NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13792, 12 June 1915, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A united meeting for intercession will be held in iJie Methodist Church after tho usual evening service to-morrow.

A public meeting will be held in the Cit.y Council Chambers on Monday erening to consider tho taking of steps to augment.the Bick and Wounded Soldiers and their Dependents' Fund.

Fifty front seats for the Permanent Pictures entertainment to be given by Mr H. Saunders at the Empire Theatre on Tuesday evening in aid of tho Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund, will be sold by auction by Mr Alfred Gould in Trafalgar street to-night.

The theft of a Red Cross Fund collecting box has been reported to the police. It was removed from the counter of Mr T. Eastcolt's pharmacy in Hardy street at about half-past 5 yesterday .gtoning,--..-wlifto therproprietor was in a,;^back rrooin.: Tlie: box .-contained a number .of.x-oifls. ' ..

It is intimated by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board that tho services of Mrs Annio -Woodward, are available as district nurse for tlje Takaka uistrict.

_ A largely attended dance Was held at IFoxnill on June' 4th,' writes our -correspondent.in-, aid of the Red Cross Pund. . The result was very satisfac tory, approximately £15 being handed over. # The expenses were almost nil, the piano being lent by Mrs Sherman, and the music supplied gratis by Mrs Anderson and Mr Weblev. Tho committee were congratulated by Mr McKenzie on the success achieved. Mr I'owlor acted as M.O. and the floor, which was prepared by several energetic young men, was iii good order.

In future, tho Defence Department will call up men for the Reinforcements according i o the number registered in each district. The -district with the largest number of registrations will send .away the most men.—Press Association.

Major Toomer and Adjutant Hay-, wood, of Wellington, will conduct special meetings at tho Salvation Army Uitadel to-morrow.

The patriotic fete at the Boys' Colfe on V^ n? sd, ay»' th* 23rd inst. (Prince of Wales's Birthday) will be rendered -attractive by a seven a-side football contest together with gun drill, gymnastics, exhibition lives, and waxworks. There will b© a sale of flags, and afternoon tea will be obtainable.

A most successful sale of produce, needlework, sweets, etc., in aid of the Belgians, organised by residents of Tapawera and surrounding districts, was held on May 28th at Tapawera in the Hall, which was kindly lent by the Druids for the occasion. The sports and races held on June sth in conjunction with the above proved a great attraction. The committee desire to thank the contributors, and general public for their generous support; also all those who so willingly gave their services in connection with the fete and sports. The Belgian Relief Fund itvill benefit approximately to the extent|of £120.

A young man arrived in Geraldint,' the other day. from the backblocks who had not soen a newspaper for six months. Efts occupation was that of a boundary rider, and after a week's re-. iaxatjon he again set off for the solitudes.

A man who enlisted at Wanganui gave his age as '39. The examining doctor sent back the man's regulation form with the inscription "apparently (forty-five"' opposite the "age" line, and it.was duly remitted to district headquarters."lt wrs returned with instructions to make further inquiries as iio the age of the applicant, and those inquiries ended in the discovery that the man's age was actually fifty-five! Ho was accordingly rejected", aud is the most disappointed man in Wanganui iio-day.

Berlin newspapers state that the British and Russian prisoners of war are now working on the largG undeveloped tracts of land surrounding the Tel tow canal, which penetrates districts adjacent to Berlin and Potsdam. The Englishmen- are slated to be good workers, there being many experienced gardeners among them. Young women belonging to Berlin uppertehdom are planting 'vegetables on the new-made acreage as fast as it is cleared bj' the prisoners.

"What will be the position if prohibition is carried in that district at the next' poll?" asked Mr Jusiee -Hosking at a sitting in banco tho ether day when some Gisborne trustees sought leave, to borrow a certain sum for the erection of a hotel on trust property which is situated on a coach road twenty miles out from Gisborne. A building -previously let to a tenant for use as a hot-el, the applicants said, had been burnt down "I don't need an affidavit to tell me," proceeded his Honour, l!.vhat the value of a. wayside building like this will be if it is deprived of its license. We have a good many of them down south." The Judge went on to say. that he had a strong feeling against encouraging trustees to specular in such ventures.

Ib may be of some interest to point otttHo "those who are unacquainted with •the weapon, tha£ a machine gun, at an ordinary; rate, fires 500 rounds , a minute. "From the sector of the defences at Neuve Chapolle, therefore, where; as reported, the Germans had fifteen machine guns, within a length of front of 2-50 yards, 7500 bullets could have been poured in in one minute, in addition to those from tho rifles of the infantry manning the parapets. What the effect of this stream of lead would have been against assaulting infantry, either held up by obstacles or advance ing over clear ground at the slow P ac£j alone possible to heavily weighted soldiers, is obvious. The German guns are of the Maxim type, on a small and inconspicuous sledge or ;' stretcher mounting, and are carried everywhere ivhere infantry can go.

Samples of paper clothing for the soldier in tho field have reached Wellington. They have been sent out to the local braiich of James Spicer and Sods, the inventors and maters, and take the form of a waistcoat and waders. They-are made of a particularly tough -papor specially prepared to keep out" .lamb and cold.' The waistcoat, is vtorn under.regimental clothing and tied vciih. light cotton tapes.. Its weight is 'iiiconsidVrable, and when rolled up it measures 9ia long by lin in diameter. The waders are made of the same material- Tho foldiev practically puts his legs into paper bags, and he can wear them' over or under his puttees as tihe ca-sb may be. Tho boots, of ccurstj are worn over the wader, which reaches to the thigh.

The programme for Miss Jean Martin's organ and vocal recitals in the School of Music on Saturday afternoon and evening, the 19th inst.^is published in this is^uo. Admission to the recitals will be free, but a collection will be made for the Sick and "Wounded SoJdiers' Frind.

-As showing the new spirit in British industry as the result of tho war; a Gisborne firm I'eceive-d by last mail from .one of their Homo correspondents, a letter, stating: "Our part in .the great war as civilians is to keep going full time if possible, to keep employed as many people as we can, no that thoro may be no distress. We do not doubt that we shall do it, but we shall want your help. We for our part will keep prices down as low as is consistent with .the high price of materials; we will not stand stiffly for our own patterns, but be ready to make what you want. Together we hopo we maj- win this dreadful, fight, and once for all end Caesarism and militarism, so that the nations may develop without the constant fear of war, which has now for so long haunted Europe and the whole world."

In the Supreme Court at Wellington, Mr Justice Chapman reserved his decision in tho appeal of Arthur Henry Leapcr, of Nelson, against the refusal of the Architects' Registration Board to register him as a member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.—Press Association.

The Brightwater branch of the Ladies' Sewing Guild are still engaged in making up clothing for the various relief organisations. Up to date some 500 articles have been forwarded to the High Commissioner, London, for distritribution. The secretary (Mrs G. Robertson) wishes to acknowledge the liberal support given by the residents of Brightwater and surrounding districts, but further help is needed if the Guild is to continue its woi-k. The secretary will be pleased to receive donations of material/ clothing, etc.

Mr R. Meredith has received news that his nephew (Inspector Meredith, of the Straits Settlements Constabulary) had a hairbreadth escape during the Singapore mutiny (says the "Waimat© Times"). Two Chinese servants in his carriage were killed, also the horse that was drawing it.

"Many people do not know what the civil servants are giving to the patriotic funds," said Mr Field, M.P., at. the Post and Telegraph Association's social last evening. "The officers of the Post Office, Public Works Department, Railway Department and the Police Department have given no less than £12,----084 in three months and aro to-cHy giving at the same rate. (Applause.) TJioy have set an example that others in New Zealand might well follow."

TLe statements made at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, relative to the invalided soldier who was admitted to tho Consumption Sanatorium allegedly in a state of collapse, are (the Christchurch "Press" find on inquiry) based on insufficient knowledge: The rlleged circumstances of the case, as detailed at the. meeting of the board, were that a soldier invalided from Egypt suffering from tuberculosis, wandered abouti the streets of Christchurch until he found his way to the tuberculosis dispensary, where it was discovered that he was in a state of wllapse, necessitating his removal straightway to the Consumption Sanatorium. References" have., also, been made, to the effect that tlie invalided soldier was "friendless and homeless." The facts are that this particular .soldier, after being six months in Egypt, was invalided home, and three or four weeks ago ho reported himself in Wellington. He was then given 28 days' leave to see if his health would be- restored, and was instructed to report at the Christchurch headquarters. He. then came to Christchurch,, and.- stayed with his uncle, having no nearer relations in the city, and hay in." been, previouslyin the habit of staying with his uncle when he was in Christchurch. The invalided soldier duly reported himself to thp Defence* authorities, but did so ut the- barracks, and not at headquarters. The officer to whom he reported noted that the man was very ill, and remarked upon his state of health, advising him to see a medico 1 man.. Tho soldier thereupon consulted Dr Diamond, who sent him to the Consumption Sfnatorium, whore he was duly admitted. Ihe uncle of the invalided soldier confirmed these facts.

The ptfblic. are invited to attend a. meeting in. th© Temperance Hall, Bridge street., on Saturday afternoon, the 19th inst., to cay farewell to .Nurse Morgan, who is leaving for B'uneSin. During the meeting Nurse Morgan will p,ivo an addresi r on her work for the Plunket Society during her two years* stay in Nelson,

Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. W. H. Hernes addressed meetings of Taumarunni ©lectors at that town last night.

An amended list cf coming musical events under Mr Tail's direction appears in another column.

A meeting of Croatians held at Auckland tlie* other day carried a resolution declaring that as Croatians they wanted to 'become one nation with the Serbs and Slovenes, and establish a new nation, whicS might be known as the Southern Slavs Union. They suggested that the ©nly way to obtain peace on the Balkan Peninsula was to allow the new nation to- belong to the Balkan nations. Their hearts were on the sido of Serbia and the great allied Powers. Russia,- Britain, and France, and they hoped that these nations would do all in their power to unite the Croatians, Serbs, and Slovenes into one Southern [Slav Union.

The Maxwell motor car film will bo shown aflho Empire Theiatro to-night and on.-Monday evening.

Tlie family of Mr It. Murrell, tho well-known Manapoun station holder, bids fair to "establish something in tho nature of a record in Southland, in so far as military service during the present war '"is concerned says an exchange. Two of Mr Murrell's sons arc at the Dardanelles, two others are at Trentharo, and another will follow with the next lot ef reinforcements. Mr Murrell states that he has three other boys at school, aiid each of them would dearly like to follow their-older brothers' example.

Several persons in Hastings have received letters containing "white feathers." This practice is very much to be regretted (says the "Tribune"), and it-is surprising that such a thing should happen in Hastings, where tho response to the call to arms has been so generous. Ono young man who received one of these obnoxious cards has two brothers at the front already, ami is naturalH vwy much hurt over tho occurrence, as he is the only breadwinner left, of the family.