LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Soldier Injured. A soldier, Corporal J. Robinson, was admitted to the Masterton Hospital yesterday. It is understood that he was slightly injured when he was crushed between a lorry and a truck. His condition this morning was reported to be satisfactory. Youth Drowned, , A drowning accident occurred in the Waikato River on Saturday afternoon, when James McKubre, aged 17 years, disappeared while endeavouring to swim across the river with a companion. The fatality occurred at a popular bathing place opposite the end of Boundary Road, Claudelands, near Hamilton. Ergot Collection. Not very much ergot has come to hand so far in the Wairarapa, but no doubt many collectors still have quantities at home. It is pointed out that it would be of assistance if they would dispose of it to the merchants concerned as soon as possible. Incidentally, a visitor to Castlepoint last week-end found marram grass growing there to be fairly heavily infested with ergot. Work to Cease. Work on the Lake Tekapo hydroelectric scheme, begun in 1940 and estimated to take three years to complete, will shortly cease as part of the Government’s policy of transferring all available plant and men to urgent defence works. The Government’s decision was announced by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Armstrong, who expressed regret that war exigencies necessitated suspension of the work. It was imperative that all available men be diverted to defence works. The work already done must be protected and that was being done by a small staff of about 60 men, compared with a staff of more than 200 when the work was in full swing. A Generous Giver. The name of a woman whose philanthropic generosity had extended over the last 12 years, during the whole of which time she preferred to remain anonymous, was mentioned by Mr E. Palliser at the meeting of the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee at Wellington yesterday. He said that not a week had passed during that time but she had sent into the city not only fruit and vegetables from her own place at Upper Hutt, but jams, preserves, and other things which she had made, seldom less than £1 in value, all being for those most in need of such help. Since the Combined Services Hostel started these gifts had been diverted to it. It did not seem right that such steady and sustained generosity should not be made known, and he had begged this person to allow him to mention her name, to which she had at last consented. The lady was Mrs M. O. F. Benge, Upper Hutt. The Liqxior Traffic. The Revs. J. A. Lopdell and R. Grave and Mr H. W. Milner formed a deputation from the New Zealand Alliance which waited on the Methodist Conference in Wellington yesterday. Addressing the conference Mr Milner charged the Government with a breach of faith in connection with wet canteens in Territorial camps, for the promise was given that there would be no such canteens there. “Has the Government changed its attitude with reference to wet canteens in Territorial camps?” asked Mr Milner. “I have evidence that Territorial troops cn a route march were deliberately dismissed in front of hotels and Territorials under age were served in the bar. Russia has prohibited vodka, and in her march to victory is doing all she possibly can to create a sober nation, all-out for victory.”