MISCELLANEOUS.

Evening Star, Issue 16033, 9 February 1916, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

AMSTERDAM, February 7. The ‘Cologne Yolks Zeitung’ says the Germans have prepared further submarine surprises that will amaze the world during the next few days. LONDON, February 7. 'Admiral _ Jellicoe, in a telegram to the owners, says: “ Tho magnificent fight shown by the Clan Mactavish fills the Grand Fleet, with admiration.”. The Admiralty denies the German report' that a Zeppelin bombed tho cruiser Caroline in the Humber, sinking her with great loss of life. No warship or merchantman .duryig^thetTaid/..

MADRID, February 8. A steamer has been ordered to proceed to Muni to embark 1,000 fugitives from the Camcropns (Germans) and ‘bring them to Spain for internment. MELBOURNE, February 8. The following announcement has been issued from the Federal Government House:—"The Government having called for all available assistance, and being in need of all the money the country can spare, the Governor-General will no longer attend race or other meetings which it may be held would tend to dissipate energy and divert funds from the service of tne war.” SYDNEY, February 8. A remarkable recovery of voice has been reported. Gunner Dunn, who had re turned from Gallipoli, where he sustained concussion of the throat through being blown up by a shell, was able to speakin a whisper only.- He was attending a theatre, and the programme included a loud.explosion, which caused Dunn to faint. On recovering, lie found that his full voice had Been restored. THE NEW RECRUITING SCHEME. The. new scheme was under consideration of the Bruce County Council yesterday. The board’s appeal outlined a scheme by which the council would form themselves into a Recruiting Committee and cooperate with other bodies in conducting a personal canvass for volunteers. The scheme was heartily supported by several members of the council, but others declared a strong preference for straight-out compulsion. It was felt that as long as the voluntary system remain in force it was the duty of patriots loyally to support it. A motion proposed by Cr King was consequently adopted agreeing to support the Recruiting Board’s scheme, hut expressing strong belief in compulsion. The Waipa County Council has decided to have nothing whatever to do with the new recruiting scheme, regarding it as an attempt by the Government to cast their responsibilities upon the shoulders of others. One member remarked that the three greatest shirkers in the Dominion were the signatories of the new recruitin'' circular—Mr Massey, Sir J. G. Ward, and Mr Allen. POSTAGE RATES FOR PARCELS. [Special to xhs * Star.’) WELLINGTON, February 9. Many complaints have been made regarding the,high rates of postage on parcels for men at the front. The postal charge for a parcel weighing under 51b is Is Ud • 31b to 7lb, 2s 7J,d : 71b to 111b, 4s IJd’. Your correspondent learned in the course of inquiry on the point that the Postal Department makes no profit on these rates ; indeed, it is probable that an actual loss is incurred, owing to the very heavy expenses that have to be met in connection with the conveyance and deliverv of parcels to the men, at the front. ‘ The Lriptijji postal authorities have to be paid for their services; .large staffs have to be maintained at various points ; and rail and steamer charges have to be met. These charges have had the consideration of the authorities, but in the present state of the public. finances it is not thought that a. reduction can be made. If the departmentadopted all the suggestions made for the improvement of the service in the interests of thp men at the front the charges would have to be raised if serious loss was to be avoided RECRUITING FIGURES. The Defence Department’s statement of the recruiting percentages for the week ended February 5 gives the following figures for the‘four military districts. The previous week’s percentage and the quota on the national register are shown for the purposes of comparison:— Week Wreck Quota on ended ended national Feb. o Jan. 29 register. Auckland ... 2-5.50 25.37 27.00 Wellington ... 42.63 44.19 33.80 Canterbury 19.68 15.92 23.20 Otago 12.19 11.52 16.00 CRAVES OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. A report regarding the graves of New Zealand soldiers on ~ Gallipoli Peninsula and in Egypt has been received by the Minister of Defence from Lieutenant-colonel Rhodes.

"Writing from Cairo on December 21, Colonel Rhodes states that the graves OS6 buried in the cemeteries at Cairo, Alexandria, and Mudros, are very carefully registered, and can be identified at any time. Some of the iron crosses for graves are now ready, and will he erected before long. Colonel Rhodes intended to obtain photographs of the graves so that the next-of-kin might have a record, and, if they desired, arrange for a stone 01other memorial to be placed on the graves.

Referring to the graves on the peninsula, Colonel Rhodes said he had arranged with the chaplains to compile a record of all that could be found, and to make sketches of their positions. He mentioned that some of the men had placed sandstone memorials on the graves of their comrades, but most of them were marked only by wooden crosses.

“ On Hill 60, in the fighting in August.” Colonel Rhodes adds, “our rn Sr ? buried in a common trench < ■ ltr ks, and there was no time to identify them. Before that many fell on the hills of Anzao which, we have not yet taken. At Chunuk Bair wo ost a great number of men, who we have every reason to believe are dead, but we have no actual proof.” Commenting on the last paragraph or the report, Mr Allen said that, as the recent casualty lists showed, courts °‘ looniry had been investigating the available evidence regarding men who were reported missing during the campaign. As a result the names of the men believed to bo dead were now being telgeraphod. Air Allen added fkat he believed all who were prisoners in Turkey had been reported, as information was obtainable through three sources—the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, and the United States representatives. ANDERSON BAY RED CROSS. York was continued on Tuesday between 2.30 and 3.50. Some of the" work in hand was packed and sent to the Dunedin centre. Donations were received from Mrs Lee Smith, sen.' (balaclavas and cuffs), Mrs. Du Croz (bed socks), Miss Dale (balaclavas), and Miss Young, Wellington (socks). As pyjamas are badly needed in tliG hospitals all ladies who are willing to make them are asked to come and get a suit next Tuesday. Two members of committee _will ho in attendance between 2.30 and 3.30. Another parcel of balaclavas and socks was. sent to the Early Settlers’ Hall for the reinforcements. RIFLEMAN VARCOE. Rifleman Douglas K. Yarcoe, reported wounded in Egypt, is a native of Cromwell, and youngest son of Mrs R. Yaxooe, of that town. He was one of a party of eight young men who enlisted in Cromwell at the same time, and were attached to the Rifle Brigade. Strange to relate, three of these were wounded on the same day. At the time of enlisting Rifleman Varcce was travelling representative for Mr J. Horn, merchant, Bannockburn, and was a prominent member of local sporting bodies. BUCLER BETTS. Bugler Cyril Leslie Betts (wounded) was born at Luggate, and is now 22 years of age. Ho was educated at the Cromwell Public School, when he passed his proficency. He served about two years in the Telegraph Office, Dunedin, which, he left to tako up orchard work. He was a member of most of the Cromwell clubs (tennis, football, etc.), and was also a Trentham rep. and a member of the local brass band. He,is now a patient in. the 21st Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. REV. A. J. SEAMER. The Rev. A. J. Seamer, who joined the Expeditionary Forces last year, is, wo understand, returning from Egypt, on account of a slight internal injury. It is ex-. r^ed-that<M^nQ^^tha_^ay;^pme,.

OTAGO PATRIOTIC AND GENERAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION. The lion, treasurers of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association acknowledge the receipt of the following donations to the fund ; Previously acknowledged ~.£58,254 17 3 Head office staff New Zealand Express Co., January contribution b 1 8 0 Employees Cax ton Printing Co., 11th monthly contribution b 1 17 0 “Sympathiser” B 23 18 10 Staff Provident Life Assurance Co., January contribtion ... b 3 17 6 Outram Patriotic Committee, January contribution ... b 5 0 0 “D. C.,” February contribution ... ... " b 20 0 “ Sympathiser,” January contribution b 1 0 0 Foreman of Works staff b 25 0 0 Eavensbourne and Eothesay district collection for January (per D. Larnach) ... blO 0 0 Employees J. Speight and Co., 49th weekly contribution b 5 3 6 Lieutenant-colonel Ktoncham, February contribution ... b 1 0 0 “E. A. 8.,” February contribution ‘ b 10 0 0 Bing, Harris, and Co.’s employees, January contribution b 4 8 6 Taieri Women’s Patriotic Association, February contribution b 5 0 0 “G.,” December, January, and February contribution b 3 0 0 Dunedin City Corporation. E. P. and L. Department B 13 10 0 Employees J. Peterson and Co., Walker street, 11th monthly contribution ... b 015 0 “No. 25” b 7 0 0 “ Sympathy ” s 4 0 6 Employees Thomson, Bridcor, and Co., January contribution w 2 11 6 £58,591. 8 7 n Denotes Belgian fund ; s denotes Serbian fund ; w denotes wounded soldiers’ fund. RATES OF PAY. [Special to the ‘ Stae.’l WELLINGTON, February 9. Information received by a member of the Eecruiting Board shows the Canadian Expeditionary Force’s rates of pay. The comparison is as follows : —The Bate per Day, including “ Field Allowance.'’ ’— Canada, N.Z. s. d. s. cl Sergeant 5 3 7 0 Corporal ' 5 C-i 5 6 Private 4 7 ‘ 5 0 New Zealand rates up to this point have the advantage, but the Canadian Defence authorities are very much more liberal than New Zealand in their dealings with the wives and dependents of soldiers. The New Zealand separation allowance paid to wives of non-commissioned members of the forces is Is per day, or 7s per week. The Canadian separation allowance is £4 a month (20 dollars) for the wife of a private, and £5 per month for the wife of a sergeant. Allowances are paid to widowed mothers when they are dependents of sons. A FAMOUS GENERAL DEAD. The death of General Yon Emmich, who was a prominent figure on the German General. Staff at the commencement of the war, and who captured Liege, is officially reported from Hanover. General Von Einmich was commander of the. 10th Army Corps. He figured prominently in the early events of the war, being in command of the German troops which invaded Belgium. It was he who issued a-n appeal to the Belgian people not .to resist the Germans. The hfaivy loss of life of the Germans at Liege was said to have shattered the confidence of the general, and a report that he had committed suicide gained wide currency in August of last year. He was decorated with the Order of Merit last Jane. General Von Emmich joined the army on tho day of Prussia’s victory over Austria at feadowa in 1866. He fought as a lieutenant in the Fran co-Prussian War, was made colonel in 1897, and in 1901 attained the rank of major-general.’ He became lieutenant-general and commander of the 10th Corps in 1905. OFF TO THE FRONT. The employees of Messrs Fnrra Bros, met on Saturday for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr Ernest Garland, before his departure, for the training camp. The foreman (Mr D. B. Smith) expressed the regret of his fellowemployees at losing Mr Garland from the workshop. They wished him God-speed and a safe return, and on behalf of his shop mates asked Mr Garland to accept a wristlet watch, leather wallet and diary, and a money belt, with its contents, as a mark of the kindly feeling entertained towards him. Mr J. E. Wheeler (raa.na n er )> on behalf of the, firm, presented Mr Garland with a cheque, ami expressed regret at losing the services of another workman, but added that, should he have the good fortune to return, they would have pleasure in again having his name appear in their list of employees. Mr Garland thanked the firm and his shop mates for their presents, and said it was only a. strong sense of duty which called him to sever his connection with them. He hoped he would be able to avail himself of tho offer to again work for Farra Bros.

Tlio Kaltuna Lawn. Tenuis Chib met. last evening to say farewell to Mr J. S. Micolson, who is leaving to-morrow with the 13th Reinforcemente. The president spoke in high terms of Mr Xicolson’s services to the dub. as a member of the team, as a past secretary, and as a past president, and expressed the dubs sense of loss in parting with a member who had always been recognised as the best of sports. He referred to the example set by Mr Nicolson, who, though highly esteemed'in the dental profession and having a lucrative practice, was ending his business to servo as a private in the infantry, and expressed the hope that lief ore he tamo down, on final leave a position would have l>een found for him whore his skill in dental work would bo taken advantage of. The club presented Mr Isicolson with a suitably engraved wristlet watch to servo as a constant reminder of their interest in his welfare and their hope for his safe return. The employees of Hillside Workshops met in the yard yesterday evening to bid farewell to 10 more of their fellow-work-men who are leaving to join the 15th Reinforcements. Mr Carson (Workshops manager) made presentations to Messrs A, Crosswcll, J. Pilkington, G. Milhurn, G. Swan, G. Swanson, T. Lloyd, J. Bond, L. luppenberger, D. Daniels, and J. Cdrmack on behalf of their fellow-workers. After the recipients had suitably responded they were heartily cheered,'and with the singing of ‘They are jolly good fellows’ the meeting broke up.

Wellington City and suburbs (says a Press Association telegram) have now registered over 10,000 men for active service. The 10,000 mark was passed at the beginning of the week, and the group has now made a staid on its eleventh thousand. A Defence estimate of the total population of the city group is 90,000, so Wellington has now .enrolled one-ninth of the whole of its people. If all New Zealand had done as well, oyer 100,000 men would have enlisted since the beginning of the war. The city’s average since recruits were first called for is 120 per week, and its best weeks exceeded 300. Auckland’s quota of 600 men for the Thirteenth Reinforcements left for the south yesterday. The main body, which marched through Queen street, was loudly cheered, and the principal buildings were gaily decorated with flags, Deceived 15s sd, second contribution from -the Waakouaiti Methodist Sunday School scholars (per Rev. A. Allen) for the Belgian babies’ milk fund. Received from B. and S. 15s, being the monthly contribution to the Belgian timd. Gilbert M‘Caw forwards us 2s, and WIN JianuCrozier.jLs for the Belgian relief, fund.