COLONEL ROBIN PROMOTED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2492, 21 June 1915, Page 4

COLONEL ROBIN PROMOTED

TO RANK AS RRIGADIERGEXERAL. It will be learned with much interest that Colonel A. \V. Robin, C.8., C.M.G., T.D., who has commanded tbo Now Zealand Defence Forces since General Godley's departure for tlie front last year, lias been promoted to be Bri-gadier-General. Brigadier-General Robin is the son of Mr. James Robin (at present of Wellington, but for many years a highlyrespected and valued resident of Dunedin). He was educated at the Qtago Boys' High School, and until 1899 was engaged in business with his father. Ho was always keen on soldiering, and soon rose to bo .aptain of the Otago Hussars, and was the officer, who was selected to command the troops sent Home to represent the Dominion at tbo late Queen Victoria's jubilee celebrations. He was subsequently made major commanding the let Resimenfc of Otago Mounted Rifles, and in IS9S staff officer, and instructor for mounted infantry. He commanded the First Cantingr sent to South Africa tn November, IS and remained there until 1901, giv an excellent account of himself, and ing mentioned in dispatches on Mi occasions. Ho wears the Queen' 6 nw with fivo clasps. Ho was promoted be lieutenant-colonsl in 1900 and colon two years later. On his return froi. South Africa be was given command of the Otago Military District, and later became Chief of the General Staff and First Military Member of the Council of Defence. Some three years nso he was invited to proceed to the War Office, and there spent tVbest part of a year. He returned to New Zealand at Christmas, 1913. and became Chief of the General Staff. Lieut.-Colonel C. 51. Gibbon, of the Imperial General Staff, has been promoted to be colonel in the Now Zealand Defence Forces. He has been acting as I Chief of the General Staff since tbo war broke ont.

By request of tho commit-too of tho Palmerston Show, Mr. Edward Nowman, M.P., will deliver a lecture" at tho Winter Show Dairy Conference next Wednesday, Juno 23. The subject will bo "Agricultural Education." In a motion passed by the Raagataua Town. Board at a meeting held on Tuesday last, ihe board condemns the action of tho Ohakune Borough Council "in. protesting against tho transference of tbo milling rights of Sections 1 and 2, Block V, and parts of Sections 3, 1, 5, and 6, Block 1, Karioi S.D., from the New Zealand Railways to a firm of Rangatana sawmillers. Tba sections in question are nearer to Rangataua Post Office than to Ohakune Post Office, and maturally lie in the area pertaining to Rangataua. Further, instead of hindering settlement as stated by the Ohakune Borough Council, we maintain that the procedure would further settlement in this locality." The Eastbourne Patriotic Carnival in aid of the New Zealand Wounded Sailors and Soldiers' Fund proved a great success on Saturday. Unfortunately tho Inuvy downpour of rain early in the afternoon was sufficient to prevent many City people from attending tho function, though numbers journeyed over in the evening and availed themselves of the midnight boat for 'he return trip. The procession, with which the proceedings were commenced, was splendidly arranged, and tbo residents of the borough manifested the real carnival spirit throughout the day. The side-sliows were liljeraly patronised and the total sum raised by Eastbourne's effort is ill the vicinity of ,£, r >oo. It hod been agreed that tho whole of the money should be devoted to the candidature of a queen in tho Queen Carnival contest, tho selection to bo'by popular vote. Every holder of an admission ticket was entitled to a voto and when the election was decided, tho announcement was made that Dr. Platts-Mills was at. the head of the poll. Tito Wellington Commercial Travellers brought their" Mock Court to Palmerston on Saturday on behalf of tho Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The proceedings were verv enjoyable, the fines which were im]>os'cd on "tho townspeople amounting to ovor .-Soso. Added to this amount is tho salo of art union tickets which will probably bring the total np to .£SOO. A Mock Court was held at Masterton on Saturday (reports our Masterton correspondent), and tho 6um of about .£l5O was raised for the Trentham candidate in the Wellington Queen of Carnival oontost.

the b.s.a.-favoukite with mi TART DISPATCH RIDERS-,' WET. It has sometimes been said, with truth, that the business test is th\ test of any motor. War is the grin business of mankind, and the mill, motorcyclist stakes his life, very ofttu, upon the reliability of his mount. Here is what Sergeant ft. E. Schofield, R.E., senior instructor of the Motor-cycle Section at Aldershot, has to say:—"Nearly every dispatch rider that has gone to the front has passed through my hands, and I am therefore in a position to judge how the different makes of machine a.Te in favour. The B.S.A. is by far away fho favourite, and it has yet to happen that a B.S.A. has failed to act up.to i( well-earned reputo. ... I may state th 50 per cent, of the machines here ? B.S.A.V A .motor-cyclist with, the ond Cavalry Division, British Exped ar.v Force, writes in a private letter:, rolids are hellish. . . . My B.S.A. i ; ijcods. I never havo to touch it. are the bikes, my boy. They knock —'- and any other make you'like to nu tion into a cooked hat." Thero are pleiii of other letters from the front, all to ife same effect. We are landing 20 of ■' \ latest model B.S.A.'s cs s.s. Mnrlboroi 1 this week, and oan give iinmediato I livery. They arc ideal machines to, cither «010 or side-car service, and their reliability is famous. The h.p, is 4J artlio three-speed countershaft gear is'f proof and wonderfully efficient. Ad Ltd.. Clmstclvurch, Wanganui, Pal ton North; Sutherland and Eankine, lington; Tourist Motor Co., Hadti Aaants for B.S.A. Motors.—Advt,