HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16481, 6 September 1915, Page 2

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORTS

LONDON, September 4.

A French official message states that several mines were exploded in the neighbourhood of Vauquois, and seriously damaged the enemy's works. For the nin'th day there has been a violent and effective bombardment on the whole allied front. '

PRIVATE GILLON. , ■ Private W. Gillon (reported wounded) came to the dominion about five years ago and took employment with the Railway Department, joining the local traffic branch. Prior to that he had been for 12 years in the Royal Marines, and formed part of the escort to King George V, thea the Duke of Cornwall and York, when he paid his memorable visit to th» outlying parts of the Empire. Private Gillon is 33 years of age. H" joined the Main Body: Before leaving Wellington he intimated, his relatives here Ftate, that he had accepted a corporal's stripes. . ~, GOING TO THE FRONT. On the occasion of his departure for Trontham Mr W. T. Steeds, of Messrs J. Rattray and Son, was entertained by his fellow commercial travellers on Thursday. A representative gathering, bore testimony to Mr Steed's popularity, and Mr Jas. Taylor conveyed to the guest a gold wristlet watch suitably inscribed. The beet wishes of his many friends for hie welfare at the front and a safe return accompany Mr Steeds. . Mr Wm. Francis Tubman, who will leave Dunedin for Trentham to-day, has been the recipient of several presentations (including a wristlet v,atch, a pair of binoculars, and a substantial cheque from the New Zealand Pine Company, Invercargill, in various parta of Otago and Southland. WORK AT MORNINGTON. Twenty large parcels of men's women's, and children's good warm clothing, boots, and shoes were sorted and packed ready, to be sent to the Early Settlers' Hall from the Mornington_ Council Chambers last week for Belgian relief, also a number of socks, balaclava cape, and warm scarves (made from blankets for. the reinforcements, and three large parcels of old linen, and a parcel of bed socks for the Red Cross Fund. Wool is becoming soarce and expensive', and, therefore, iti is advisable riot _to throw away or burn even the smallest bits. They can all be knitted into hospital s.tockings, which are always useful. On Thursday Misses Rattray and Geerin will be at the chambers from 2.30 p.m. to receive- donations of socks, balaclava caps, and cuffs for the soldiers, also clothing for Belgian relief. Baby garments of any kind' are \ also required- for tho babies' box. Leather waistcoats are urgently needed for our troops for the winter. Donations will be gratefully received. The following have sent gifts:—For_ Lady Liverpool Fund: Mesdames P. Mirams, Kingston, and. Jones, Miss , Dunlop (Lovell's Flat). Red .Cross Fund: Mesdames Hutton. Abbott, and "Anonymous." Belgian Relief Fund: Mrs Abbott, "A Friend," and "Helper." Money: Mrs Morley, £1 for leather waistcoats. If possible a leather waistcoast will be on view at the chambers on Thursday.

- NEW ZEALAND.ERS IN ENGLAND. ATTENTIONS TO THE WOUNDED. In a letter recently received by Messrs Aloock and C 0.,, the well-known billiard people, interesting reference is- made to the representative of this dominion in London, the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, and to the treatment experienced by invalided New Zealanders who are recuperating at Home. Mr P. Warnford-Davis, v from whom the communication came, writes: —"I see a good deal of your High Commissioner (Mr Mackenzie). He is a splendid fellow! During his term of office here New Zealand' has been kept to the.fore, and is now spoken of as generally as the othor daughter States. This used not to be the case until his advent. I do hope the Government at your end will thoroughly recognise the,work he does, and give him all adequate support. He works ceaselessly. I will give you an example: There is a military hospital at Chichester. near my country house, and there were some New Zealand and Australian wounded there. When .we go down to stay we generally visit thp hospital and fetch them out five at a time and take , them for a drive somewhere in our car, then to the seashore at Selsey, and finally baelo to the garden for tea.. One of the men said that he was puzzled to..know how it was that he so quickly got news from home when he firrived at Chichester, until he found; that Mr Mackenzie had sought out the New Zealanders and had advised their parents and friends bv cable as to their- condition. This was immensely appreciated. It goes to show how good your Commissioner is."

. General sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs E Balcombe Brown, of Wellington, who are now in London (writes our correspondent), on 'the dieath of their elder son, Lieutenant William E. Balcombe Brown, of the Roval Field Artillery. Lieutenant Balcombe Brown was observing for his battery when a' shell '->urst over the station and' killed him. When war broke out Lieutenant Brown was- studying at Oriel. Oxford, where he had got hie half-blue for boxin" ' He at once got his commission, and he had an early experience in Belgium attached to the ammunition column of Sir Henry Rawlinson's division, which landed at Zbebrugge, and made a dash to save Belgium from tho advance of the Germans, which led to the battles of Y<?rea. He was a keen soldier, and looked forw-d to wending bis life in the aim;.