MAORI SOLDIERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16687, 6 May 1916, Page 8

MAORI SOLDIERS.

DEPARTURE FOR TUENTHAM. (Pub United PtiEsa Association.) AUCKLAND, May 5. A draft of 72 Maori soldiers lelt for Trentham this morning. RECRUITING DEMONSTRATION. A big recruiting und patriotic demonstration will be held at the Town Hall steps to-night, when a renewed campaign will be opened bv the Otago Recruiting Committee. Tho committee will endeavour to maintain the splendid results gained by the Dunedin Recruiting Executive when working tho Government, recruiting scheme. To-day there are splendid opportunities for every able-bodied man of military age. The conditions in England show liovv great is the need for men, and New Zealand can do her shore in ilie mighty struggle in which the Empire : s engaged. To-night the speakers will place before all, as plainly as possible, tho duty of every man and woman to-day. The speakers are tho Rev. A. C. liiinderson (who is taking the place of tho Rev. ,S. Griffith) and Mr J. Loudon. Mr 11. H. iS. White will act as chairman. The Kaikorai Band will givo stirring jjatriotic music.

OTAGO WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION. Tulip makers will attend on ■ Monday afternoon, from 2 p.m.. The flowers aro very easily made, and as 3000 of them are required, many workers will bo welcome. Donations of crinkled paper in the Allies' colours will be gladly received. Donations have been received from tho following:—Mcsdames Whipps, Inncs, Connor, MolFatt, Anderson, M'Kenzie (Taurnata), Taylor (Waiwera), M'Laren (Wedderburn), li. George (Berwick), Wilkie, Sargood, Jacobs, M'Loan, Croft, F. Smith, Wilkinson, M'Coll (Tapanui), Millan (.Seacliff), R. Miller (Seacliffi, Barr, J. O. Neill, Irvane (North-East Harbour), Bishop, Dunn, Dodds, Kerr (Waikouaiti), llolmes, Saunders, Ibbotson, Dixon, Hudson (Ware;>a), I). ,Lee, Rittenberg, Abbot, Wright, Brown, R. Wilkinson, Footer, Lyon, Ingram, M'Kay, Aitkcn, Douke, Bennett, Jenkins, Brown, White (Anderson Bay), A. Bagley, Misses Mifnro, Rutherford, Dallaston, H. Miller (Soacliff), Prydo (Merton), Shackleford, Bates, Anderson, Moore, Bagsbaw", J. Allan, Atkin, Edwards (2), Lawson, Edwards (Waitati), Aschman, (Jollinson, Aitkcn, M'Vicar, F. Cook, Jones, Martin, Reid. Women's Associations: —P,ukehiki (per Mrs Robertson), Alexandra, AVaikouaiti, West Taicri Branch, Mornington, Sawyers Bay, Green. Island, North-East Valley, Dipton, Wyndham, Outrarri, North-East Valley, Roslyn and Kaikorai, St. Kilda, Knox Church Guild, Iligheliff. Pupils of Schools:—Kensington, Heriot, East Taieri, Wakari, Mosgiel, Lowburn Ferry, Walton Park; "Sympathiser," Sister Elizabeth, Girls' Caversham Baptist Bible Class, Sister Nora (St. Hilda), Two Friends, South Dunedin Ladies' Guild l (per Mrs Fairmaid): Tho girls at tho Roslyn Woollen Mills sent in a contribution of 150 pairs socks, for the Dominion Gifts parccls. Dominion Parcels.—Pukehiki and Sandymount £1. Miss Collinton 2s 6d, Miss Smith 2s 6d, Mornington Branch £3, Mr Y. B. Thomson, 2s 6d, Roslyn Branch £1 lCs, Wvndham Women's Patriotic Committee £5. Patriotic Fund.—St. Kilda Branch £20, Waitati Branch (collected in box! £3 3s Id, Evansdaie (collected in box) £1 6s lOd, Mrs Cameron (Anderson Bay) 10s.' Wellington Soldiers' Club.—Roslvn Branch £1. Mrs Jackson, aged 84 years, has sent in her 112 th pair of socks. Mrs Fulton (Taieri) donated a. case of dessert applc3.

ROSLYN-KAIKORAI BRANCH. A meeting of tho above branch was held on Thursday. Donations are coming in freely for tho jumble sale, to bo held this month. Gifts of any kind will be acceptable, and tho committee trusts that a good response will bo ' made to the appeal for money or goods for this sale; so that the society may continue the work it has so successfully carried on. The following donations -were received with many thanks: Monthly subscription for dominion parcels— Mrs Dawson ss, Mrs Bowler, son. 2s 6d, Mrs Jones ss, Miss Cullender 2s 6d, Other donations —Mrs M'Laurin, 4 pairs sacks; Mrs Boseence, goods for Belgians; Mina Munro, socks; .Janet Munro, face cloths; Ellen and Bessie Boveridge and Rhoda King, sweets and marble bags for jumble sale; Miss N. Callendcr, 5s and 2 pairs socks and cuffs; Mrs Oliver, socks; Third Standard Kaikorai .School (per Miss Dow), 1 dozen service bags; Mrs Blair Mason, 2 pairs socks; Miss Woddersnoon. 4 face cloths; " Imperialist," 2 pairs socks, 8 tea towels. Tho following goods were forwarded to Early Settlers' Hall:—1 dozen handkerchiefs, 1 dozen tea towels, 2.9 service bags, 2 down soap bags. 6 bed jackots. 1 scarf, 6 cuffs, 6 helmets, 12 pairs socks, 9 hot water bag covers, 5 flannel shirts, 4 pairs bed socks. 9 shirts; and tho following list to the Red Cross:—lo surgical aprons. 20 pillowslips, 59 tailed bandages. 3 parcels old linen, 19 eoap bags, 50 operating shields, and 10 face cloths. s

ST. CLAIR BRANCH. Tho meeting on Thursday afternoon was well attended, but that in the evening was poorly attended. An exhibition of work will bo held shortly. There will bo no charge for admission, and afternoon tea and supper may bo obtained, and there will also be a jumblo stall. Tho following donations were received with thanks: —Mrs Lindsay Russell, ss; J. H., sealette coat; Miss Isaacs, balaclava and socks; Mis Isaacs, 5s Lady Liverpool Fund, 2a 6d for gift parcel; Mrs Ibbotson, 2.; for gift parcel; Mrs Holmes, 2s 6d and balaclava; Miss Hobnes, 2s 6d; magazines, J. H.; Miss Hopcraft, two balaclavas; Miss '. Hopcraft, two balaclavas; Miss M'Curdy, balaclava ; Mrs Blyth, 2s 6d: Miss Nixon, four pairs socks; Miss Blyth, Belgian relief; Master Philip Petre, box of sardines for gift parcel; Mrs Paulin sent in a largo parcel of soldiers' comforts. Tho St. Clair school children made tiho following articles for the month of April: — 52 service bags, 60 button bags, 59 faco cloths, 30 tea towels, 3 quilts, 1 pair socks, 1 pyjama girdle, 4 balaclavas, 2 pair cuffs, 1 pair mittens-

THE OVERSEAS CLUB. A large number of cases are now ready for shipment to our soldiers. To expedite packing some of the ladies were packing till 10 p.m. on Wednesday. As soon as these cases are sent away, more will require filling, so that donations of foodstuffs will be gratefully received. Tho committee acknowledges with thanks the following donations Mrs Bastings (children's clothing), Mrs Morton (socks and cuffs), Miss Jean Morton (foodstuffs), Mrs Ballard (Belgian clothing), Mrs Bardsiey (£l, comforts). TAIERI WOMEN'S PAtriotic association. This week's meeting was largely attended, Mrs Quelch presiding. It was resolved to increase tho monthly contribution towards tho dominion parcel schcme to £10. A box of articles was packed this week. The sum of £20 was voted to the Y.M.C.A. movement for tho benefit of the men at tho front. It was resolved to commence a penny weekly collection towards tho tobacco fund for Taieri boys at the front. LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER DENNISTOUN. A recent honours list in _ tho London Gazette contained tho notification that Licu-tenant-comimander Georgo 11. Dennistoun, R.N., had been made a member of the Distinguished Service Order for his services on tho occasion of tho destruction of the German gunboat Hermann von Wissmann at Sphinxhaverl, on Lake Nyasa, on May 30, 1915. Liotit.-commander Dennistoun, who is a son of Mr G. J. Dennistoun, of Peel Forest, is very well known in Christchurch. Ho joined tho navy about 17 years ago, and was promote*! sub-lieutenant in 1903. In 1905 he was apointed to the Pyramus, and since then lh.aa served most, of his time afloat in Australian and Now Zealand waters. In 1909 he _was appointed first and gunnery lieutenant in H.M.S. Pioneer, and he served in that ship until she was turned over to tho Australian navy in> March, 1913, when he transferred to the Pyramus. When that ship was recomtnissioned in July, 1914, Lieut.-commander Dennistoun was temporarily attached to tho Pyramus. Ho married a few weeks Inter a daughter of tho kite Mr F. H. Pyno. When the Main Expeditionary Forco left New Zealand, Lieut. - commander Dennistoun went in Hie Tahiti as transport officer. 1 From Alexandria he went on to England, and on reporting to the Admiralty, was at onco ordered to Central Africa, whero ho took up tho appointment of senior naval officcr on Lake Nyasa. Since the commencement of hostilities over 2000 volunteers in the Napier military district have boon rejected as "unfit."

CARNIVAL AT PORT CHALMERS. Residents of Port Chalmers axe reminded of the carnival that is to be held on tho Recreation Ground this afternoon, and as the object is a patriotic one, public patronage is essential to ensure success. Mho attractions at the ground will bo many and varied, and young arid old can look forward to finding some congenial moans of entertainment. SERGEANT PILLING. Yesterday morning Sergeant E. G. Pilling, an old Otago IJigii _ School boy, who has come from tho fighting lino with a recommendation for'a commission, visited his old school. He wa/i enthusiastically received by tho present boys, who heartily cheered him. After a few remarks had be-on made hy the rcctor, in which he asked Sergeant Pilling to address tho boys, Sergeant Pilling told the pupils about various school fellows ho had met. Prominent amongst these were Jock" Cuthill, tho late A. Malcolm, dux of the school in 1913, and tho late Tom Denniston. Sergeant Pilling ■ thereupon tried to stop speaking, but was urged on by tho cheering and clapping. lie related his experiences and feelings at the landings at Gallipoli, where on tho first day ho was amongst those who wore in reserve behind the Australians. After his delightful speech, Sergeant Pilling was again heartily cheorcd. CORPORAL A. E. COLLIE. Mr "vV. Oollie, of Roslyn, has received a cablegram from his son, Corporal A. E. Oollie, reporting that he is convalescent, anrl has left for tho front. Corporal Collie is a well-known Zingari-Richmond footballer, who left with the Main Expeditionary Force. He was invalided Homo some time ago.

Tin; Returned Soldiers' Association, which was formed in Ashburton about two months ago, is making steady progress, and as a result 'of tho organisation several small benefits have accrued to various members.

Cr l'. J. Linsoott stated at last mooting of tho Wallace County Council that he had completed the canvass by motor car of Waimattiku Riding for recruits in three days. All tltio eligible single men in tho riding had signed on to accompany tho Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Reinforcements.

Mr D. Watson, who has been in business as a. plumber in Palme,rston North for many years, believing that every man should sacrifice something in order to help. the Empire a.t this juncture, has closed his establishment and offered Ihis services to the Defence Department. Ho is a married man. Owing to so many of its members having left on active service, the ranks of the Carterton Brass Band have been fo depleted that it has decided to disband, and tho instruments have all been called in. It is proposed to sell the instruments to the military authorities at Tauherenikau, and place the. money at interest /until the time is' opportune to reinstate the band.