COUNTRY AREAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1942, Page 4

COUNTRY AREAS

DISTRICT MEMBERS VISIT ELECTORATES EKETAHUNA SUFFERS BADLY. FOUR LARGE BUILDINGS WRECKED. Eketahuna suffered very severely, stated Mr J. Robertson, M.P., after visiting that town. The local organisation set up was working very efficiently. Mr Robertson mentioned specially the fine work being done by the Signal Corps in maintaining P. and T. services. The Post Office, Mi' Robertson added, was completely wrecked and the telephone exchange had to be removed to another building. The Courthouse had been converted into a temporary Post Office. Other buildings wrecked were the Borough Council Chambers, the Tararua Power Board offices and the Bank of New South Wales. The Borough offices were now located in the Eketahuna County Council’s building. Praise was due, said Mr Robertson, to the Women's War Service Auxiliary. Their work was greatly in evidence and they rendered splendid service in looking after distressed families and attending to the feeding of soldiers and other E.P.S. workers. Damage in the Alfredton district was more dr less confined to chimneys said Mr Robertson. Excellent work had been done there by the county foreman, who took immediate steps to see that all affected chimneys were supplied with iron tops to enable them to be used for cooking. In a tour of the Taueru and Tinui areas on Saturday afternoon, Mr Ben Roberts, M.P., reported that damage to chimneys was general throughout that district. Some houses had been badly shaken- up, including Mr Hugh Morison’s at Awatoitoi. The school whare there had slipped a short way down the hillside. The Taueru Hotel 'was badly wrenched. Much of the road damage had already been repaired. Much appreciation was expressed by the lessee of the help given by three soldiers in restoration work. At Tinui, Mr Roberts made arrangements with the County Clerk, Mr Miles, to receive estimates of damage to chimneys etc., and an organisation to deal with the position has been set in operation. Mr Roberts proceeded to Wellington yesterday, and brought under the notice of the Prime Minister the position of residents who had lost their coupon books and also the need of supplies of plain galvanised iron for use on chimneys. Representations were also made regarding the damage to the Maori settlement at Taueru.