NEWSY ISSUE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32430, 12 May 1944, Page 5

NEWSY ISSUE

KEREPEEHI SCHOOL PAPER LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SCHOOL Vo. 2. No. 1 of the Kerepeehi News, a small newspaper issued by the Kerepeehi School has been received by .the Hauraki Plains Gazette and as usual is full of items of interest. The aim of the paper is to supply all Kerepeehi 'boys serving overseas with a budget of local news and each issue a copy is sent to each local man in the forces. Letters of appreciation from district men are frequently received expressing gratitude for books, magazines and copies of the Kerepeehi News. Extracts from the letters of Gnr. R. Shilton, Tpr. R. Chick, Sgt. D. Lord, L/Cpl. G. R. Crisp, Sgt. G. J. Black, 'Dvr. W. M. Pearce, Pte. B. A. Smith, Pte. W. Kidd, are printed in the latest issue. The death in action of Pte. James Te Wfrata is recorded and Tpr. J. Middleton and L/Cpl. L. G. Ratcliffe are welcomed home on furlonugh. Prefabricated Room Advice that the school was recently visited by the architect from the Auckland Education Board who discussed with the committee the question of accommodation, it being decided to erect a new prefabricated room at an early date is also given in the issue. The question of the erection of a dental clinic at the school is also re-

ferred to in a report of a recent visit from the Supervisor of 'Dental Hygiene, Mr Rice. The success of the school pupils in various swimming sports and the programme of the patriotic sports on Easter Monday are other items recorded in the publication and an' appeal is made for magazines and other articles for soldiers’ parcels. Extracts published from servicemen’s letters read as under: — “I have been back about a month after spending my furlough in Scotland. A grand leave it was too, but I only wish I could have split it so as to have seen Kerepeehi folk and to.thank you for what you have all done for me.

“Just a note in acknowledgment of parcel of books received a week ago. I can assure you it was very much appreciated 'by me and the boys in my platoon. As you already know we are in Italy and cannot find much to do in our spare time, as there are no places of amusement over here so we can only read and write. News From Islands “The newsy Kerepeehi News arrived and it was very' interesting to get the local news. The extracts taken from letters of boys in the Islands was particularly interesting to us. Pleased to see you are still playing football and basketball at school. We have had about seven games in Italy but in Egypt we played quite a lot. Italy is one-fifth the size of New Zealand but has thirty times the population. Cars here are considered a great luxury. Most travel in traps or big block drays. The buildings are mostly two stories ? and made of plaster and stone. Fences do not exist and the animals are watched. Grapes, nuts and figs are very plentiful. “This short note is just an acknowledgment of the pleasure I had when I received a copy of Kerepeehi News. I think the rest of the Kerepeehi bojs are with me when I say it is a great

job and one we shall always be pleased to get. I was most interested in reading the list of former teachers. It brought memories. It seems only yesterday that I was playing football on your grounds. I dropped in to see Jack Lord yesterday. He seems to be progressing well. He says he has been told he is to be invalided home but when he gets there he will soon be fit again. I wish I could tell you more but airgraphs do not allow it.

“Your parcel of books arrived. I hope you do not mind but I have sent them up to the front line. These boys inquire them for front line service owing to concussion caused by a near miss bomb at Tebaga Gap.”