LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Petro! for E.P.S. Cars. The Government has agreed to allow all vehicles used for E.P.S. work one gallon of petrol for the remainder of this month. Late Mrs Merry’s Estate.

Death duties amounting to about £55,700 have been paid on the estate of the late Mrs Alice Merry, who was found dead in bed at 72 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington, in October of last year. - The estate was sworn for probate at under £105,000, and the death duties thus absorb more than half this amount. Cash assets were available to meet the duties. Though no will was ever found, 10 beneficiaries were located. Removal from Danger Areas.

The removal of women and children from danger areas to safer districts was discussed at a meeting held in Wellington yesterday. It was decided to advise a progressive and gradual evacuation, where circumstances permitted, to friends or relatives in country areas, if such arrangements could be made privately. This epurse was advocated to relieve the burden on responsible evacuation officials in the event of a general emergency. Regulations dealing with the evacuation of civilians from danger areas are being drafted by the Government.

Destroyed by Fire. Practically the whole of the planted area on the Waitangi National Trust endowment was destroyed in a disastrous fire which swept Mount Bledisloe yesterday afternoon. The fire was observed shortly after 4- o’clock, and though a large number of men was assembled in an endeavour to check the flames and save at least a portion of the trees, the area was almost completely swept. A strong north-east wind was blowing, carrying the flames through the trees on the slopes of the mountain above Waitangi House. Fortunately the fire did not cross the road into the Waitangi National Reserve and the Treaty House was not endangered. Church and Education.

“We are approaching an age of paganism and the Church that surrenders the secondary education of her children is a church that is doomed,” said Mr R. C. Clark, principal of the Wesley College, Paerata, at the Methodist conference in Wellington yesterday. “I have heard it said that ’Donald Duck’ and ‘Mickey Mouse’ mean more to many children than does the teaching of Jesus Christ,” continued Mr Clark, in an impassioned speech advocating the establishing of more church schools by the conference. The suggestion to establish a preparatory school at Mt. Wellington, Panmure, Auckland, met with the hearty approval of the conference.

Church Union,

After a long discussion on the proposed union of the Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregational Churches, the Methodist Conference in Wellington yesterday decided that the basis of union be placed before the quarterly meetings of the churches and the synods of 1942. It will then come before the 1943 conference. A report signed on behalf of their respective churches by the Revs. J. M. Bates (Presbyterian), W. A. Burley (Methodist), and H, W. Newell (Congregational), was before the conference. “Differences and difficulties there were, but finally a proposed basis of union was produced which, it is hoped, will be accepted by the three churches,-. and which would, it is believed, make for harmony and efficient working in a united church,” stated the report, in referring to the discussions [between the three churches.