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Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 52

, The Prime Minister informed a reporter on the 7th (says our Wellington correspondent) that it had been finally arranged that the New Zealand High Commissioner in London (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) was to have the term of his appointment extended.

_ At the meeting of the Port Chalmers Borough Council on the 7th Cr Stevenson gave notice that ho would bring forward the following motion at the nextmeeting of the council That this council donate the sum of £250 to the Otago Fund for Wounded and Fallen Soldiers and their Dependents, and that this sum be charged to the water account.” In makingclear his intention in regard to this matter, Cr Stevenson stated that the motion was a somewhat unusual one, but wo were living in unusual times. Ho was under the impression that the people of Port Chalmers wore not doing a great deal to help these funds, and as their town was one of the few places that was benefiting by the war he thought they should do something more. The borough account had been increased by some £llOO for the past 12 months in excess of the amount it would have reached without the war, and, further than that, the overdraft had been reduced from £2300 to £7OO. Their finances were in a thoroughly sound position altogether, and he thought the least they could do was to make a vote of £250 to such an object as ho proposed.

Jn the Winter Show guessing competition for the gig, valued at £35, presented to the patriotic funds by Mr J. 0. White, the winner proved to bo Mr W. E. M’Leod, of Moagiel. The pony presented by Mr H. M. Driver, in aid of the same fund, was won by Mrs M‘Master, of Arrowtown.

One of the most valuable recent achievements of the men encamped at Trentham is the installation of a complete and independent water supply for themselves and . their successors (states the New Zealand Times). Fatigue parties have worked hard to cut a track from the camp to the springs among the hills, dig a trench., lay mains, .and excavate a reservoir with a holding capacity of 100,000 gallpns. The work has resulted in a permanent and adequate supply becoming available, while the cost is said to be practically negligible in view of the magnitude of the undertaking. Operations were supervised by Captain "M'Cristell (the camp quartermaster), and Quartermaster-sergeants W. Bates and Wilkinson. As the work progressed it was found that many of the men engaged were well qualified technically to take part in It, so that a first-class job has been done.

The lamb which was sold by auction ty .Messrs Donald Reid and Co. at the iWinter Show on Thursday on account of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund was donated bj Miss M. Gray, of Miller’s Flat.