Planted More Than 2,000,000 Trees.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1941, Page 4

Planted More Than 2,000,000 Trees.

Mr James Wells, a resident of Whangarei and formerly of Canterbury, who is now in his cighty-second year, has planted, according to his own estimate, more than 2,000,000 trees. Twenty years ago he started treeplanting in Whangarei by laying down the plantation on Lookout Hill, and for 14 years was engaged in tree-plan-ting at Parahaki. Mr Wells was born in Blantyre, Scotland, in the same small cottage on the bank of the Clyde where Dr. Livingstone was born. When six years old he accompanied his parents to New Zealand in the ship Tudor. The ship was considered too large to come right up Lyttelton Harbour at that time, and passengers were lowered to small boats in baskets. Mr Wells still remembers the journey bj coach from Lyttelton to Temuka. where he lived for many years. Recently he walked from Whangarei to Auckland, the trip taking five and a half days.

Gliders Used on Crete. Details are now available concerning (he gliders used by the Germans in their attack on Crete, states "The Times,” London. The average number towed by each aircraft was two, but it is possible for six to be towed by a Jus2 troop-carrier. Reports that parachute troops were dropped from the gliders are discounted, for there is only one small exit from which it would be difficult, if not impossible, for armed and equipped men to jump. The towing speed is a little more than 100 miles an hour and the gliders have the low landing speed of 40 miles an hour on their skids. Though several types were employed, most of the gliders had a wing span of 80ft and were 50ft long. They carried between 10 and 12 men, armed with sub-ma-chine-guns, known as Schweisser; and in addition carried two portable radio sets, six tommy-guns, and two ma-chine-guns.