Ex-Arrowtown Resident Writes Concerning Food Parcels

Lake County Mail, Issue 46, 21 April 1948, Page 2

Ex-Arrowtown Resident Writes Concerning Food Parcels

Many years ago, prior to the First World War, the Presbyterian minister of Arrowtown was the Rev. Fisher. His daughter Helen went to England some two years ago and found employment in the London Transport Company. Since that time she has been sending Mrs John McKenzie, Walter Peak Station, what she calls a journal—some 12 to 18 pages depicting her recent activities. Many of these have been read to the Queenstown, Arrowtown and Five Rivers branches of the W.D.F.U. and these branches have been sending her food parcels. Miss Fisher always shares the parcels with friends and neighbours. We quote from her air mail letter dated March 25, 1948:

“ I also want you to know that the parcel with the rice and sago has reached me as well. It came on Saturday, so I had the fun of unwrapping it in the presence of the lady with whom I board, and a Mrs who has the upstairs flat. The upstairs lady is a dear Scottish elderly soul and has been kind to me in many ways. When I found out that she loved rice, of course I gave her a share, and she was so thrilled that she could hardly believe her eyes. On Sunday, my landlady made a rice pudding for dinner.

“We had not mentioned about the parcel to her husband before, but when he sat down to dinner and saw what there was, his eyes nearly popped out .>

of his head. ‘ Rice,’ he cried, ‘ why, I haven’t seen a rice pudding since 1939.’

“ Seems incredible, doesn’t it ? But it remains a fact. We had some of the sago baked on Tuesday and there is still lots to make more.”