HOME & COUNTRY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32422, 24 April 1944, Page 6

HOME & COUNTRY

WAITAKARURU INSTITUTE INTERESTING ADDRESS LONG-RANGE DESERT PATROL The monthly meeting of the Waitakaruru Women’s Institute was held in the Waitakai’uru Hall on Wednesday, April 12. Although Mrs M. Pacey had been re-elected as president at the annual meeting held last month, she was so desirous of retiring, that in the interval Mrs Harley Wallis had been approached by several members, and they had gained her consent to take the office. In the unavoidable absence of Mrs 'Pacey, the chair was taken by Mrs Cropp, who introduced the new -president to her seat with well-chosen words. Mrs Wallis suitably responded. She expressed hei’ gratification that Mrs R. Mitchell was taking- the office of secretary for the fifth year in succession, with the treasurer, Mrs Hinton also in her place. Mrs F. 'Stretton was the librarian, Mrs J- 'Ganley and Mrs W. Simpson take charge of the sales tables; Mrs J. Pacey, garden circle convener. It is hoped to form a drama circle and Mrs Coxhead is to be asked to convene this. It was decided to adopt a prisoner of war and send parcels to him via the Red Cross.

Donations for the soldiers’ parcels fund were received from the Mangatarata Social Club and Mrs J. McLennan. It was also decided to send parcels to the local boys, with the equivalent in money to the next-of-kin prisoners of war (five). There are approximately 50 parcels to be sent from the district.

Following the business and lunch a most interesting talk was given by Mrs Alec 'Coxhead. This was on the activities of a late member of the Long-Range Desert Group, that valiant body of men who volunteered early in the war and operated deep into enemy territory, in Egypt. They were mostly in the desert, with the various oasis 'as headquarters. Their job was to make raids on enemy airfields, barracks, camps, store dumps and isolated outposts, to gather information. They travelled in small convoys of four or five armoured vehicles and trucks, carrying all necessary food, fuel, water and ammunition, with a navigator, doctor, and communication equipment and experts.

These men were trained on commando lines, each man with his special job in a raid, and he had to use his own initiative and resources. The small ration of water was one of the biggest hardships, until they became accustomed to doing w T ith little. The description given of the Oasis of &iwa which lies 200 miles south of Mersa Matruh was most interesting, and the history of this isolated spot shows that it was famous many centuries before Christ. There are many mud houses, often built one on top of the other, the sons occupying the one above the father, these reaching up to 200 feet in. height. They have now been decreed as unsafe by the Egyptian Government, and are uninhabited. The rainfall is practically nil, but the marvellous fertility of the soil is

due to about 200 underground springs which well up through cracks in the earth. Many springs are salt and as the water dries it leaves a glistening bed of salt. The industry of this place, which is quite a ' large settlement is date groves, which supply fibre for the manufacture of matting, ropes, etc. The wood is used for building and fuel, the fronds for fencing and roofs. Camels and donkeys are used for transport. The flesh of the camel is eaten as also that of cats, dogs, mice and a smaller animal named jerboas. The older women are seldom seen, and the young girls wear their hairin a series of tight plaits which hang in a fringe across the forehead, and dressed with rancid oil.

Mrs Coxhead was most hearty vote of thanks for her effort in supplying the members with this most entertaining account of the life ■ of one part of the fighting services which s are so seldom heard of. NG ATE A INSTITUTE INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION Miss A. Paul presided over a very ' good attendance of members and friends at the April meeting of the Ngatea Women’s Institute. The meeting opened with the singing of the institute song and the reading of | the institute prayer after which , members stood in silence as a mark of respect and love for the late Fly-ing-Officer Alwyne Galvin, son of Mrs J. Galvin. Routine business was read and i

discussed and Mrs D. Coldicutt was appointed delegate to the May council meeting. Arrangements were made for a visit in July, by Miss E. K. Morton. Mrs Wheeler gave a report on the Sunshine Committee. It was decided to write a letter to Mrs C. Brown who has recently left the district and is nursing at Howick. A presentation was made to Mrs F. Connors on the occasion of her approaching marriage. Mrs Ireland of Netherton gave a very interesting talk on the making of stuffed toys, etc. She had on display a wonderful assortment of 'beautifully made animals. All were keenly interested and at the conclusion of her address Mrs Ireland was loudly applauded and presented, with a beautiful shoulder spray. Baby Williams was also presented with a suitable gift and her mother with a spray. Mrs J. Waite won a cake competition and the winners in the novelty door-stop competition were Mrs Wheeler 1, Mrs H. Dalgety 2. Winners in the gardening circle’s competitions were: —Best bloom, Mrs H. Dalgety 1, Mrs Paul 2. Vase of flowers. —Mrs H. Dalgety I, Miss Paul 2. Tin of berries.—Miss Irwin 1, Mrs Dalgety 2. Best onion.—Miss Paul 1, Mrs Wheeler 2. Hostesses for the day were Mesdames N. Alach and S. V. Barribr.il and Miss G. Alach.