Many Acknowledgments Received By Marton R.S.A. For Food Parcels

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 February 1949, Page 3

Many Acknowledgments Received By Marton R.S.A. For Food Parcels

Judging by the sheaf of letters of acknowledgement received by the Marton branch of the Returned Services’ Association, food parcels sent to England have been appreciated by the recipients. The Marton R.S.A. for some time now has been despatching five parcels a month and towards the end of last year forwarded 40. These arrived just in time for Christmas distribution.

At a meeting of the R.S.A, executive committee on Wednesday night some of the letters were read. Extracts from these letters tell their own story. “Please convey to your members my most sincere thanks for the beautiful parcel. I can assure you it was a most welcome surprise coming as it did the day before Christmas. The contents were so useful and with the articles being so difficult to get here, makes your parcel all the more welcome. It must take a lot of your leisure time purchasing and making up the parcels. However, it is a most thoughtful gesture and is greatly appreciated,” wrote one .recipient. Another wrote: “It is with very grateful thanks that I acknowledge receipt of your food parcel. It arrived in perfect condition, and needless to say, was indeed very acceptable.”. “This parcel came at a needy time as I broke down through war injuries last January and will probably not work again,” wrote another ex-serviceman. The wife of a returned man, after ; thanking the person whose initials were “R.5.H.,” wrote: “The parcel was delivered in perfect order, and we had a great thrill opening it. If you have a car and get around the country here, and eat out, you don’t feel the rationing, but not being so lucky in life, there are a few things in your parcel we haven’t tasted since the war. Anyway, we don’t get I unset about it. We are jolly glad the blackouts, the sirens, and the searchlights out with Jerry overhead, are all over.” Another woman wrote: “We are on rations hut it is surprising how we have got used to making do. Now and again we women do a bit of grumbling It is because of the same old things—not much variety.” “It is very good of you people in New Zealand to put your good thoughts in such a practical way,” wrote another serviceman. “Although we keep pegging away hole. we do not get much variety in food and I assure you some of the items in your parcel are quite a change.” A 73-year-old pensioner, receiving 28s weekly, stated: “Thanks very much for your parcel, it was very acceptable indeed. Twenty-eight shillings does not go very far with our rations here as things are so dear.” The Marton R.S.A. continues to send its monthly parcels overseas. OVER TWO INCHES OF RAIN FELL IN MARTON. After several weeks of hot dry weather, the rain which fell in Marton and district on Wednesday was welcomed by all sections of the community. About mid-morning rain set in and continued throughout the day and early evening. It was just after dark, however, that the rain increased in intensity and the countryside re-, ceived 8 thorough soaking. In Marton over two inches of rain ' fell in 24 hours, the exact figure be- • ing 2,16 inches, according to records kept by Mr. K. W. Sandford. At Tutaenui, however, which is abopt six miles from Marton, the fall was only 1.41 inches, indicating that the rain was more substantial nearer the coast.

Prior to Wednesday, only .68 inches of rain had fallen in the district during February, this being registered on two days of which six points fell last Sunday.

The rain brought relief to pastures and lawns, and also replenished many water tanks, the levels of which had been falling rapidly after a succession of rainless days. Vegetable and flower gardens were beginning to feel the effects of the dry weather, and as' the Marton Borough Council last weekend imposed a complete ban on the hosing of gardens, Wednesday’s soaking rain will do much to stimulate growth.

Rangitikei’s mushroom crop is expected to make its appearance on the city markets shortly, should there be further warm rain. Yesterday morning Martonians awoke to find the town enveloped in a thick fog hut by 8 o’clock it had almost disappeared.

CAN HIGH SCHOOL FORCE AN Ot'TRIGHT WIN OVER MARTON?

Two interesting cricket matches will be played at Marton tomorrow, when the final matches in the first round of the Rangitikei competition will be concluded. These fixtures will see the end of two-day club cricket in Rangitikei this season, as from next week only one-day matches will be played, play commencing at 10.36 a.m. instead of 1 p.m Interest will centre "tomorrow on whether High School, after occupying the crease all last Saturday to score 275, can force an outright win over Marton. The latter team has a stiff hurdle in front of it. and if Ray McChesney, the fast bowler, is in form, Marton will have a hard task to avert an innings defeat. To avoid the follow on Marton will have to score 175 runs

With a lead of 27 runs on the first innings and with four wickets still in hand Porewa are placed in a favourable position against Old Boys. Last week Old Boys were dismissed for 155 and Porewa at stumps had replied with 182 for six wickets. Both Ohakea and Suburbs completed an innings last week, Ohakea finishing the day with a lead of 50 runs and should be capable of forcing their first outright win of the season tomorrow. This game is being played at Ohakea, the home team making 128 last. Saturday and Suburbs 78. The fixture for the first games of the second round are: Hunterville v. Suburbs, at Hunterville; M.D.H.S. v. Porewa, at Marton; Old Boys v. Marton, at Marton; Ohakea a bye.

FIRE QUEEN’S MUSICAL SHOW “CARNIVAL CAPERS.”

The Fire Queen’s colours (crea.m and red), predominated in the stage decorations at the Civic Theatre on Wednesday night for the concert, “Carnival Capers,” held to augment the funds of the committee. Unfortunately the wet weather kept ‘ many

away but it was evident from the programme that much enthusiasm had gone into the preparation of the entertainment. Besides local artists, there were performers from Wanganui.

The programme was: “How Do You Do?” and "Hi Jig a Jig,” chorus; eloclution, Jack Russell; song, Mr. T. Vaughan; skipping ballet, Misses B. Mcßeth, R. Gorrie, M. Penn, and J. Down; piano accordion Mr. A. Dawson; camp fire serenade. B. Rushton, F. Baker, T. Dailey, Misses Rodden and Benseman; tap dance, Berry McBeth; song, Maurice McCaul; can-can dance. Rita Gorrie: song, Velma and Leah McDonald; camp fire serenaders; sean triubhas, Betty Mcßeth: song, Mrs. Vaughan; military tap, Beverley Cooper, Jill Fogclherg; elocution, Marie McCaul; eccentric dance, Miss Billie Gibson (Wanganui); elocution. Roderick Stewart (Wanganui): song. Velma and Leah McDonald; yodelling cowhoy songs, Laurie Montgomery; song and dance duo Marie and Maurice McCaul; sketch, C. Hunt and company! "Hold Your Hats On,” chorus.