HORSES FOR THE FORGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8811, 14 August 1914, Page 6

HORSES FOR THE FORGE

OFFICERS TO ASSIST DONORS. 'The Defence authorities wish it made known that anyone desiring to present a horse or horses for the expeditionary force to tho Government should communicate with one of the following officers, who will give every assistance and make all arrangements.:—Mr Barnes, M.R.C.V.S., ov Mr Graham, inspector of stock/ Hastings; Mr Hubbard, inspector of stock Masterton; Mr Burton, M.E.C.V.S., Masterton; Mr Sutton, inspector of stock, New Plymouth; Mr Beere, inspector of stock, Stratford; Mr Ford, inspector of stock, Hawera; Mr Meade, M.R.C.V.S.,Haweraor Now Plymouth; Mr D. Munro, inspector of stock, Wanganui; Captain Edgar, M.R.C.V.S., Wanganui; Mr Fleming, inspector of stock, Palmerston North; Captain Primmer, M.R.C.V.S., Palmerston North; Mr Howard, M.R.C.V.S., Department of Agriculture, Wellington; Mr Empson, inspector of stock, Nelson; Mr Brittain, inspector of stock, Blenheim; or to the remount officers of the Defence Department at the following centres : '—Hawera, Hastings, Palmerston Private advices by cable report that tho rates of marine insurance between Australia, United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada (Atlantic) have been reduced to 10 per cent., and the rates from Australia and South Africa have been reduced to 3 per cent. 1 Two more German subjects were arrested in Wellington - yesterday as prisoners of war, and’handed over to the Defence authorities. A number of Germans stil; retain their liberty, thirteen having been' exempted from arrest so long as they report to the police every day.

PARLIAMENT TO ADJOURN

PROBABLY FOR A FORTNIGHT. Questioned by Sir Joseph Ward as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the business of Parliament, the Prime Minister said in the House last night that there were three small public bills which would have to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. When they were disposed of, he suggested that the House should adjourn until Tuesday week. These bills should go through on the morrow. When the House reassembled after the short adjournment, he would ask it to “get down to business.” He did 'not intend to bring up mUoh contentious matter, but there were many subjects to which they must give earnest consideration. For instance, there were the Financial Statement and the Education Bill, and perhaps two »oan bills. He would not ask the House to work long hours, ‘ but Parliament had a duty to perform towards" the people of the country, and the Government must see that it be performed. There was every excuse for what had happened during the last few days, but members would sooner or later get their minds on to the business of the House and not on other things. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Opposition would give the Government every facility to pass any Urgent bills that wero necessary. 'Regarding the adjournment of the 'House, he thought that this was the right cohrse, but he thought thats a week’s adjournment was too short. _ They must -recognise' that party hostilities had • ceased, and , everybody in the country was now. wrapped up in the approaching departure of the members of the expeditionary force. ! All eyes were on the first, practical steps New Zealand was takiitg ’to help the Empire, and nobody could be expected to give his mind to important legislation. He suggested an adjournment for a fortnignt or three weeks. They ‘ could then, ; being clear of the present position, settle down and bring the session to an early end. He had given the whole matter a ..great deal of thought, and he suggested that they should adjourn, for a sufficiently long. timo to resume in a normal way. The Prime Minister said" he,would consider the proposal to -extend the length of the adjournment .and would make an announcement the following day. „ , % The general impression last night was that at the conclusion of to-night’s sitting, Parliament will adjourn for a fortnight, resuming on September Ist. A CHRISTMAS GIFT s THE POOR. OF BRITAIN. Press Association:' CHRISTCHURCH, August 13. A number of the largest producers in the Dominion, and some _of theleading sportsmen, in conjunction with the New Zealand Sports Protection League, realising the great difficuly .that a large section of the community at Home will have to secure ample food supplies, have promoted a movement to, forward a shipload of meat,, dairy produce, "and elothes'fpr the women and children of Britain who are likely to be _ extreme sufferers in the present crisis. The promoters are relying upon a generous response throughout the ‘ Dominion. Some very valuable contributions of .dock -have already been made, and a number of substantial cash donations promised. The movement will be extended throughout the Dominion. It is hoped that a valuable shipment of New Zealand products will be landed at Home as a Christmas gift. OFFERS OF HELP THE RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTRY. Pre*s Association. PALMERSTON N-, August 13. A mass meeting of fanners to-day agreed’ to do all they possibly could to assist the patriotic fund. A large number of monetary" gifts, hay, produce, etc., were offered. It was suggested that if prices of butter were better this season all farmers in New Zealand should give any surplus over last year’s prices to the Defence Department. , , . AUCKLAND, August 13. The citizens’“patriotic fund, now totals over £14,000, including over £3OOO collected at the “Herald” office. ’ NELSON, August 13. Nblson subscriptions towards the Empire defence fund now total £I9OB. The staff and students of the .Nelson College have subscribed £6O for /the purchase of ten horses. TIMARU, August 13. Local preparations for the selection of men and horses, the making of useful things for the men. and the collecting of funds is proceeding here with quiet earnestnesss. About 100 have been selected so far -for the mounted force out of the 150 who volunteered. Four officers. of the A (Timaru) squadron volunteered for service, and two who were not wanted as officers go as privates. Colonel Hayhurst, who has given £IOO, adds two" motor-ears valued '-at £2OO each. TAIHAPE, August 13.

At a large and enthusoastic public meeting to-night a strong and representative war fund committee was formed. The fund is already in the vicinity of £2OO and several horses.

HERE COME THE ACTORS

The members of ■ the Niblo Comedy Company, with the assistance of members of the numbers of other theatrical companies in town, will-make their first public appearance in the streets of Wellington between 11.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to-morrow. ■ Accompanied by the band of the Natives’ Association, they will proceed from the Grand Opera House to various points of vantage in the city, when in their own amusing way they, will “pass the hat for your credit’s sake,” and request tlie people of Wellington to “pay, pay. pay” into the patriotic fund. Such whole-souled enthusiasm is deserving of the greatest praise, and the public is sure to respond liberally.

The manager of Chas. Begg and Co., Ltd., Wellington, has received advice from the company’s head office, Dunedin, to place on half-pay arty of his staff<who are called to the front. During their absence their positions will be left open for them. ' Three of the employees have already left with the advance, force. ’ Chas. Begg and Co. have supplied two pianos for the use of the volunteers manning the local forts. , ' ■ ' "LEARN THE LUXHRY Of doing good"’ You can’t do.‘better than make Martell’s your favourite beverage. In good repute 200 year*. •

KIEL CANAL

THE ENLARGED WATERWAY. On June 25th last the Kaiser reopened the Kiel Canal, which has been reconstructed at a cost of eleven million pounds, to facilitate the passage of the largest Dreadnoughts. The British fleet saluted the Kaiser as his yacht Hohenzollem emerged from the canal. The enlarged waterway connecting the Baltic and North Seas, which has cost more than the building of the original canal in 1687, will enable the passage of the biggest battleships. American battleship? now under construction can barely squeeze through the Gatun locks in the Panama Canal, and the 45,000-ton Super-Dreadnought, which is already in sight, Will have to follow the path of the Oregon-around Cape Horn to get from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The German canal has locks 82ft longer, 371 ft broader, and 4ft greater draught than those of Panama, and can accommodate a 60,000ton battleship, should naval designers go as high as that in the future. The existing canal’ was opened in 1895. It runs from Kiel on the Baltio to Brunsbuttel on the Elbe estuary,-a short distance from the sea-, and cuts off the long and rather hazardous passage through the Cattegat and around the northern end of Denmark. To the German navy it was of inestimable advantage, enabling a commander to . throw the entire fleet from one sea to the othe- in a few hours, and to menace, for example, an opposing British fleet from points several hundred miles apart. With the adr vent of Dreadnoughts, however, this advantage was lost. , . . ' _ The new locks, which" lack the imposing height of those of Panama, but are bigger in every other respect, are 1082 ft long (.Panama 1000 ft), 1471 ft wide (Panama 110 ft), and . have a mean depth of 45ft of water (41ft) over the sills. The new canal is 400 ft wide at the surface, 150 ft wide at the bottom of the excavation,' - and has been provided with eleven, “sidings ” at which vessels may pass. New harbours have been built at each . end, several sharp ■ curves have been eliminated, and two new bridges, 150 ft above the canal, have been provided. The enlargement involved the excavation of 140 million’cubic yards of earth ; the original canal 112 million cubic yards. The work, which has occupied five years, has been ( carried on without interrupting traffic .in the canal. ' The canal terminates at-one end in Kiel Fiord, a long narrow arm of the Baltio, and at the other in the Elbe river, some fifteen .miles from its mouth. Both river and fiord ' are heavily fortified. About eight thousand workmen of various nationalities have been employed on the work. The new canal is'about. sixty miles long, . passenger steamers are allowed ,to proceed at 12 J miles an hour through the canal, freights are held to a slower pace, so that the passage of the canal takes from five to thirteen hours. It shortens the trip from Baltic Sea harbours to Hamburg "by 480 miles, and to London by 269 miles.

PATRIOTIC MATINEE

A big endeavour to raise funds for the patriotic fund, and at the same time to give full value for the money, is to be made to-mowow afternoon, when the Niblo Comedy Company, the Fuller-Brennan Company, and the Smart Set are combining in a matinee performance at the Grand Opera House. The entertainment promises to he oca© of the most notable theatrical performances given in the history of Wellington. Not only is the Niblo Company to appear in the liveliest act of “Never Say Die,” but Mr Fred Niblo is to recite one of his humorous monologues, and is to sell by auction a Union Jack, which has been presented to the company for that purpose. Some of the brightest stars of the Fuller-Brennan firmament are to appear, including the volatile Daisy Jerome,, and the clever “Smart Set” will present a number of capital items including the new song “Britqns All,” written by Mr Bert Royle, and composed" by Mr/Frank Crowther, which will be sung by ■Mr Ernest Parkes. Appropriate speeches are to he delivered by the" Prime Minister and the Hon. James Allen. The box plan (at the Dresden) should be consulted by all who intend to be present.

The employees of the Champion Co., ltd. confectionery manufacturers, of Wellington, met at closing time yesterday evening. The manager, after a short address, in which he_ pointed out the serious state of affaire generally, thanked the stiff for their ready sympathy with the idea of contributing to the patriotic fund. A canyasa had shown that they unanimously agreed to allow a weekly deduction from their wages. This the company purposed to supplement,'so that the weekly contribution would reach 5 per cent, on the wages list. It was hoped that this humble beginning would give ■a lead' .which would ensure a permanent contribution on which the Government could rely during troublous times. , . ' In order .that the matinee to be held on Saturday, shoiild be made' as successful as possible, it is necessary that a number of people .should give thoir services as ticket sellers. All who are willing to undertake this work should make application at the Mayor’s room at the Town Hall, where they will receive supplies of tickets for sale. “ We are requested to explain that the 3f-h.p. “Matchless”- motor cycle,which Sir Joseph Ward announced would he presented to the expeditionary force-by the Wellington students of the International Correspondence Schools, is the gift of the New Zealand students and staff of that institution. contrilJutions towards the cost of same being sent in from all parts of New Zealand, It is possible that a second motor cycle may be presented by students of the institution.