THE COLONIST. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918. SUMMARY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14611, 16 January 1918, Page 4

THE COLONIST. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1918. SUMMARY NOTES.

Reinforcements. The drain upon the man-power of tie Dominion has been somewhat eased by the reduction of the strength' of reinforcement drafts. The extent of the. diminution has not been disclosed, but it has been sufficient to enable the t calling up of two of the monthly drafts ito be dispensed with. Nevertheless thb requisitioning of the Second Division of reservists is proceeding steadily, and the fourteenth ballot, the result of which is announced to-day, exhausts Class A, married men without childron. None of the Second Division men are yet in camp, tie first draft being under notice to proceed to Trentham in April or May, the precise date being indefinite.

The Motuihi Escapees. General relief was experienced when it was announced on December 21st that the eleven German prisoners of war who oscaped from the Motuihi detention camp a week before had been recaptured at tre Kermadee Islands. It was known that the escapees had seized t'no scow Mo a soon after their flight from Motuihi in the commandant's launch, and it was feared that they would be able to exclange her for I a steamer, and set out upon a commerce raiding excursion, which was no doubt their intention. The authorities j thought it probable that the Moa would be headed for tre Kermadecs, I where the raiders could replenish their stores from the depot established there for the benefit of shipwrecked mariners. Accordingly the cable steamer Iris was despatched to the group, and the official conjecture having been well fovnded, the Germans found the Iris waiting for them when they arrived. A shot fired aross the Moa's.bows was sufficient to induce the escapees to surrender-, and their rapture was.effected.' without difficulty. Tiro crew of the Moa, whom they had required to work the vessel, were found safe and well. They remained on their vessel, which was'towed back to port by tho capturing steamer. The prompt recapture of tre party to some extent redeems a very humiliating incident. A court of inquiry was constituted to investigate the affair, and as a resn.lt of its reepmmendsrtions the late camp commandant'

is to be court-martialle'd. The inquiry showed that other officers were involved, and the extent of their responsibility for the laxity of supervision will bo investigated by another eoVrt of inquiry wrich has been set up for the purpose.

New Year Honours. With few exceptions the distinctions which fell to the share of New Zealand in the New Year Honours List were for meritorious service rendered in the military sphere. A large number of members of the Dominion's forces in tie several theatre's of war and at home received appropriate recognition of specially meritorious conduct, the list being headed by General Sir An- , drew Russell, who has received the very high honour of Knight Commander of the-Bath. In the civil sphere two knighthoods have come to New Zealand. The recipients of this order were the Hon. William Fraser, Minister of Public Works, and Mr John R. Sinclair. Sir William Fraser has had a very long connection with public life, dating back to the days of the. Otago Provincial- Council in the 'sixties. Jn 1893 he was elected to Parliament as member for Wakatipu,, and has held the seat ever since. ■ He joined the Massey Administration as Minister of Public- Works, retaining the portfolio when the present National Cabinet was formed. Sir John Sinclair is a barrister by profession. He sat in the Legislative Council for some years, and was a member of the Royal Commission appointed after the last Imperial Conference to inquire into the trade resources of the Imperial Dominions.

Day of Prayer, In obedience to the King's command, January 6th, the first Sunday in the New Year, was observed in the Dominion, as it was throughout the Empire, as a special day of prayer and thanksgiving in connection ,with the war. In Nelson special services were held in their churches by all denominations, the congregations being large. The Royal proclamation was read in each church.