Untitled

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1012, 3 November 1917, Page 5

The scarcity of wheat in Dunedin is producing some queer market developments (says an exchange). From ICO to 200 sacks of milling' wheat dribble in weekly, and because tlie millers dare not buy at a higher price than that fixed by the. Government (averaging 6s lOd per bushel), these odd lots, which would be. acceptable for flour-making, are sold as fowl wheat, at values up to 63 9d. One parcel that was sent to mart as fowl wheat, upon examination, was found to be of such prime quality that it served to fill an order for seed wheat, and thoroughly satisfied the purchasers. ‘‘Once a German, always a German. Tho strain is there,” commented Mr H. W. Dishop, S.M., Chairman of tho Second Canterbury Military Service Board, when an appeal by a cook, living at Lyttelton, came up for hearing at Christchurch. The man claimed exemption on the_ ground that ho was the sole support of his father and mother, and that his father, a German, had been refused work since tho outbreak of the war. Tho father, however, who appeared with the reservist, said he was not a German; ho had been naturalised. Tho reservist’s mother was English. It was then that Mr Bishop made tho remark quoted, adding that he had very strong views on the subject. It appeared in evidence that the appellant had worked as a cook in Territorial camps. ‘‘Tiieso men ought to be made to work for the benefit of the country,” was another remark by the Chairman. The appeal was dismissed, leaving it open to tho military authorities to use the man for any work they think fit. The Dunedin Star publishes the following extract from a letter just received from London: The recent air raid in London came perilously near to the High Commission or now offices, Iwo bombs fr*ll within 50 yards of the building, one of which did not explode, and two others about 70 yards away, forming a semi-circle round tho offices. Sir Thomas and Miss Helen Mackenzie were staying in London that night, occupying rooms on one of the, upper floors, and they, together with others, hud to take shelter in the basement. Tho noise of the explosions, of falling glass, and ripping buildings, was terrific. It was apparent the Germans were after Charing Cross railway station, which i s quite close. A bomb fell near Charing Cross Hospital, but fortunately in the street, making a largo hole, shattering many windows, and forcing in some frontages. One, nearer to the High Commissioner’s offices, fell on tho back of a small Theatre, and wrecked a portion of the building; another, which did not explode, fell in the courtyard of the Hotel Cecil; and the fourth on the Embankment. The High Commissioner’s offices were not, injured, but some figures in the exhibition windows were knocked over, and a picture of General Bird wood, which was standing on the floor of the window, came forward and fell down. “Well, that’s a wonderful record. I congratulate you on it,” said Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., when the mother of Deter O’Loughlin, railway employee, appeared before the Second Canterbury Military Service Board to ask that tho reservist bo exempted. Mrs O’Loughlin’s husband and three sons arc serving at the front, and this son was the only one left at home to help to support her and her five children under 13 years of age. It was mentioned that Peter O’Loughlin had been medically classified ci. In reply to the chairman, Mrs O’Loughlin said that her husband was 55 years of age. The astonishment of the' Board at the fact that a man so far over the military age had been accepted for service was increased when, in answer to a question from Major Gresson. Mrs O’Loughlin said that^ her husband was fighting in the New Zealand Infantry. "You’re entitled to it,” said Mr Bishop when Mrs 0 i.oughliu said she desired that her son should bo left at homo to help her. The appeal was adjourned sine die. One of the most amazing pictures in the series of Canadian war photographs ac the Grafton Galleries shows simply a crucifix (says tho Westminster Gazette). It is'all that is left of tho ■•Village of Mystery” after successive bombardments by German and British, gunners. So completely was the village wiped out, that as a guide to incoming British troops, its name was chalked on the base of the crucifix. Tho soldiers who wrote the inscription passed on, and were succeeded by a company of Field Engineers, and those, “entirely without irreverence”—according to tho official account—“but in a purely matter of fact spirit, employed the crucifix, tho only available place for fixing tho telephone wire.” The need for receiving and passing on messages that might help to victory was too urgent to admit of other considerations.