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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 264, 24 October 1916, Page 6

Auckland business firms concerned in the importation of iron goods from the United States find that in some lines of trade it will be impossible to obtain the fulfilment of orders earlier than April of next year. Particular difficulty is experienced in procuring the supplies of fencing wire, so much required by settlers in progressing districts, both as to plain and barbed wire. Recently twentv million tons of iron-manufae-tured goods were on order in America. One firm alone admits that it is behind-hand in the fulfilment of orders to the extent of six million tons. The following story is in circulation in Christchurch : —About the time the Tenth Reinforcement was called for, some single men on the West Coast were twitted about havin': p’.-t their names down as recruits for the Eighteenth draft. A portlv bookmaker called them shirkers, and advanced it as his opinion that the Eighteenths would never be asked for. He supported his opinion by offering 10 to 1. in any | amount, that the war would be over before the draft was called up. The I lads took him up—ten of them—at a fiver apiece. Rumour hath it that, the £5OO will be paid out within the I next few days. |