TOWNS TAKEN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 150, 22 December 1914, Page 8

TOWNS TAKEN

WITH NO OPPOSITION A REMARKABLE ADVANCE.' (Received December 22, 3 p.m.) LONDON, 21st December. The Sluis correspondent of the Tijd j states that the Allies, assisted by tho fleet and British artillery, have occupied, without" opposition, Lombaertzyde, Saint , Georges, and Westende, on the Belgian I coast ; also Bixschoote, Langemarck, I Passchendaele, and Morelede. The Bri- i tish are patrolling the village of Westrooscbeekte, near Passchendaele, but the definite occupation of the village depends on the issue of the fighting in the woods to the south-west. Tho Germans are now concentrating as many men as possible to regain the ( territory lost north-east of Ypres. The Allies are pteaiily advancing towards the Roulers-Menin railway. The German communications are seriously endangered owing to the British occupation of Morslede. The Sluis correspondent of the Handelsbad says that the English squadron bombarded the coast at Zeebrug^e and Heyst to-day. The Germans did not respond.

At the meeting of the Opposition today, the following resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the late Hon. W. Montgomery was passed : — "That this meeting of members of the House of Representatives desires to express to the relatives of the late Hon. W. Montgomery its great sorrow at his death, and to place on record its appreciation of bis long and faithful services to New Zealand — services which were marked by thoroughness and earnestness of purpose, and will long remain in the recollections of the people of New Zealand." On behalf of the scholars of the Roseneath School, Miss Noreen Spear (representing Mrs. Spear, treasurer), accompanied by Masters Morrison (representing Mr. Morrison, chairman of the School Committee), and Menteath (represerjting Mr. Van Borssum, secretary of the school), handed, to the Belgian Consul (Hon. C. J. Johnston) a cheque amounting to £100, the proceeds of the recent garden fete. The children were accompanied by Mrs. Low (convener) and Miss Gawler (secretary), of the Fete Committee. The Belgian Consul and Vice-Consul presented the children with a number of boxes of chocolates decorated with the Belgian colours and coat of axms. These were willingly handed over by the children to the committee to be sold, the proceeds to go to the Belgian Fund. The ' two men Black and Neville, who were sentenced to six months' imprisonment in the Magistrate's Court this morning on an assault charge, wera brought before the Court again this afternoon, when the sentence was reduced to one of trto months' hard labour in each case. Mr. Walter Empson, the late headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School, left Wellington for London by the Turakina with the intention of volunteering his services to the British Government in any capacity for which he may be suitable. The Matron of the Ohim Benevolent Home desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of clothing from Mrs. Eaeson, Kilbiruic-crescent ; Mr. Gill, Hataitai; drapery from Mrs. Robert Fletcher, Thorndon-quay ; Christmas presents from Messrs. George and George j books and periodicals from Mrs. Pilcher, Broughamstreet, and Mr. Chee6man, Brooklyn. Captain E. C. Dovey, of Palmerston North, has been appointed Assistant Director of Supplies and Transports of the Wellington Military District, vice i Captain N. C. Hamilton, A.S.C., who has gone away with the Expeditionary Force. Captain J. Bishop, N.Z.S.C., at present Aiea Officer and Assistant Adjutant of the 9th Regiment (Napier), has been appointed to command Group 6, vie© Captain, Dovey, while Lieut. J. R. T. Slipper temporarily fills the poaiUoa thu« left vacant bg CfrP.Mun, ££tQOu.