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Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1940, Page 4

High Percentage of Fit Men. The examining Medical Board sat in the Drill Hall, Masterton, last night, when a large number of men were examined. Eighty-six per cent of the men were passed as fit. and this is considered to be a record for any recruiting centre in New Zealand. The medical standard of the men was very high. A Busy Christmas. Information available yesterday shows that a tremendous volume of business was handled in the post offices in the four centres during Christmas week. Because of the increased postage rates, stamp sales in all centres showed a marked increase, but there was a drop in the number of parcels posted. This was accounted for by the fact that this year small parcels were counted as packets. Steady Stream of Enlistments. The steady stream of enlistments for service overseas from the smaller centres of the Wairarapa is being well maintained, a further six men offering their services yesterday. The Masterton Defence Office lias now enrolled 352 recruits, the six latest enrolments being these of Messrs Jack Morris (Okautete) and Jack King! (Okautete), Maori Battalion; Messrs K. E. Percy (Flat Point), V. P. Grantham (Featherston), C. Burch (Papawai) and L. G. Humphries (Greytown). Rider Stung by Dees. A swarm of bees forced one ol the riders in the New Zealand Tourist Trophy race at Waiheke Island. S. Winterburn, Io retire from the contest. This rider was making good time until, in the fourth lap. he ran into a swarm of bees. He was severely stung about the face and forced to retire. He was given first aid treatment, and was able to watch the remainder of the race, although sulfering from a painful and considerably swollen face. Graf Spec Prisoner. The one Aucklander among the British prisoners landed at Montevideo from the German pocket, battleship Admiral Graf Spec was Mr Archard D. Dixon, son of Mrs Margaret Dixon, of 26 Brighton Road, Farm'll. He left Auckland on October 13. and sailed from Sydney 10 days later as a deck boy on the Tairoa to get his passage to England. A few (lays before the ship reached Capetown he celebrated his 21st birthday. The Tairoa was sunk by tile Graf Spec on December 3. Mr Dixon was born in Swanage, England and received part of his education in China,