LOCAL AND GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2600, 23 October 1915, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Prime .Minister was asked by a Dominion reporter, after a meeting of Cabinet yesterday, whether lie was prepared to make a statement concerning liis proposed visit to London, mentioned in tlio cable news yesterday. .Mr. Massey replied that ho could say nothing on tlio subject yet. "There "is a certain amount of business that must be attended to and dealt with beforo this proposal can, be considered," ho said. "Communications with regard to tho matter are passing between tlio New Zealand Government and the Imperial authorities." The out-patients' department of the Hospital will bo closed on Monday, Labour Day, but urgent cases will bo treated at the Main Hospital. One of tho most interesting exhibits in the Labour Day procession will be a specially-built motor shed, which has been built under the supervision of Mr. James Bonnie, architect, and which is to be auctioned by Mr. James Dykes on Tuesday next in aid of the War Distress Fund. As all the material has been donated by various Anns and the labour given free tho fund should benefit to a substantial amount.

"Coming home in a car," writes Wellingtonian in England, "I saw on a soldier's shoulder, 'N.Z.R.,' and there was a fern leaf on his collar. That was good enough for me. I went and asked him if he was from New Zealand. Wo .shook hands, and had a little talk. His name is Cockle, and he came from Wellington, and had been wounded at the Dardanelles. He had a week's furlough after being in hospital, and was expect, ing to go back shortly." The Masterton Homing Pigeon Club flew a race from Taumarunui on Thursday, which was won by W. Drake's "Inspiration." After describing liis wounds and stating that he is now in Egypt organising a system for the redirection of wounded men's letters, Corporal C. Grice, in a letter, gives some interesting details of trench warfare. He says: "Mind you, it wants nerve when you havo to got up with a hail of lead pouring at you the minute you show your head above the trench. We charged with fixed bayonets: but you cannot realise what a bayonet fight is. Wo jumped clean over the first line of Turkish trenches, over the second, and into tho third—as the third was our objective. The Turks were gibbering in their own language, but we could not understand them, and fought to a finish those who showed fight and could not got away. The beggars are fanatics, but I givo ono who could speak English credit for being a sport. When wo captured the third trench the Turks were still in tho first one. The three trenches were connected by tunnel underground. Well, I fired a shot in the tunnel, and I heard a scuffle. I said: 'Come on, boys; hero goes.' I went right through with my. men (16 only), and one big Turk was .waiting with bayonet fixed at tlio other end. He actually let mo get right through and on. guard. He then thrust. -I parried and caught his thrust on my bayonet. I then thrust, and stuck him clean through the chest near the shoulder. . . . Well, tho

only thing tho poor devil said was: •'Well done) Australia.' He died shortly after. The wound was awful. We captured 34 Turks, who threw up their hands." A £50 .clay-bird pigeon match was fired at Masterton on Thursday. There were nineteen competitors. Messrs. D. M'Lachlan and T. Wrigley, each with twenty-seven "kills," divided first and second money. The Wellington Salvation Army Band purpose taking advantage of Labour Day by spending a week-end with their fellow bandsmen of Feilding. They will leave at 1.10 p.m. to-day, and return early on Tuesday morning. The Feilding men have arranged 1 for a very full programme of marches and selections, and as tho band has been practising hard for somo time a musical treat is assured. Concerts will be given this evening, on Monday afternoon and evening, and the usual services will be held on Sunday. The Thorndon Swimming Club has a long roll of honour, of which it is very proud, and Mr. J. E. Henrys, one of tlio club's vice-presidents, has presented this club with an honours board. An addition to tho roll already published is tlio name of Mr. Rupert Pyle, Thorndoll Club swimmer, and Oriental Club footballer, killed at the Dardanelles.

Tho circumstances of tho death ill action of Sergeant Signaller Hubert A. Hamilton, of the Canterbury Mounted Infantry, are related by Lieut. E. J. Hulbert, O.C. Signal Troop, in a letter to a friend in Wellington. Sergt. Hamilton was very well known in this City, although attached to a Canterbury corps. Lieut.-Hulbert writes: "Although Hubert was in the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, as we are fighting as infantry, nil regimental signallers aro undor my control as brigade signalling officer. In an attack I am responsible for keeping our general in touch with the artillery, flank brigades, and, in fact, with all Mnits fighting in conjunction with him. It may be done by wireless, telephones, or telegraph, or visual—the last being by heliograph, lamp, or flag. The circumstances of Hubert's death aro as under:—lt was a Saturday afternoon and the artillery had commenced to pound the enemy's trenches at 4 p.m. The guns were to cease firo at 5 p.m., when our men were to leave their trenches with fixed bayonets and charge the enemy's position. My men were all in position Teady to movo off when Hubert left his detachment for a minute to ask me a final question. I put him right, and wisbod him luck. He reached the captured Turk trench all right and established his telephone. _ When this liad been done, however, instead of looking after his own. particular job he left tbo trench to assist the wounded, and was killed while performing this wcrk. Hubert was an exceptionally keen and efficient young soldier, and I had just recommended him for the position of signalling officer to tho Wellington Mounted Rifles." Extraordinary stories have been told of Englishmen who have como Home from all parts of the eartli at the call of their country in need, but tho most romantio of all I heard to-day from nil officer in the Royal Engineers about to go to the front (says the London correspondent of the 'Manchester Guardian"). He said that four-fifths of tho subalterns who were training with hiin at Chatham had come from abroad to take their share in th-5 war. One of thorn was in tho Arctio Circlo when tho news reached liim in this remarkable way. He was proceeding about 200 miles north of Edmonton when an Indian who passed his camp told him that tlioro was a big war. The Englishman replied that that was nil -ight—America was fighting Mexico. _ But the Indian was urgent about it being a very big fight—"not Boston men, but King George men were fighting." Tho Canadian Indians in their trade language still call Amoricans "Boston men" and Britons "King George's men," as in the time'of tho War of Independence. The Englishman at last began to think that something momentous was happening, and lie struck camp and went to tho nearest trading station, wlioro ho learnt that England iiad been at war for four months. Ho immediately hurried Home from Canada to give liis services to the country. Among tho subalterns training in our friend's i>.uiiculnr class were engineers from South Americn, tho United States, India, and tho Eastern treaty ports. Most of them wero over 30, but all of them had' learnt tho things a cadet takes years to study, t and had proved them by bard experience. Well-finished, high-grade, ready-to-wear Suits aro waiting for your inspection at Geo. I'owlda, Ltd., Manners Street, 705., lot., 80s", Suits that bring roturu cusAdvfcf

The Court of Appeal yesterday re* nerved decision in the appeal case,'tlie Wellington City Corporation, appellants, and Richardson, M'Cabe, and Co., respondents. Some particulars of the case were published in Thursday's issue. A trophy for a fifty yards or a hundred yards race for men in camp at Trentliam has been offered by tho Tltorndon Swimming Club. A largo gathering was held in the Masterton Town Hall on Thursday evening in furtherance of the Red Cross appeal. Spirited recruiting addresses ivoro delivered by Mr. G. R Sykcs, M.P., and the Mayor, and a flag sold by Mr. Frank Evans on behalf of tho Mayoress realised a sum of £400. Tho Wairarapa War Committee has already transmitted £2000 for the Red Cross flag. At a service held in St. Peters Church last night the new vicar of tho parish, tlie Rev. Herbert Watson, M.A., lately of Masterton, was inducted to his new charge. Tho ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Wellington. There was a representative attendance of tho Anglican clergy of the city and a largo congregation. Special music was sung by the choir.

An electrical apparatus has = been, fitted up in the Auckland Ferry Building tower to receive time signals from the observatory in Wellington. Formerly the signals were received at midday, but owing to the pressure on tho telegraph wires at that hour a change has been made. AYlien a signal is duo. a red flag is flown from tho tower during the daytimo as an indication that a messago will be flashed through at 9 o'clock that . evening. Three electrio bulbs on the signal tower are illuminated shortly before the hour mentioned, and when the flash comes through they are instantaneously" extinguished. Tho clock in the Ferry Buildings is proving to bo an accurate timekeeper. As showing the determination of some men to get to tho front, despite physical defects, the following is an excellent example, says a Cliristciurch paperAn applicant for active service attended his medical examination at Kaiapoi, and was rejected because of curvature of- the spine. He liad a second try in Christchurch, and was again declared unfit. Nothing daunted," ho went to Wellington, but could not be accepted there after having been rejected in Canterbury. Determined to j attain liis desires, he was successful' in securing a medical board of six doctors to examine him in Christchurch on Monday, and they declared that despite his deformity, his ohysical fitness was such as would allow him to bo accepted | for enlistment in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Some particulars of the death of Lance-Corpl. Laiice Bridge, son of Mr. H. B. Bridge, of Oriental Bay, are contained in a letter from Sergt. It. H. Vial, of _ tlie Howitzer Battery, to his mother in Wellington. His letter is written from_Zeitoun, and lie says:—' "I was speaking to two cliaps who saw the last of him, and the way he died was equal to anything I havo'ever read about ill the history of this war. There ■ had just been a charge by the Turks, and, of course, our chaps were out lof tlio trenches to meet them. 1 When the charge was repulsed, and our fellows wero back in the trenches, Lance noticed another ex-Samoan lying wounded about ten to twenty yards out. H» immediately dropped his rifle and rushed out to pull his mate in. He got his man up over his shoulder, and had started back with him when the Turks turned a machine gun on to the two of them. The wounded man was immediately killed, absolutely riddled, and poor old Lance got it all u£ and down one side. Ho managed to get back to tho trench, but within half an hour he was almost completely paralysed. They carried him down to tho beach, and tried to get him aboard 0112 of the hospital boats, and now comes the best of the whole incident: Lance knew lie was done, and ho absolutely refused to he placed aboard the vessel, maldna room for chaps less seriously wounded. Ho had to be left on tlw beach, exposed to tho heat of the day, and to the flies and insects, which simply swarm over there. Ho only got food and water from chaps who passed casually. This went on for very near a week, and when tho congestion of.tho wounded slackened off ho was placed aboard a boat, but died at sea." j Rose growers will bo interested t-a learn that the Wellington Rose and Carnation Club intend holding their annual rose show at the Town Hall on Thursday, November 11. Following the precedent of last year, the club, again intend devoting their proceeds to patriotic purposes, half of wnicli will bo hauded to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund and half to a fund to provide rose plants for the public rosary at Newtown Zoo. Schedules have been arranged that all growers may compete, suburban growers are well catered for, and there will bo the competition for tho best decorated table, to be judged by ballot of the public present during the show. Prizes this year will include a handsomo challenge silver cup, presented by Mrs. Arthur Pearce, for best collection of twentyfour blooms, also a silver challenge rose bowl presented by Miss R. M. Joseph, which has been allotted for the best exhibit of twelve blooms. Messrs. Stewart Dawson and Co. will again present their annual trophy for the best sis roses grown within five miles of G.P.0., Wellington. The club will have -the valuabfe assistance of an \enthusiastic committee of ladies, who will conduct the sale of pot plants, cut flowers, sweets, and afternoon tea in the interest of the funds during tho afternoon and ovening. The season promises t-o be ono of tho best rose-growers here have experienced for some years past. Record entries are anticipated, and it is hoped a very substantial sum will be realised to be handed over to the funds mentioned. '

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