NEWS SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16097, 10 December 1915, Page 6

NEWS SUMMARY.

Auckland A satisfactory week's business is reported in the wholesale and retail trades. There is no danger of a shortage of water in Auckland according to the Mayor. A deputation from the Waihi Borough Council waited on the Hon. W. H. Heroes yesterday in reference to the finances 'of the borough. The Minister for Railways has acceded to a request that excursion tickets to Te \roha. issued on Saturday, be a\-ailable for return till the following Thursday. Complaints regarding the working of the automatic telephone system in Anck.ind are reviewed bv an officer of the iclegiaph and Telephone Department. A meeting of representatives from varir._- part.-, of No. 4 area group, held at) Hamilton yesterday, resolved to urge the Government to adopt some form -of national conscription. New Zealand: The exports of produce for the week ended .Tuesday were valued at £351,812. Thren thousand tons of cheese for the Imperial authorities will be forwarded this "■' Tltil. The Prima Minister explained the ma.xi----11 pension payable to soldiers and dependants. The war register shows that there are 69,409 men in the Dominion between the ages of 45 and 59. Special arrangements are being made ' 1 provide Christmas comforts for the troops now in camp. A boy named Lionel Thompson was tilled through being crushed between two trucks at PiJmerston North. A conference of delegates from Canterbury branches of the Farmers' Union was held in Ashborton yesterday. Instructions regarding the remittance of money and the sending of gifts to sick And wounded soldiers are issued. A Gazette notice states that full inquiry, even in the case of well-known colonists, will be made before passports ,>-o i«<ued. 'I ho Minister for Defence yesterday made a further statement in_ regard to single men who are not prepared to volunteer or act in a civil capacity. The War: Heavy German reinforcements are arriving at Alsace. A revolution and change of Government in Constantinople is reported likely.

Counter-attacks mastered the German attack in the Champagne, and the French continue to progress.

General Von der Goitz hopes to command an army of 500,000 in an advance -m India, in the spring.

The new recruiting scheme for the raising of a fresh army of 50.000 men in Australia has been issued.

A satisfactory understanding Is expected to be reached by the French and Greek military commissions now conferring. '

Mr. Asquith stated in the House of Commons that serious peace proposals would be discussed by the allied Governments.

The United Sfcatis Government has demanded reparation by Austria for the American lives lost on the torpedoed Ancona.

Turco-Greek relations have assumed a new degree of importance. Hopes have been aroused of a full political understanding.

Eonmania has called up the 1917 and 1918 classes- of recruits. Wholesale bribery is being attempted by the Germans to influence the people.

It is believed that the United States Government possesses information showing that Germans have tried to start a revolution in Mexico.

Hungarian patrols intervened at Nish to prevent outrages by ferocious Bulgarians. The Servians' defeat at Kulaluma is dedared to be catastrophic.

Difficulties and cost of passenger traffic between Britain and Australasia are likely to increase. There are no berths available by the Cape route.

At the instance of a New Zealander, the whites, natives, and Chinese in the Malay Straits are organising a campaign to present 15 aeroplanes to Britain.

Extraordinary defences,, surpassing anything previously seen, have been constructed by the Germans on the eastern front. They are enabled thereby to hold the front with very scanty forces.

A remarkable manifesto has been issued by M. Venizeios in which he declares that the Constitution of Greece has been transformed into a scrap of paper. He and his party refuse to participate in the forthcoming elections.