Further Vandalism.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1940, Page 4

Further Vandalism.

In Trustee Street the last of the planting of rowan trees has been maliciously destroyed by the tearing down of its two main branches. Gift Parcels and Balaclavas.

Twenty-five gift parcels, which have been handed in to the Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith, have been despatched to the Provincial Patriotic Depot, Wellington. Mr. O’Hara Smith wishes to remind those in outlying districts who are knitting balaclavas that these are required to be on hand at the end of the week. Timber for Australia. A consignment of 200,000 feet of sap matai timber is stacked on the Napier breakwater awaiting shipment to Australia. This timber is not used to any extent in New Zealand, because of its susceptibility to the borer, but in Australia it is immune from the pest and has a ready sale for the making of furniture and shop fittings. The timber all came from mills in the Puketitiri and Ohirakura districts.

Rare White Egret. Believed to be a white egret—the kotuku of the Maori —a white bird has taken up temporary residence near a dam on the property of Mr H. C. S. Wilson, Highfield Road, Feilding. The bird was first noticed about milking time on Saturday afternoon, and at first was thought to be a white heron. Seen through glasses, however, there is little doubt that it is the now rare kotuku.

Mounted Rifles’ Camp. The Masterton Railway Station presented a militant appearance when C Squadron, Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles left by special train early this morning for Waipukurau. where the annual camp is being held. Efficient handling resulted in the 70 horses being entrained with a minimum of deiay. More men joined the train at Eketahuna. and a squadron entrained at Woodville. Girls for Farm Work. A request from the Red Cross Society. which recently had been reorganised in Masterton for the appointment of two representatives from the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union on the Red Cross Committee was referred to the Women’s Division by yesterday’s meeting of the executive. The letter from the secretary of the Red Cross Society stated that a number of girls were willing to take classes in wool 'classing, farm machinery, shearing and the use of milking machines with the idea of being able to help farmers, in the event of anv shortage of farm labour owing to military services, to maintain production.