Minesweeper to Be Launched.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 254, 25 September 1942, Page 4

Minesweeper to Be Launched.

H.M.N.Z.S. Awatorc, a ship of tlie minesweeper class, is to be launched to-morrow afternoon from the Evans Bay (Wellington) shipyards. The ceremony will be performed by Mrs P. Fraser.

Committee Closes School. The Maitland School, in the Gore district, was recently closed by the committee because of the alleged attitude of the teacher toward military training. The action was approved at a meeting of householders lield in the school.

Slip on Main Trunk Line. Because of a slip between Mangaweka and Utiku, five miles south of Taihape, the Main Trunk line was blocked yesterday afternoon. Tlie slip came down in a cutting and partly buried the locomotive and three wagons of a north-bound ballast train. White Feathers.

A South Invercargill resident who recently had his appeal dismissed by the Armed Forces Appeal Board has been made the victim of a despicable type of prank. A white feather in a viciously-worded letter was received by appellant’s wife and during the morning the front lawn of his house was covered with white feathers. Road Blockages.

The Manawatu Automobile Association has been informed that the Mangaweka-TJtiku Itoad is blocked and will not be clear till Monday. A detour via Kawhatau is available. Tlie Wanganui-Pipiriki-Raetihi Itoad is closed till further notice, and slips have stopped traffic through the Parapara road. This route, it was stated, would probably he clear by this afternoon.

Crown's Liability. Members of the Armed forces are now regarded as servants of the Crown in respect to accidents -which nufy occur involving any motor vehicles they are driving. This is provided for in regulations gazetted last night, the effect of which is that the Crown acknowledges its liability in case of such accidents. Only in this respect is there any alteration in the existing law that members of the Armed Forces are not servants of the Crown.

Governor-General’s Advice. “It is nearly a year since the Japanese entered the war, and they have not attacked us yet. Let no one think this means they cannot do so. Let no one he lulled into a ialse sense of security. It can still happen here. There must be no slackening of our efforts, no complacency in our preparations.” This warning advice formed the keynote of an address which the Governor-General (Sir Oyril Newall) gave in replying to the civic welcome tendered to him in Waipukurau. City Engineer’s Offices.

Speedy progress is being made with the erection of temporary offices in Jersey Lane for the city engineer and gas manager and their staffs. The building is of wood and will have six rooms, each 12ft by 12ft, and a drawing office. Tbe provision of the premises was made necessary by the damage caused to the front section of the City Council offices in the earthquakes, this leading to the decision to build new premises on that site. Firm’s Patriotic Gesture. The Government has received an unconditional donation of £IOOO towards the war effort from _ lvibbv’s Metal Pressing AVorks, New Plymouth, the Prime Minister (Air Fraser) has announced. The sum represents the entire gross profits of the firm from making and supplying heel and toe plates for military footwear. “In making this gift,” said Mr Fraser, “the firm, states that it does not wish to profit from work undertaken for the Armed Services.”

Timbuktu’s Counterpart. “AVhat we want to know is where we can find this place called AVaipukurau,” was the first question asked by many American marines on their arrival in New Zealand. Repeated questions about AVaipukuraii led to an inquiry as to the reason for such interest in the Central Hawke’s Bay centre, and xlie reply was somewhat amusing. “AA’ell, buddy, the name AA’aipukurau is used in America in the same way its wo find Timbuktu is used in this country, and that is why wc all figure on going there before wo leave this Dominion.”

Board; at Variance. At a meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board Trustee Barber reported that t)i-! bank on Mr Spring’s property was being lowered and this would let more water into the Moutoa in flood time. The board had not received a reply from the Manawatu-Oroua River Board concerning the protest it had lodged and apparentv nothing liad been done. He thought the matter should be taken further in the interests of the ratepayers. It was .decided to advise the ManawatuOroua River Board that, failing satisfaction, the Moutoa Board intended taking the necessary action to protect its ratepayers.