JOTTINGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15063, 3 September 1914, Page 8

JOTTINGS.

NEWS AND NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.

An Auckland telegram states ; that the infantry troops marched to Manurewa on Tuesday and slept in the open., They had an unpleasant experience, as heavy rain fell during the night. The men did not grumble at tho conditions, and accomplished a fine performance on tho march back to the mobilisation .camp at Epsom yesterday morning. _ All wore, granted leave for tho rest of the day.

A curious instance of youthful patriotism occurred on Tuesday (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). An tight-year-oid boy in oare feet walked to Wellingtoa from Kaiwarawara aud insisted on seeing the Prime Minister. He boldly offered his services as a, mummer in the Expeditionary Force. Ho was courteously told that at present there is no need tor drummers, and ho left somewhat disconsolate, but he said: —"They are bound to need buglers. I'm as good a bugler as lam a,drummer, and I'm going to try and get'on. as a bugler.".

It is now stated that the troops at Palmorston North will not be brought to Wellington for at least a week. The farewell demonstration will take place at-New-town Park.

There appears to bo some colour in the rumour that was going the rounds of Wellington eomo two weeks ago to the effect that code messages were be'ug received at wireless stations in the Dominion which were not understood (says the "New Zealand Times") At the time it wa3 thought that German cruisers were somewhere off the coast of New Zealand. It is now alleged that a naturalised British subject of German descent, who held a responsible position in a Government department, was responsible for the messages, and that the authorities have effectually prevented him from sending out further messages. It is alleged, too, that a brother of the person in question left New Zealand before the outbreak of war for an unknown destination, and that ho also ysis counected njt'h a Government departnitnr.'

It is anticipated tbst an early result of the war will be a great emigration of northern Europeans (says a Londo;: cablegram of August 23th). Superior Belgian refugees are already enquiring about Australia.

Staff-Sergeant-Major Healy, well known in Nelson as one of its best and most popular Territorial instructors, forms one of the Otago contingent of the Expeditionary Force as a quartermaster. Previous to coming to New Zealand he had a taste of foreign service in India.

At a nieetrng of the employees of the Spreydon Borough Council, it was decided to vote the balance of the picnic fund .account, amounting to about £2. and also half a day's pay, to the Spreydon Patriotic Fund. All arrangements have been made for the patriotic concert organised by the Spreydon Borough Council, which is to be held in the Coronation Hall, Mill road, on Tuesday next. Mr G. R. Whiting, Jlayor of Spreydon, afc the Borough Council meeting last evening, made a statement in regard to the patriotic meetings that had been held during the last week or bo. The one in the Addington School grounds on Sunday week had realised £35 6s 3d, and the patriotic social in the Beckenham Hall from £10 to £12. Arrangements were also well in hand for holding another social next week. The borough had been rwirtially canvassed for subscriptions to the same fund with success, considering the number of collections being made for ti»* Parotic Funds*