NEWS SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 4

NEWS SUMMARY.

Auckland: I A bricklayer was killed in Newton on I {Saturday by the collapse of a brick wall. The Auckland Citizens' Patriotic Fund has now reached a total of £47,918 17a Bd. Tho Jorrayn Street- and Beach Road Commission concluded its Bitting on Saturday. An inspection of Forts Bastion, Cauflev, Kind Takapuna was made by the Minister (or Defence yesterday. 'Hie Minister for Defence, who has had ei busy week-end in Auckland, returned to Wellington last evening. The wholesale prico of butter in Auckli nd will bo reduced by one halfpenny to-day, and tho retail price will probably Tall Co Is 2d. Tho work of improving the ventilation of Tlalph's Mine, at Huntly. and seeking :ho bodies of the two men still missing, is proceeding vigorously. Ships which passed White Island 3urin;; Friday and Saturday, on their way to Auckland, report that no signs of life Were observed, and no boats were seen. A terrific thermal eruption has occurred »t, White Island, in the Bay of Plenty, resulting, it is feared, in the lose of 10 lives and damage to tho New Zealand Si;->hur Company's property estimated at v£2u,ooo The Bishop o» Melanesia, j.-rfacbur^ St. Mary's Cathedral yesterday morning, reviewed the lifo story of Bishop Pattern, of Melanesia, the day being tho anniversary of the lattor's martyrdom at the hands of the natives in 1871. New Zealand: A number of native chiefs have decided to give a half-year's rent from the Ohutu fin-I other blocks to the Empire Defence Fund. A Gorman has been arrested in Wellington on a charge of maintaining a wireless station without permission from the authorities. A conference was held between tho Prime Minister and the Leader of tho Opposition on Saturday, and it is considered that as a result there will bo no postponement of tho general elections. The War: Servians repulsed 90.000 Austrians o: September 7. The Austrians aro evacuating Galieia in a complete state of rout,v. The battle along the Aisne is the most important of tho campaign. An Australian submarine, with 55 officers and men on board, is reported to be missing. The Belgians are threatening the Germans' line of communication from the Aisna River. Tho French general staff considers that the allies' frontal attack is developing under favourable conditions Cronstadt papers express the opinion that tho main German Ueet is preparing to operate against Russia. Japanese aeroplanes dropped bombs on German ships at Kiau-Cb3u, and it is believed a ship was blown up. Cargo for New Zealand from the captured German steamer Wildenfols will be brought from Sydney by the Riverina. General J-fire's reinforcements are ample, and are arriving by tho railways that are bending around the right wing. Britain is now raising four armies, and Earl Kitchener is confident that they will bo ready and well trained by the spring. The German Ambassador to the United 15tales declare* that Germany is willing to make peace if European Germany is not dismemberedRussia has completed the mobilisation of eix million men, but only 500,C00 are operating in Galicia, and a similar number in Eastern Prussia. Advices from Vienna state that the Austrians hope to hold up the Russians in the forthcoming battle at Przemysl until large German forces arrive. Italian neutrality has reached breakingpoint, and there have been many demonstrations in the large cities, insisting on participation on the side of the Triple Entento. Travellers who have returned to Rotterdam jitate that many peace demonstrations have occurred at Berlin, and the .Walls are placarded with tho legend : "We want peace. '

The impression is prevalent in diplomatic circles that Germany has realised the impossibility of extensive operations in France, and will probably evacuate Belgium shortlyTho King, in his speech proroguing Parliament, said that Britain was fighting for a worthy purpose, and they would ' not lay down their arms until that purpose was fully achieved. Sporting and. Athletics; The English ladies' hockey team defeated Otago on Saturday by 6 goals to 1. The Hawko's Bay golf championship teas won by Kapi Tareha, with F. G. Fryer, of Auckland, as runner-up. The Wellington representative Rugby football team defeated Otago at Wellington on Saturday by 25 points to 11. Tho sum of £51.280 10s was passed through the totalisator at 4 lie Avondale Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, which is _ £1379 above last year's record at tho e-ime gathering. \ Tn the match for the New Zealand ChalIcnge Shield, between (he hockey representatives of Wellington and Auckland, played at Rcmuera on Saturday, the former team •won by 3 goals to 2, and thus regained possession of the shield. *- —';