JOTTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 25

JOTTINGS.

Children's Day will be observed on July 10. The funds raised will bo devoted to the relief of two million and a-half destitute Belgian children. Tho Prime Minister has received a cheque for £l9l€ from the N.Z. .Shipping Company for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Mr J. H. Coleman (Napier) has sent a cheque for £IOOO to the Prime Minister for the British Soldiers' Dependents' Fund, and Mr and Mrs Eric L. Riddiford (Wellington) have forwarded a cheque for £SOO for tho same object. It is reported that there are sufficient recruits available in the Auckland No. 1 group, city and suburbs, for all requirements up io tho 20th and part of tho 21st Reinforcements to September. Mr J. L. Clemas, of Wairoa, has received a cablegram from the Admiralty notifying that his only son was lost in the battle of Jutland. Deceased was transferred from the Hornet to tho Nestor quite recently. A letter received on the 19th from Sir Thomas Mackenzie contains tho following reference to his blinded son, Trooper Clutha Mackenzie:—"'Clutha is getting along splendidly, lam glad to sa3 7 . He underwent a very trying operation a month ago, and was under chloroform for about an hour and a-half. The result was most satisfactory, and he is now much -more comfortable. Ho is in Scotland, as he says, 'seeing tho country.' Although he does not see, he appears to realise the influence of his surroundings- His knowledge of locality is simply remarkable. Upon one or two occasions, when going through streets he has never seen, he has been able to correct my mistakes if I overstepped by distance." Mr 'G. L. Denniston has received a cable message from his son, Lieutenant Gordon Denniston, from London, whero he is on leave from France.

Sergeant' L. H. Denniston, who has been attached to the 14th Reinforcements, which will leave Wellington shortly, has received a commission as second lieutenant in the 18th Reinforcements.

Captain J. B. Davis, who left New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary Force, has cabled from London to his father. Major H. F. Davis,' V.D., that the Medical Board has granted him five months' leave of absence on account of a wound in his ankle, and that he proposes to take a trip to New Zealand. Lieut. L. D. Ootterill, sth Royal Berk; shires, son of Mr H. Ootterill, of Christchurch, has been gazetted captain, dating from October 14 last. He got his captaincy 10 days after he had reached tho age of 21 years. Lieut. Irwin Rutherford, of Wellington, has been awarded the Military Cross. He went to England over 12 months ago, obtained a commission in the Royal Fiolel Artillery, and was sent to Franco soon after. He is at present in London, recovering from wounds.

Amongst tho Gisborne residents upon whom tho toll of the war has fallen heavily is Mrs Gosnell, of Childers road. She ,has lost her father, a brother, and a nephew, and on Tuesday week she received the sacl news that her husband, Private John Gosnell, had been killed in action in France, and Mrs Gosnell is left with a child 18 months old to mourn her great loss. Sister Naismith, late of Tapanui Hospital, writing from Egypt, says she finds the summer in tho Land of the Pharoahs too sultry, and tho flies, of sorts, very trying. The sister when writing was under orders for France. An Oamaru soldier writes home:— " France is being run by women. They are to bo seen at work in the fields anel in all kinds of shops, butchers', bakers', and hairdressers'. It's great how they have taken over the men's work."

Relatives in Nelson received word by last mail that Lieutenant-colonel A. E. Glasgow (Royal Sussex Regiment) has been twice wounded, and when tho mail left was in England. Lieutenant-colonel Glasgow is a brother of Messrs A. and .]. Glasgow, of Nelson. Another brother has recently been promoted to be a brigadier-general. Captain Leo Myers, formerly a wellknown citizen of Auckland, and a brother of tho Hon. Arthur Myers, left England for tho front some six weeks ago as captain in command of a company of 250 men in the 60th Regiment (King's Royal Rifles). It will be remembered that Capfain Myers enlisted as a private 16 months ago in the 2nd Sportsmen's Battalion (now tho 24th Royal Fusiliers), and has worked hard to achieve his present rink.

An Auckland message states that the Tunnelling Company of tho Engineers and part of the Fourth Maori Contingent paraded on the 25th. A total draft of 165 men embarked on tho tram for the southern camps at noon. Chaplain-captain Cruickshcnk, who has been at Featherston for gome moiths, will IcaW' for the front with tho Fourteenth Reinforcements. Chaplain-capfcain Roberts, who has returned from Egypt, will go to Featherston

Captain Little, who left Timaru for active eervioe, has been promoted to Surgeon-

major. Mr F. J. Ramsay, town clerk at Balclutha, is leaving with the Eighteenth draft on June 23 as a lieutenant in the Nineteenth Reinforcements.

Word has been received by Mr David Broom, of Ashburton, that his son, Corporal D. E. Broom, has been promoted to bo a

sergeant. Sergeant Broom left Now Zealand with the Main Body, and fought on Gallipoli Peninsula. Ho was wounded and sent to England to recuperate, and is now fighting in France. Lieut.-colonel J. G. Hughes, D. 5.0., who loft New Zealand on Major-general Godley's staff, is returning to New Zealand. He was severely wounded at Gallipoli, and when the last mail left London ho was still hobbling about on two sticks.

Mr S. G. Cooper, local manager of the Queensland Insurance Company, has been accepted for active service, and will leave for Trentham next month.

A patriotic concert was held in the Upper Junction School on Wednesday evening in aid of tho Sailors' Dependents' Fund. A large and enthusiastic audience attended, dospite tho bad weather. Songs were contributed by Mrs M'Donald, Miss Brown, the Vivian family, Mr G. F. Swans, and Master Swift, recitations by Miss Simpson and Master Swift, and a bagpipe selection by Mr Lamont. Great credit is duo to tho energetic committee of young- lads in tho district. Messrs Begg and Co. kindly lent tho pia.no, and the ladies provided the cakes. Miss Brown made a most efficient accompanist. A highly successful dance followed. The total sum realised was £ll 10s, which goes entirely to the above fund.