MONDAY, JULY 2, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Northern Advocate, 2 July 1917, Page 2

MONDAY, JULY 2, 1917. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The sittings of No. 2 District Mcdi cal Board commenced this morning at the Courthouse, Whangarei. The officers constituting the Board are as follows: —Lieut.-Col. J. M. Inglis and Lieut'.'Col. Peter Moir, medical officers; Capt. Campbell, dental officer; Lieut. Wake, district attesting officer; and Sergt.-Major De Benzy. The sittings will be continued to-morrow, if necessary.

Trooper Clutha Mackenzie mercifully retains his sense of humour, and can smile at the embarrassing though kindly meant offers of help that come his way. On one occasion an elderly lady wrote to the hostel offering to entertain some blind soldiers for the week-end, stating that she was married and elderly and had a family of her own, and would personally see to bathing, dressing and feeding her guests.

Reports from the Kawakawa district state that on Thursday night and during Friday heavy rains accentuated the flooding of low-lying areas fronting on, the Whangarei railway. In an hour about noon the water rose six inches, and though the weather cleared fate in the afternoon the waters rose steadily. Kawakawa racecourse was practically submerged, the district as far as Pokapu, Opahi, and Otiria being included in the underwater area. It was feared that any further wet weather would tend to serious washouts on the railway line, but the flood subsided considerably on Friday night, especially around Kawakawa.

Replying to a question asked by the Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General Richardson has given some information regarding gifts for the New Zealand troops on the west front. "Gifts or parcels for troops in the field," he says, "are appreciated highly by the men if they contain (A —specially appreciated) socks, cigarettes in hermetically sealed tins (otherwise useless, and are better supplied from England), milk, Havelock tobacco, boot laces, handkerchiefs, sweets, chocolates hermetically sealed); (B —appreciated) but not essential, as can be obtained locally from canteens), soap (if hi tins or cases and not exposed to tobacco or eatables), toothbrushes and paste, writing materials, and pipes. Gift parcels are sent to France, and not retained in England. Personally addressed parcels should not be sent except by post. Time to reach troops, approximately five months from New Zealand."

A correspondent at Tariki writes to the "Taranaki Herald" as follows:— '' I have often read about grand r» cords of different families during this dreadful war, but we have in our district a family of which we are proud. I refer to Mr and Mrs C. J. Hamblyn, of Croydon road. Five of their sons volunteered, and the sixth was called up, leaving a boy of 17, the last boy, to assist his parents to Mork a large dairy farm, where the butter is made at home, and few people know what hard, constant work it is. One son was reported missing after the Somme, and now two are reported killed-in-action. The other three are at the front. Those left at home are going on, doing the extra work, doing their bit as surely as the brave ones who willingly went to fight in the great cause. If ever a family had a fight to be proud it is Mr and Mrs Hamblyn and their children. I can assure you the people about the district are very proud, and hold them up as the example of real patriotism, and will never forget their names."