LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Plunket Society Donations. In the list of acknowledgments for the Plunket Society published on Saturday, the name of R. Pinkerton should have read R. Pinhey. Medical Scheme.

More than 600 application cards issued under the social security general practitioner scheme are to -be obtained on behalf of employees of the East Town railway workshops, Wanganui, as the result of a meeting of employees yesterday afternoon. It was stated last night that a list was taken after the meeting of the number of cards required. These cards will be presented to practitioners in the hope of bringing the scheme into operation.

Napier Blackout. The Tom Parker fountain and the myriads of multi-coloured lights which decorated a number of Napier's famous Norfolk Island pines suffered when the first stages of the blackout were brought into operation last night. Fanned by a strong breeze on Sunday night the coloured spray from the fountain was flung back over the Marine Parade while the globes on the | trees performed a rhythmical dance to celebrate what might be termed a last festival.

Sale of Produce. Members of the Rangitumau branch of the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union will take command of the Air Raid Shelter tomorrow to conduct a sale of all kinds of farm and home produce. Youth Drowned. While swimming in the Rangitikei River, about 250 yards above the old highway bridge at Kakariki on Sunday afternoon, a youth was drowned. He was: Ivan Edward Mercer, aged 17. son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Mercer, Pukepapa Road, Marton. Mercer, who was employed as a junior railway porter at Marton Junction, had previously swum across the river from the Halcombe side with another youth. Cecil Edward Hooper. They were swimming back when Mercer started struggling. Hooper tried to support him, but Mercer struggled so much that his companion was forced to let him go. The river was discoloured and running swiftly because of recent rains. Before Mercer disappeared, Hooper called out for help but people on the river bank were under the impression that the youths were “sky-larking.” The cause of Mercer getting into difficulties is not known.