EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1942, Page 5

EKETAHUNA

RED CROSS SOCIETY ENJOYABLE CARD PARTY. (“Times-Age” Special.) At the fortnightly flag 500 party held by the local Red Cross Sub-Centre in the Parish Hall, the attendance was not as large as usual but the gathering was very enjoyable. Mr M. Priest (president) presented the prizes to the following winners:— Ladies, Miss M. Anderson; men, Messrs Castledene, A. Southey and B. Oliver. Mr L. C. Christie conducted the games. Miss B. Curry and members of the committee were the hostesses. Personal Items. The late Mr George Sundgren, who lost his life at the Otaki beach _ in tragic circumstances, lived at one time in Macara Street, Eketahuna. He was well known in the Alfredton district where he was employed for a number of years by Mr H. N. Kebbell, of Ngakata. Lance Corporal Harold John Monaghan, of Newman, son of Mr J. E. J. Monaghan, Newman, has been awarded the Military Cross. The death took place at the Wellington Hospital of Mrs Sarah Ann Scott, of Upper Hutt, and widow of the late Mr William Steven Scott. Mr W. D. Scott, of Eketahuna, is a son of the deceased. Memorial Service.

A memorial service for two pioneers of the church and district, Messrs F. H. Dunderdale and T. H. Groves, was held in St Aidan’s Church, Alfredton, on Sunday last. Besides Mrs F. H. Dunderdale and Mrs T. H. Groves and other relatives, a large number of friends and church-people assembled to honour their memory, and their work for the church. The Vicar, the Rev J. C. W. Mutter, took as his texts, “I live; yet not I, but Christ, liveth in me” (Gal. 2:20) and “They rest from their labours and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:13), and spoke of the splendid work these men had done and the fine example they had set. They represented the type of men the world stands so much in need of today, displaying as they did the indwelling presence and power of God. The late Messrs F. H. Dunderdale and T. H. Groves were two of the earliest settlers of Alfredton, arriving in the 80’s. Both lived an exemplary life and at all times were ready to help their fellow men and the district. Their characters were very similar; they were sincere, earnest and genuine Christians. They were both members of the first vestry when St Aiden’s Church was completed in 1902 and they held that office until each was appointed church warden. Mr Dunderdale was warden from 1920 until 1923 and Mr Groves from 1925 until 1937. Mr Dunderdale was secretary for 20 years from 1903 until he retired to live in Masterton. He was a lay reader for many years and often walked 15 miles to take a service. Mr Groves cleared and farmed his wellknown farm at Tawataia and lived there until his death. He was always willing to help and give advice to younger men taking up land. And so pass two Christian men. Their good deeds will long live after them and it is for the younger generation to carry, on the good work of the church of which the pioneers laid the trail. Appeal Not to be Withdrawn. Mr L. Brown, the senior Tararua Electric Power Board officer at Eketahuna, was drawn in the ballot on November 11 but, on account of the important position he holds, an appeal has been lodged by the board to have him exempted from being called up. Mr Brown wrote to the board asking them to withdraw their appeal, because he considered that now his time had come he had a duty to perform for his country. The board considered that he would be rendering a greater service to his country by remaining in his present position, especially in the interests of primary production, so decided that it could not withdraw its appeal. Mr Brown is a married man with eight children of school age. Appeal to be Discussed. Mr A. S. Rowden, a member of the Tararua Electric Power Board staff, who was drawn in an earlier ballot, had written to the Board asking that no further appeal be made for him, because he considered that things had now reached a stage when he could be spared. Messrs P. Davies, J. B. Carruthers and the Engineer-Manager have been appointed a committee on behalf of the Board to go into the matter and to discuss it with Mr Rowden.