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Otago Daily Times, Issue 17319, 20 May 1918, Page 4

Firemen M'Gill and Oliver, who were injured in the fatal fire brigade accident on Thursday night, and who wore removed to tho Hospital, were both reported last night to be improving slightly.

In December (says our Wellington correspondent) tho Tuapeka Times published very senous statements regarding alleged excessive drinking among the New Zealand soldiers at tho wet canteen in Sling Camp. J. hey appeared in a letter supposed to have written by a soldier in the camp. 0 Minister of Defence referred the statements to the Officer Commanding tho New Zealanders at feling, and ho has just receded replies to his inquiries. All the officers state that there is no excessive drink--3n canteen, and that numbers of the cases of drunkenness which do occur are among men who liavo, while cn leave, visited hotels outside the camp. A Presbyterian chaplain writes as follows:—"I must protest against the defamation of our soldiers and tho alarming of their New Zealand friends by the publication of such misleading and pernicious correspondence." A medical officer also denies that anything m tho nature of excess in liquor exists in the camp.

The polico have practically given up hope ot discovering the body of Oswald Mayhew, who is wanted in connection with tho murder of Mr G. Burke at Kakanui. A number of policcmen are, however, still prosecuting the search. Right from the beginning of the search nothing which might be regarded as a tangible trace of Mayhew has been discovered. The police theory inchijes to tho belief that Mayhew has shot himself, in preference to the theory that nc might have drowned himself, as he was, ij is considered, too good a swimmer to adopt the latter means of self-destruction— that is, of course, if he has committed suicide. Mayhew, however, had suicidal as well as momicidal tendencies, and a few years ago, when at Palmerston North, cut his wrist so badly in an attempt to cause death by bleeding as to necessitate 13 stitches being put in by a doctor.

Mr C. J. M'Kenzie (District Public Works Engineer) returned on Saturday night from an extensive tour embracing Kaitangata, Lawrence, and the goldfields. Mr M'Kenzie states that trouble is still being experienced with the lock at the Kaitangata Lanal, and that, as tho pumping and other operations have failed to clear tho water from tho lock, other means of coDing with the difficulty will have to bo " adopted. Several of the necessary buildings have been erected at the Cromwell'end of the gorge railway, and a goods train runs over tho line. Tho quantity of goods of all descriptions being carried over tho lino is considered to be most satisfactory, and during the season now ending heavy parcels of fruit wcro sent in to the Cromwell louding platform. Work on the new bridge at Arthur's Point is proceeding steadily, and the structure should bo completed about the end of the year. The ribs of both arches are now in, but. as the heavy frosts preclude concreting work, tho winter months will be occupied in pulling down the old bridge. The weather has been beautifully fine in the goldfields, taking it all round, since the beginning of April. When tho magistrate had left the bench on Friday, after sentencing the Rev. J. 11. G. Chappie to 11 months' imprisonment, tho crowd in the court, which consisted mostly of women, filed past the prisoner and shook him by the hand. One woman's feelings overcame her (says the Lyttelton Times), anu in a strident voice she shrieked, " Call himself a man! How dare they condemn a man like that. I don't care for any man. I would do it myself rather than him, o. man with 14 children and a wife that has got to battle for herself." The crowd waited outside tor some time, but fir-ally dispersed.

Two military deserters from camp, Frederick Henry Paintin and William Georgo Liice, wcro arrested at the homo of the latter in Victoria street, Christchurch, early cn Friday morning (says tho Prese). A party of detectives and constables, numbering 10, under charge of Detective Sergeant Gibson, left the police station at 3 a.m., and, proceeding to the, house, surrounded it. When it was daylight, Detcctivc Sergeant Gibson knocked at the door, which was opened by an elderly lady. She attempted to lock the door, but the police pushed their way in, and, in spite of tho woman's attempts to impede them, discovered their quarry :n tho attic. They were conveyed to the police station, and later were handed ever to tho military authorities. The first issue of the Christchurch Star was published 011 May 14. 1868. Tho jubilee of our contemporary, on which we congratulate it, was celebrated, therefore, 0.1 Tuesday last. A facsimile of the first page of tho first number of tho paper is an interesting feituro of tho jubilee issue, even although it consists entirely of business notices. Tho slrpning announcements in it include the notification of an excursion to Dunedin by " tho favourite screw 6tea.mer Tara-naki," the fares being £3 3s saloon and £2 2s steerage; of the projected departure for Akavoa, Timaru. Oamaru, and parturo of the s.s. Ivecra; and of tho projected departure for Wellington, Nelson, Hokitika. and Mcl'.xiurnc—a route commonly taken in tho days of mining activity 011 the West Coast—of the s.s. Alhambra.

A resident of Sprincclmrn, says tho Ashliinton Guardian, ha.s discovered a locality in the upper readies of tho Ashburton lliver wliic.h ho considers could be easily tripped in order to generate power to supply electricity to Methven and Ashburton. Sr.ino local residents have boeonie interested in the scheme. and arrangements v.-ill be made at an oarly date. to visit the locality. Sir William Frasor has promised the Asiiliurton County Council to visit Mount Somcrs district, and ho will inspect the river at th~ point suggested

In Saturday morning's issue of tho Otago Daily Times an appeal was made by tho Salvation Army for an accordeon for tho nso of men on Quarantine Island. A prompt response resulted, an anonymous donor coming forward with a good instrument, and a parcel of magazines for tho use the inhabitants of the island. Hie receipts at tho lied Cross shop on Saturday amounted to between £140 and £150. Hio Cavcrsham Methodist Church was crowded last evening, when the Rev. IS. Griffith, assisted by Chaplain F. T. Read, conducted a memorial service ■in memory of tho late Chaplain A. Allen, who was killed in action on the western front on May 8. Hie pulpit was draped with the L nion Jack, and tho oommunion table was decorated with white llowcrs. Tho hymns sung during tho service and tho Scripturo lesson read were favourites of the deceased. Ihe Rev. Mr Griffith took as his text John xv, 14, " Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends." After referring to tho wonderful way in which this law of lovo tind sacrifice was finding new expression through the war, Mr Griffith ga V 0 a. brief sketch of tlio career and work of the late Chaplain Allen. Tho preacher said that in all his circuits Chaplain Allen's ministry was popular and suoccssful, his winsome personality and faithful work winning for him many friends. Chaplain, Read,"who arrived by hospital ship the previous day, bore eloquent testimony to the fine qualities of Chaplain Allen, and gave an interesting account of the work of the chaplain, concluding with an impressive appeal for Christian loyalty. During the service Mrs M'Fadyen sang "Sometime We'll Understand," and tho choir rendered the anthem, .Across the Bar." After tiic benediction had been pronounced, tho "Dead March" concluded an impressive service.

Acting Vice-Admiral Roger Keyes, C.M.G., D.5.0., is just tho man for a cutting-out " expedition like those of Zeebrugge and Ostend. During the Boxer rising in 1900 he was a lieutenant and led a cutting-out expedition up tlio mouth of tho 1 ei-ho River, passed the Taku forts at its mouth, and cut out three rew Chinese destroyers, taking one after another by boarding, cutlass and pistol in hand, quite in tho old style. lor this exploit 'he was promoted Commander. When t/.e war broke out ho held tho rank of commodore in command of tho submarine flotilla, and his exploits in the Bight of Heligoland made possible " Beatty's Heligoland" at the end of August, 1914. He is credited with having penetrated up the mouth of the Elbo a good way beyo/id Cuxhaven. Tho admiral was born in 1872, and attained tho rank of rear-admiral during 1917, and durtho war has won the C.M.G. and D.S.O. Ho puocceded Vico-Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon in command of the Dover 1 atrol. His father, the lato General Sir Charles Keyes, 0.8. G., was a dashing Mutiny hero, who could handle both cSvalry and infajitry with tho same brilliancy. Tho first of tho series of homecraft lectures arranged by tho Young Women's Christian Association was held on Saturday evening, when a lecture on "Digestion and Indigestion" was given by Dr tjiedeIhe speaker outlined the processes of digestion, explaining how various foods vvero acted upon by the body. Dealing with the subject of indigestion, she said that one of .he chief causes was lack of proper mastication, and explained how noccssary it was that the teeth should do their part in preparing the food to givo tho body the fullest possible amount of nourishment. In connection with this she referred to the necessity of care for tho teeth from tho earliest stages of childhood. It was not advisable, slue said, to drink with meals; but people with strong digestive organs could do so without discomfort, though it retarded digestion The lecture was listened to with close attention throughout, and after Dr Siedebcrg had answered several questions arising out of her lccture, a vote of thanks was passed to her. During the winter session addresses on various subjects will be given regularly at tho ST.W.C.A. These lectures were very popular last year, and they should be equally so this year, as tho subjects on the syllabus are of general interest.

When a British vessel is torpedoed, it does not mean the end of the mail matter, a.-, the following letter from the New Zealand Baso Army Post Office, Mount Pleasant, London, which has been forwarded to a lady at Kaiapoi, shows:—" I have to advise you that a parcel from New Zealand, addressed to you, has been received liere, alter being salved from a torpedoed ship, with tho contents, a cake, in such a state it was necessary to destroy it. A letter, which was enclosed, is forwarded herewith! —Fred Holdsworth, Major, Director Army Postal Service." r l o another soldier on service intimation was sent that an empty tin, which was forwarded, had oontamed a little sugar, which had been dissolved by the sea water. The memoranda enclosed iri tho parcels in both caees were written in ink. pencil, and le&chcd the senders in a fairjy legible condition.

One of tiie strange meetings which the wax Hus brougnt iiDout took place recently in franco (says tlie New Zealand licru-idj. An Auckland boy, who is a gunner iu a New Zealand baitery, was struck in the tnigh by a maenme-gun bullet, which remained embodded in the flesh. By cluince ho was sent to a Canadian fic-ld hospital. An X-ray examination was necessary to locate the bullet, and when the gunner was on tiio table tlio operator, having noticed his name on the list, astounded him by remarking in a long slow drawl: " Ever been to mentioning a Maori place name. I as bom there," said tiio gunner. "Well, I guess we're cousins," said the Canadian, and cousins they proved to be. The New Zoalander's branch of the family camo hero over 50 years ago, and he knew as little about his Canadian relations as the Canadian knew about 'his. But it was left to the wheel of chance to bring the two men together in the X-ray room of a field hospital in France.

A witness in a case before the Military Service Board at Auckland, who has been employed as a farmer for a number of years, was asked by Major Conian, military representative, whether he would bo willing to tako over the lease of the farm from his employer, a single man, who had been called up. The witness, who is in class B of tho Second Division, and who recently received a legacy of £1500, stated that if he was classod C2 he intended to bixy a farm of his own, and ho would not think of taking over appellant's farm. Major Conian stated that any man classified €2 was liable to bo called up and sent to camp to do home service at soldier's pay. The only reason why reservists classed C2 were not thus dealt with was becauso there was no work for them to do. It was open to him to recommend that any rejected reservist should bo ordered to do home service, and, in view of the disinclination of witness to assist so as to release a single man fit for active service, he would, if witness were rejected, consider making an application to have him sent to camp to work at 5s a day. For the first time in tho history of New York "coo-ees" echoed amongst tho skyscrapers of the city as a body of Australian troops marched up Broadway on May 4, states a cable message, to tho commonwealth newspapers. Tho Australians, who had all seen scrvico and were diverted to America to assist in tho Liberty Loan campaign, were commanded by Colonel W. K. Fethers, D.5.0., of Melbourne, and were greeted by tremendous cheering as they entered tho city. They wero greeted by tho Mayor of New York. The Australians wero given the freedom of the principal theatres, and a full round of entertainments was arranged to fill in the time available before their early departure for England. They invaded Wall Street in order to aid the Liberty Loan, and some of tho olliorrs spoke, being received with tho wildest enthusiasm. Now York newspapers devote columns to dp. scriptions, interviews, photographs and appreciations of the Australian soldiers. The New York Tribune, in a loading article with the heading, "Hail to the Anzacs," says: "As we see the brave Anzacs marching up Broadway there is a tug at our emotion such as this city has not known before. No wonder the crowds cheered so lustily. Wo recognise these frontiersmen of Australia as our own brothers. We are proud of their deathless record in tho fight for truth and righteousness."

Tho names of Mesdamcfi Irwin, Christie, Williams, and Mason, and Mr W. Craig vrere inadvertently omjttod from our list of thoso who assisted at the East Taieri Patriotic Hand's bazaar.

They havo a clearing place for Gennai prisoners at says an extract from a letter rewiwd by a Wellington resident roni England, "and they p.re drafted from there to all parts of the country. Von iirpitz's son, who was among one draft of prisoners, passed a sentry, and in doing eo spat .it him. The sentry threw down his r ' u' or ' lim - aiK ' punched and pum«!G 'ea him well. <>f course he was had up, and given three days' C.8., not, he was told, becaiwe ho had struck tho German (because he would hav* been within -lis nghts to bayonet him), but because ho liaa put down his rifle. The sentry told tho men who told me the tale that lie -would have done six days' C.B. for the pleasure jt gave him to thrash tho Gcrman.

Don t butt into Harley efficiency tho supreme masterpiece of motor evele enterprise. \ our challenge, as it stand*, needs no answer, but may be dealt with in a futuro issue m another way. If V ou deem it desirable to refer to us again, kindly ',!? so 11 more dignified manner,—\V fetuart jisoii and Co., Dunediii.—Advt. Wo have received from the Geological burvey Department a bulletin on the -coJogy of tho Tuapeka district, by Dr P Mar-sh-all. Money Talks.-WiU Mr Wilson put up andprovo that our advertisement ro Indians is false? Our money is readv* loser to pay his £50 over to tho Women's i atriotic Association. Is he a snort? Ride an Indian.—Cooke, Hcnvlison, 'and Co — Advt. Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the monev — Advt. Men's Ceylon shirts, 10s 6d' quality for 5s lid (size 16£ only), on sale to-day at Mollisons May Bargain Fair.—Advt. For progressive people" No Rubbincr " Laundry Help, "Golden Rule" Soap ideal goods for every home.—Hunter and Ethendge (Ltd.).—Advt. For children's hacking cough at night Wood s Great Peppermint Cure. la 6d 2s 6d.—Advt. ' Ladies, lighten the labour in your homes by using a Hotpomt" Electric Radiant Grill. for all light cooking. Users state"As indispensable as an electric iron and so inexpensive. Call and insnect — Adit" 1 * (LW,) ' elcctrical onsineer^ A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattrav (next Telegraph Office)., Telephono 18kT— Advt. '

Eyestrain!—Consult Mr Peter G rwir D.8.0.A.. F. 1.0. (London), consulting'°Si oculists optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller «£ 490 Moray place, *