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New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9955, 26 April 1918, Page 2

Tho 87th "Reinforcements are holding a sports meeting on the racecourse at Trentham on Tuesday, April 30th. A comprehensive programme of events has been drawn up, included in tho n'ufnbqr .bdlpg,flat races, platoon drill, tug-6f-wa;r„. a, cross-country run, bayonet, acquit, alarum competition, several, events,, such’as a blindfold squat! drill, officers’ barebacked race, and a novel boot race, in which teams will take part.

. A .young New Zealander, who is serving officer of the R.F.A. in France, writes; “The leave of the battery has.vbeen stopped for a fortnight owing to one man overstaying his leave by three days. His life is hardly worth living at present. The drivers got hold of him the first day, threw him and his. equip.ment .into the horse trough, and then rolled man and stuff in tho mud—and it. is mud out here. I don't think that man will be too keen about over-staying leave next time. He got twenty-eight days l -'field punishment from the-colonel as well. My corporal signaller wont and got drunk on vin blanc (he called it red wine) and had to he put in the guard-room. He was court-iunrtinlled for his caper. Drunkenness while on active service is rather serious.

Since the beginning of tbo war about 90.000 pensions have been granted in Groat Britain to the mothers of unmarried, soldiers killed in action, on whom they-woto'previously dependent.