessary preliminary steps were taken and it was decided to hold a further meeting in a fortnight.—Special.

Letter From Gdynia It was with some surprise that a Dunedin resident found in his Saturday morning’s post a letter bearing the postmark Gdynia, Hie Polish port on the Baltic which fell to the Nazis after a gallant defence. In the letter, which bore no date but which was evidently written early in August, here was no mention of international trouble, and, in fact, the writer stated that she had been invited by her nephew to visit him in the country. The object of the visit was for the aunt to enjoy a complete rest. Her Dunedin correspondents are anxious as to her safety, but have no way of finding out the results of her visit

Appreciation Voiced Appreciation of the services given to cricket by Mr. H. E. Maude during his long executive association with ho game was voiced by Mr. P. C. Dwyer a.t the annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association last evening. Mr. Dwyer said that Mr. Maude had given many years of service to the game and his financial knowledge and business acumen had contributed largely to the favourable lease obtained of the Oval. In reply to Mr. Dwyer Mr. Maude said that the legal knowledge of Mr. J. de V. W. Blathwayt had contributed largely ‘o the peppercorn rental lease of the Oval during the summer months. As a mark of appreciation, those present elected Mr. Maude patron of the association. No Fees For Soldiers A lead which probably will be taken up extensively was given to sports clubs last evening by the executive of the Gisborne Rowing Club. It was pointed out that many young men who in normal circumstances might have taken up rowing this season would not be inclined to commit themselves to expense in respect of club fees, in view of the possibility of their being accepted for service in the military forces. The executive decided that any member called for-service should be relieved of subscription liabilities, not only for the current season, but also for the whole period of service with the forces. It was recalled that tire Gisborne Rowing Club had a proud record in the Great War,'and that the departure of oarsmen for the front occasioned the complete abandonment of rowing for two or three seasons.

I'apakura Camp Site The site of the military training camp at Papakura is part of an area taken up by the late Mr. Duncan McLennan in 1842 and farmed by himself and his descendants ever since. The pioneer first acquired a section of 220 acres, later adding to it another area of the same size. The price was 10s an acre, but even so there were friends of Mr. McLennan in the Auckland settlement who asked him why he had selected land so remote. Actually, during the first war troubles Mr. McLennan had to abandon the place for a time. When Mr. McLennan died the farm was divided among his three sons, one of whom, Mr. E. D. McLennan, formerly M.P. for Franklin, and two grandsons of the pioneer, now surrender part of the original property for camp purposes. The soldiers who understand what is meant by a family having its roots on a particular soil will find special interest in the camp site, which was farmed by one family for 98 years.