JOTTINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 6

JOTTINGS

Mr Wm. Scotland, the aviator, who has been in hospital for some time, will leave New Zealand in about three weeks' time to join tho British Flying Corps. He will proDdbly (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent) be the lust New Zealander to get to the front as an aviator.

An enthusiastic gathering of the employees at tile Duneum C.ty Gasworks took place last night, when a farewell was given to Mr F. Horricks (assistant on the engineering stalf), who is leav.ng to join tue Expeditionary Forces. .Mr jH-ungcriord (gas engineer) made a haopy speech, in which he referred to the esteem in which they all held Mr Horricks, and to their appreciation of his sacrilice in responding to his country's call. The chairman of the Gas Committee (Cr J. J. Clark), on behalf of the employees, presented Mr Ilorricks witn a wristlet wj,tch, a safety razor, and a money belt. Mr Horricks suitably replied. Lusty cheers for Mr Horricks closed a gathering full of enthusiasts loyalty. Tho employees of the Gas Works contribute weekly to the Patriotic Fund, and they intend to continue doing so. There is not the slightest doubt that the best class of man which the dominion has sent away to the front is tho bushman. Recently (says an exchange) three magnificent specimens of New Zealand's manhood came into Wanganui on completing a bush contract in the back-blocks, and lifted a cheque for £300. " Where are you cutting out next?" asked their employer. "Belgium," was the prompt response. Two days later local residents sa>v the trio in dungaree garb marching to the railway station, en route to Trentham. One of the men was of exceptional physique. His companions averred that he worked from daylight to dark, and ran from tree to tree. Another bushman at Ractihi threw up his work, at which ho was clearing £7 a week. "My mates have all volunteered," he said by way of explanation, "and I'm off, too." It is stated in well-informed circles that there

v. ill Ik? a groat- scarcity of bushmen on the West Ccast during the coming winter. Dr Parkin, colonial organiser for the Rhodes Scholarship Trust, writing to a friend in Oamaru (reports the Mail), says: "I have just come from St. Paul's, where the nation has been laying to rest our preat old war hero. It was all exceedingly touching. Only a week ago yesterday I was talking with him in the Athenaeum. I happened to be the first to tell him that the Emdcn had been captured, and, with his usual chivalrous instinct, he instantly said: 'I hope that the captain has been saved; he was such a splendid fellow.' In further talk he gave me a further illustration of his constant devotion to Lady Roberts, who has been ill for some time. It is very delightful to have this pleasant memorv of him of the very cLay before he crossed to Franee. One cannot think of anyone who has passed away more happy m the time and circumstance* of his death." Of the European struggle Dr Parkin says: " The war drags on, and will probably do so for months; possibly for two or three years. I have never known England so absolutely united in purpose as it is at- present. It may be difficult, as the pressure increases to hold the nation up to this high level, but at present we are all very optimistic. Meanwhile the prico wo are paying is a frightful one, as is shown in the daily casualty lists. Almost every day one sees th? name of friends; there is one particularly sad one to-day for me, young Lord Coriglfton. a brave follow who wished to go out with Shackleton, but for some reason could not do it. and so lias died instead on the fields of Franco. Oxford has scarcely a third of its students in residence; a large proportion of on/ colonial Rhodes scholars have gone into the service of the country, and among them all your New Zealand men. No one here feels any doubt about the ultimate issue. Parliament, has just voted the biggest, war Ruder t. ever known, without a dissenting voice, and everybody is bracing himself up for whatever may enme."