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North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13658, 29 August 1916, Page 2

The lion, treasurer of the Belgian Rolicf Fund acknowledges receipt of £2 2/- from Mrs E. Forrester,

The secretary of the North Otago Soldiers'' Club acknowledges the following douatiohs: Mis J. R. Sewell, Mr Chas. Banks, Mrs Kerr (station house), Mr John 1 Hall (Peebles), Mrs McCaw (Windsor Downs), periodicals and books.

A meeting of St. Luke's choir was held' after the evening service on Sun-' day, when it was decided to'commence tlio ! practice of "The, Messiah" on Tuesday next, utli September, in St. Luke's Hall, with a view to giving it in the church in aid of patriotic funds early in December.'-' It.was illso decided to ask the co-operation of the musical people of the town, tp assist the object, ■ j ■

Thq. treasurer of the V/aiinute District Red Cross Fund (Mr ; Ge'o. Adams) acknowledges the followng additional donations: • Previously acknowledged, £5687 9/1; .Violet Saturday collection, £47 2/1; Miss M. O'Brien (account Waituna auction), £1; Mrs JVNind (monthly donation), 5/-; W. .1. Hogg (account Studholme auction), 5/•; J. Ffrost's lecture at Douglas, £2B 13/3; J. Ffrost's lecture (per Miss Walker),. 3/6; J. Ffrost's lecture at Waituna, £22 13/7; Mr Billing's lecture in Olympia Hall, £l.ll/10; E. C. Studholme (£o general and £3 acepuiit 'Violet Saturday), £10; total amount received to date, £579!) IV-.

A meeting of the captains of the various "lodges participating in .the recent euchre tournament was held on Saturday- evening.' There were present: Messrs J. Gibson, J. McNarry, T, Berry, A. Carson, J, Moore, and W. Veitch. An for absence was received from •Mr;y. ( E. Doran. Mr W, Veitch, who was'voted to the chair, referred to>the 'good'feeling.'that had characterised the conduct of the 'matches,■ and said the meeting had been called for the purpose ■of erfanging a fitting "closing night" for the tournament, It was decided that a combined tournament be held and that a I! lodges be invited to participate, whcu'.eucjiro, crib, orj-draughts could be played and •thatilthe (lodge winning the nioi-t games be declared the winner for the evening. The Druids' Hall has 'been:secured, and .the -meeting has -beiyi ■fixed,"for io-morroW. (Wednesday.) : night at'7,to, play to ceaSe at'lo piin, J

A Wellington Press Association message says that a Gazette, notice issued last night specifies the form of cert* ficalc to be issued to enrolled members of the. Expeditionary Force Reserve, and also provides for the badges assigned to lie worn by returnccl, enlisted, or rejected men.

The inter-college football tournament concluded with a meeting between the Wellington College and Christ's College, (says a Press Association message), the former winning by nineteen points to eighteen, after an exciting game; The first spell ended in Christ's College's favour with eighteen points to nothing. The Wellington team then ran over their opponents, and notched a try and a goal just on time.

The Dominion Meteorologist (Mr : D. C.' Bates) last. night telegraphed the following weather summary and forecast: ."Atmospheric pressure has been high everywhere, but decreased considerably in the south to-day. Winds have been variable, and • fair to cloudy weather has, prevailed. Present indications are for increasing cloud and haziness, and for the development of a westerly storm area, Expect increasing northerly winds and a falling barometer everywhere.".

A Press Association message from Wellington states- that the Hon, Jas. Allen does not think it,. will be'necessary to intern the relatives of the alleged deserter-from the New Zealand forces in France. The man's father is an old man -who' has been thirty-two years in the-Dominion and lias a dairy farm in the Carterton district. The authorities are - considering what more can be done to protect the- country from the enlistment of aliens in the Expeditionary Forces, and to compel information to be given to the Department. Any man suspected, or who has' enlisted under a false name, could be: recalled any time and discharged, ami no further regulations are considered necessary.

The annual balance-sheet of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association shows a profit of £68,389 11/1, says a Press Association message from Christchurch. The directors recommended the following allocation: To pay 6 per cent, interest on preference share capital, and B>] per cent, on ordinary share capital; a bonus on a basis of 5, per cent, on shareholders' purchases of.merchandise; a rebate of 30 per cent, on commissions; and-to carry £11,021 to the reserve fund, which* wili then stand at £145,000. The directors also recommend making a contribution of £IOOO towards the employees' superannuation fund, and a further contribution of £IOOO to a special fund to provide for contingencies in regard to the war.

After the ordinary business at the meeting of the North" Otago Soldiers', Fund Trustees oil Saturday had been disposed of, the chairman, Mr J. M. Forrester, intimated that he had prepared a full report on the business taken at the recent conference of patriotic'societies of New Zealand at Wellington. The announcement was the signal' for the immediate withdrawal of the majority of those present, a defection which was followed by other members at short intervals until only four remained. ' At the conclusion of' the report, on the motiou of Messrs T. Pryor and J. A. Macpherson, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the, chairman for the trouble he had gone to in making such a report, Both mover and seconder of the motion referred to the discourteous action of their fellow-members, which was little encouragement to the chairman fo moke further efforts "on their ljehalf.

A farewell social was given to Trooper W. Allen, who was down on final leave, on Friday, night in the Kauroo Hill wool-shed, says our correspondent. Music for the dance was supplied by Messrs Duff and Wootton, and Mr J( McGregor carried out the duties of M.C, in his usual capable manner, Mr ]), Rodger, in a few well-chosen words, made the presentation to Trooper Allen, on behalf oiLfche Kauroo settlers, of an illmnined-face' wristlet watch, and a money-belt, Songs were sung by Misses McQuade and Hollands, Trooper W. Allen, Messrs McKenzie, 0, Wheeler, and W. Ellis, Refreshments' were provided by the ladies, Mr French, on behalf of those present, heartily thanked the ladies and all who had helped to make tlie evening a success, and also wished Trooper Allen the best of good luck and a safe return to Kauroo Hill; The singing of ■ tho National Anthem brought a very enjoyable evening to a close.

A sitting of the Military Pensions Board, consisting of Messrs D, G. A. Cooper, Stipendiary Magistrate of Wellington (chairman), Colonel Collins, Controller and Auditor-General, and Dr Pollen, was held in.the Magistrate's Court, Oamaru, yesterday morning, The board dealt with fifteen cases, ten 'of which were renewals of claims, granted through application to Wellington, and fivo of which were new claims. Of the latter three were claims by soliJiers and two by dependants. The five new claims were adjourned to enable enquiries to be. made in Wellington. Of tho ten renewals one was granted a permanent pension of 15/- a week for partial deafness (the regular pension in such cases), three were notified that their allowance was to cease, and three had their allowance extended for a further period, at the expiration of which they must report again, one had his pension extended for further period and was told that the extension was final, one had his allowance of 10/- increased, to i.l and the period of allowance..further extended, and one vriis told his pension would be reconsidered in December. ' '

l'oople who write regularly to members of the New Zealand) Expeditionary Force abroad have been perplexed of late at the altered mail arrangements (says the Wellington Post),At'one time thev knew for certain that soldiers' mails closed on Thursday, and that, if they wrote on Wednesday night they would be in time. Then, instead of a regular \yoekly closing of the mail, the date of despatch became erratic.' A reporter who referred this matter to the Postal Department; was informed tliat it was impossible to fix a regular date since the department was now using the San Francisco and Vancouver services for the carriage of letters and small packets. This arrangement was made when the troops moved to Europe, aiid it ensures a speedier delivery of mail matter than the Sydney-Suez weekly service, which was availed of when all l the troops were in Egypt, The service is approximately fortnightly, but no definite day can be fixed for the closing. Mails for troops in Egypt ■are still despatched weekly via Sydney, but this service is not advertised as a soldiers', mail, because such a notification would 1 lead many people who do not knew where their friends are, to post letters for soldiers in Europe a week or ten days before they need do so, Dates for other, routes are. specified, however, since letters posted to catch them have only to wait a few days should the addressees be in Egypt, People who wish their letters to bo despatched by the best route cannot do better than address them to the care, of the G.P.0., Wellington, k