The abundance of hay in the Te Awamutu district led to those moving hay stackers taking dangerous risks. One man had a narrow escape when a stacker caught a power line, which came down on his back. His life had been saved only by the fact that he was wearing rubber boots. Moving the machinery under power lines without lowering them was discussed by the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board. In addition to the hazard to life, the hay stacker service was disorganised in the district. It was decided to give notice that in future there would be prosecutions for such breaches of the regulations.
At Te Rore School native trees were planted as a memorial to mark New Zealand’s centenary. Mr Connell, of the Department of Education, addressed the gathering praising the very fine effort made to commemorate Centennial Year. He said Te Rore School was the first in the Waikato to plant native trees as a Centennial gesture, and therefore the district could be doubly proud of its enterprise. All the school children, their teacher, the members of the School Committee, and parents then proceeded to each plant a tree, making a very fine grove for future years. Lunch was served by the ladies, and a very interesting and important ceremony terminated.
Gathering hay for stacking near Ohaupo 1940
The Te Awamutu A & P Association used about 150 yards of ribbon for decorating winning animals at its annual show, but this year innovation was necessary. Ribbon of the width and quality usually used was now not obtainable due to World War Two import restrictions. It was suggested that Te Awamutu should follow the lead of the Taranaki A & P Association by having championship ribands made from flannel. One, displayed at a Te Awamutu A & P meeting, was made of strips of red, white and blue flannel together with a fringe at each end, and neatly printed. The ribands were expected to please any owner of a champion.
One of the most interesting souvenirs of modern warfare to reach the district came from Colonel Pierce, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which was stationed “somewhere in Egypt”. He forwarded the cap of an Italian thermos bomb to his family in Ōhaupō. The thermos bombs were about 151bs in weight, made of aluminium and shaped like a thermos flask. They were fitted with a cap similar to an insulation cup on a telegraph pole which was surmounted by a five-bladed propeller. The bomb did not explode on hitting the ground but had to be moved before detonating. Four of his men had been hurt when the Italians dropped the first thermos bombs, but the troops soon became wise and searched the countryside exploding hundreds of them.
