IN AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16978, 4 October 1915, Page 8

IN AUSTRALIA.

THE METAL TRADE. SUPPLIES HELD. UP. By Telegraph —Pro's Association.—Copyright SYDNEY, October 2. A prominent mine director declares with knowledge and deliberation that the Imperial and Commonwealth authorities, in holding up all Australian supplies of wolfram, molybdenite, scheelite and other alloys, are playing into the hands of the enemy. Owing to the creation of the new metal exchange fixing prices nearly £IOO,OOO worth of munitions and metal are locked up. PAPUA’S HELP. BRISBANE, October 2. Six per cent of Papua’s population have enlisted. The Papuan war funds total £2OOO. POWERFUL NEW WEAPON. USED IN FRENCH ADVANCE. (Received October 0, 3.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 3. M. Chayet, French Consul-General, states that lie has learned from a private letter that tho French are in possession of a. very powerful new weapon. He has no doubt that if tlii i is correct the recent advance must have been in connection with the use of this weapon, which lie hoped would help to shorten the war. SOLDIERS’ EQUIPMENT. COMMONWEALTH’S GOOD WORK.(Received October 3, 3.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 3. Mr Pearce, Federal Minister for Defence, speaking at a banquet, said it had been said that the Australian soldiers were the best equipped of those stationed in Egypt. No other part of the dominions lxad put the amount of materials into the war that Australia had. The war had tested tho * patriotism of trades -unionism and found it really true right through. Ho had had to ask unionists to waive for some time privileges dear to their, hearts and he had never asked ia vain. ALIEN ESCAPEE CAUGHT. (Received October 3, 3.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. October 3. Schneider, a German who escaped from custody while being taken to the concentration camp at Liverpool,, lias been captured at Coolamon, hiding among the wheat. ROLL OF HONOUR. UNVEILED AT NEW BRIGHTON. Before a large attendance of parents and children, a roll of honour, containing the names of seventy-eight expupils of the New Brighton Borough School was unveiled on Saturday afternoon in glorious weather. All the local organisations were represented, including tho Territorials, Cadets, Boy and Girl Scouts, Marine Band, Fire Brigade and National Reserve, and the borough councillors were also present. On the platform were the Mayor (Mr J. A. Flosher), tho chairman of the school committee (Mr F. id. Christian), tho Revs H. H Mathias and F. THarris, Messrs C. 11. Opio and C. H. Winny, and M. Malaquin. The Mayor, in a stirring address, outlined the reasons why England could not havo kept out of the present conflict and retained her p.ace amongst the nations as the country which insisted unou the preservation of the rights of the small nations. Already 23,000 men from the Dominion had gone to the front, 7000 men were now in camp, and an additional, 14j,0l)0 men would be under canvas within three months. To date the total New Zealand casualties were 6133. Of this number 016 wore killed, 393 had died of wounds, 544 were missing, and there were 2284 wounded. Of the Canterbury men in this total 25 per cent were ki.led, 12 per cent were missing, and 23 par cent had been wounded. The men represented the flower of our manhood. and it was for us to see that nothing should be left undone to insure their comfort or of those left deEdent by their great sacrifice. It been said that after all, England always won one battle, and that was the last. Slio never prepared, but

once prepared sho was ready and able to accomplish any task set her. Euvy of England’s position in tlio world was at the bottom of the German nation’s trouble to-day. (Applause.) Mr 0. H- Opio also outlined the position and' the causes that led up to the crisis. The spirit animating the EmpTo to-day gave confidence in the ultimate victory of the Allies. Mr C. H. Winny referred to the fact that just over a hundred Canterbury men and a few Australians held a. position against the Turks ten times their number. In the two days’ lighting, at that vital spot, from which the Turks had threatened to drive our boys into the sea all the colonial officers were down, either killed' or wounded. The men on their own initative hold tho position, and on tlio second day fought it to. a successful issue. At least one of the New Brighton boys, whom they were to-day going to honour, was there. (Applause.) Before unveiling the roll the Mayor took advantage of the occasion to make a presentation to Chief Scoutmistress G. Thompson, who was present in charge of the Girl Scouts, and who had to give up the work and go for an extended rest owing to ill health. Mrs Thompson replied, thanking the girls and those present for their great kindness, and expressed the hope that the work would go on, and that tho Scouts would adhere to the rules under wlfch they work. The Roll of Honour was then unveiled. It bears the names of seventyeight ex-pupils of the school. Of that number fifty-two families sent one son, and ten families sent two, Captain A. W. Owles lias three sons serving, and the names of three sous of the late Mr Hulbert are alsio on the roll. Of the total number six have been killed in action. During the afternoou musical items were given by the Marine Band and' the Drum and Fife Band. PRESENTS FOR SOLDIERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 3. By arrangement with tire Postmas-ter-General of Egypt Sir Joseph Ward has provided means of sending Christmas comforts and presents to soldiers in Egypt. Provided tho whole package as prepared for post does not exceed one pound he will accept at sample packet rates packets containing articles of saleable value addressed to soldiers in Egypt. The sample packet rate is one penny for the first four ounces and one-halfpenny for each additional two ounces. PRISONERS IN TURKEY. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 3. Tho Minister of Defence has ascertained that it is possible to send letters and parcels to New Zealanders who are prisoners of war in Constantinople. Replying to several (cablegrams the High Commissioner has telegraphed as follows:

“ Parcels for prisoners of war in Turkey can bo sent by post, provided they are not over llib. They should he addressed to Central Post Office, Constantinople, and should bo marked 1 Prisoner oi War,’ also letters can be sent. No arrangements have been made Tor transmission of money to Turkey.” READING MATTER FOR THE TROOPS. FREE CARRIAGE OF BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. '■>. The Postmaster-General has arranged to accept from the public books and magazines for the entertainment of soldiers on active service, .and to have them carried free of cost. Tho reading matter may be handed in at any post offico, with tho request that it bo sent forward for the use of the troops on active service. It will bo despatched to Wellington, and from that point by the Defence Department *by means oi' tho troopships. The following will not be accepted :—(1) Newspapers of any kind ; (2) magazines more than a year old; (3) books or magazines (a) written in a language other than English (unless it be an educational test book), (b) d'rty, (o) incomplete, (d) known to have been exposed to infection (any such book or magazino ft not discovered to have been exposed to infection unfil after acceptance to be destroyed), (e) handed in merely to propagate a particular view, (f) wrapped or packed in my .(g) addressed to any particular soldier or unit (unless, of course, they be prepaid and addressed in the ordinary way as a postal packet).