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Mataura Ensign, 3 May 1919, Page 5

A Grey mouth Press Association message says that there are many eases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and influenza at-jßfackball. A social committee was recently formed at Riversdale with the object of running- a, series of entertainments during’ the winter mouths. The first social was held in the Drill Hall last night when there was a> fair attendance. The music was supplied by Mr and Mrs Brown, Kingston Crossing (piano and violin, respectively), while the duties of M.C. were ably carried out by Mr G;'ecr. Several vocal items were contributed by those present. ' Refreshments were dispensed at ft suitable hour. On behalf of the-committee Mr W. Colquhoun explained the objects of the socials and extended the committee’s thanks tcT Mrs McLennan, for attending to the supper arrangements. A pleasant gathering concluded at about Arthur Leo Beor Ashton, the prisoner who made his escape from a train on Thursday -white being escorted to Hie Invercargill Borstal Institution, was arrestea by '■ 'unstable Barrett, of Mataura. yesterday. According tn advice received by the police here last evening, Ashton had a. struggle with Constable Madge on the platfoi t .of the carriage unite the train was travelling at a reduced speed through the Kanxahi cutting past Edemlate. /The constable had hold of the prisoner ‘hv Ins coat, and in the struggle Ashton managed to slip out of it, with the i result that the constable fell heavily from the train. The escapee got away to tlm bush, and made towards Glencoe, where be . was arrested yesterday afternoon by Constable Barrett, who took him to the lockup at Mataura. Ashton will be escorted to Invercargill this morning.

In no instance since the ’beginning' of 1910 has the Base Record# Casualty Staff left the office until all work on any casualty list received up 1- id S p.m. has been completed, and the telegrams notifying next of kin lodged in the post office. This is one of the features of tho war work performed by Base Records, the first Director, of which, Major Norton Francis, is about to retire. Ho explains*ia a report on flic office that the casualty section has had to deal with as many as 2000 names in a single day, and when lhe> cables were received in the late afternoon m evening, the work had to continue until long after’ midnight. In abnormal times volunteers were drawn from the whole of Base Records Staff for overtime assistance, and thus tjut next of kin of our soldiers were relieved of anxiety at the earliest possible moment. No casualty report was sent out until dit- cabled information had been earefullv checked with the information on the Base Records history sheets regarding the soldier’s initials, unit and number.