TUNNELLING CORPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 8

TUNNELLING CORPS.

[Pee Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, December 12

Major J. E. Duigau, General Staff Officer for the Auckland military district, lias been appointed to the command of the engineer tunnelling corps, which has been mobilised and trained at, Avondale Camp. Major Duigan is a New Zealander. Ho saw active service in the South African war, where he was seriously wounded. He has had a successful career aa an engineer officer and received a course of training at Home. When the war broke out he joined the New Zealand force. Ho had a breakdown in health in Egypt, however, and was ordered out to Now Zealand to undertake staff duties. PRESSMEN SOLDIERS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 11. About thirty Pressmen now in camp or waiting to be called up were entertained at a social gathering last night by their Wellington confreres and representatives of papers in the north and south. Mr F. Earle, president of the Journalists’ Institute, presided. .Apologies for absence, couphd with good w ishes for the welfare of the soldiers, were received from the editors of the lending papers. The Prime Minister also forwarded a letter, expressing warm appreciation of the manner ,‘n which Pressmen had responded to the call of the Empire and initialed (some in letters of blood) the biggest assignment they ever had been put down for. The chairman said that 107 journalists of New Zealand were known 10 have enlisted. They included one lady, who was a member of a nursing division now serving in the Mediterranean. About a dozen bad been killed and nearly a score wounded.

Captain Shand (“Thames Star”), the principal respondent to tbe toa-t of “ Tha Guests,” pointed out that Pressmen, like men from other walks of life, made big sacrifices in order to enlist. They cheerfully began at the bottom of the ladder and want through all the drudgery of training in order to fit themselves properly to do the new work whereto they had set their hands. He believed that every man would be ready when the supreme test came to uphold the honour not only of Pressmen but of the land of their birth or adoption. Privates Swine.v (“New Zealand Horald ”) and Field (“ Dominion ”) also responded. The gathering was highly successful as a demonstration to the departing Pressmen of the warm regard in which they are held by their confreres. SUPPLIES FOR FORCES. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND. December 11. The Hon A. M. M vers states that a ? quantity of steel ordered from Australa, on arrival, probably next week, will be converted into shells at the Addington Workshops, Christchurch < Arrangements have been made by the Government with various woollen companies to purchase the necessary wool at sales to enable them, by working at their fullest capacity, to turn out a large quantity of khaki cloth and other woollen goods required for the equipment of soldiers to the end of 1916 Tenders for boots have also been called to cover a similiar period.

NATIONAL REGISTER.

[Per Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, December 12.

Tho Hon A. M. Myers, in the course of an interview, approved of a request made by tho Auckland Chamber of Commerce that the Government, by tho issue of registration cards to men willing to serve, should give employers an opportunity of discriminating between m«n prepared to do their duty and others not &o prepared. Mr Myers also said he thought it desirable that the Government should take steps to have entered on the National Register men who have entered the country since the register was taken. Men

landing in the Dominion should be given an opportunity of filling in the National Register form.

MILITARY HOSPITALS.

SATURDAY'S BULLETIN. The. following bulletin of military patients in the various hospitals was issued at noon on Saturday:— Trentliam.--Admissions 12, discharge.* 16. total remaining 81. Upper Hutt. —Admissions 12, discharges nil, total remaining 16. Tauhe.reniknu.--Admissions 13, discharges 3, total remaining 65. Greytown.—-Admissions 3, discharges 2, total remaining 21. Palmerston North.—Admissions .1, discharges 1, total remaining 18. Auckland.—Admissions ' nil, discharges nil. total remaining 34. Diinodin.—Admissions nil, discharge; nil. total remaining 1. Wellington. Admissions 1, discharges nil, total remaining 21"; 2 serious cases. Whonganui.—Admissions nil, discharges nil, total remaining 2. Oaraaru.—Admissions nil, discharges nil, total remaining 2.Rangiotu.—Admissions 5, discharges 2, total remaining 23. Total in all hospitals 284.