GIFT BUTTER SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2727, 23 March 1916, Page 3

GIFT BUTTER SCHEME

DIFFICULTY IN SHIPPING. Efforts aro being made by tho Mayor of Auckland to secure space for tho transportation of a gift of butter to the' New Zealand forces on active service. A few days ago he received a letter from Captain G. R. Hutchinson, Army Service Corps, asking him to endeavour to arrange for a supply of butter to the forces, and so satisfy a longing that is general among the men. The principal difficulty m the matter is that of arranging for transportation, as' few vessels with cool storage aro trading to the port nearest the New Zealand base. At tho request of the Mayor, Messrs. Heather," Robertson, and Company, the local agents of the Tyser line, have communicated with their principals. The latter telegraphed yesterday that they had recommended the Overseas Shipowners' Committee to allot space for five tons of gift butter in a steamer sailing in a few days. Definite advice in regard to the matter will bo given shortly. Tho proposal lias been communicated to the Minister of Defence. He telegraphed to the Mayor that whenever cool storage space has been available butter has "been sent by the transports, but the space is very limited. Mr. Allen added that lie would ask the commandant to. advise the Mayor whether space would be available in any of the early transports.

Mr. Gunson lias asked the Minister whether the Government proposes to forward supplies of butter to the troops. He stated that if the Government does not intend to do so, he had no doubt that every factory would gladly contribute a few boxes, representing in the aggregate a considerable quantity. The graatcst difficulty would bo to arrange for the shipment, but even this might be overcome.

Miss Mina Arndt, the Wellington artist, is displaying a' number of her original drawings m. the windows of Kirkcaldie and Stains.

Lady Onslow, who is acting for Lord Onslow during his absence abroad, lias put before the cottage tenants on his Surrey estates a scheme for increasing the food supply (states a London correspondent). If they are prepared to keep pigs or chickens for market purposes., sue will assist them in regaYd to the initial expense. They will bo supplied with materials for tho poultryht'UKO, or for the repair of a disused building. The labour of erecting to be supplied by the tenant; or Lord Ou'slow will lend Mie money required for the erection, and add the money so lent to that lent for the purchase of live stock, lie will grant a loan to tho full value of tho pig or poultry purchased—the loan to he repayable by easy instalments, with interest at the rate of 4} per cent. No interest will bo charged on the first three months of tho loan. Lady Ouclow reminds tha tenants that every shilling's worth of food bo'.ight abroad means so much loss to the country as a whole, whereas.every shilling's worth of food produced in the country represents a shilling eared.

On December 24, by special license, a 'khaki'wedding of Now Zealand interest was solemnised at Manchester; some who were not in khaki were wearing the blue hospital uniform. The' bridegroom was Sergeant Eric H. Standring, third son of the Eev. James Standring, Presbyterian minister, of Middlemarch, Central Otago, and well-known in both the Oamaru and Dunedin districts. Previous to the war Sergeant Standring was on the engineering staff of the Public Works Department in Now Zealand, but resigned to further bis studies in his profession. Ho camo from New Zealand with the Main Body, and went to Gallipoli.' He was wounded, and then sent to Malta, but as_ the wounds in the knee (apparently slight at first) became septic later, he was invalided to England, arriving in November. Mrs. Standring. is the second daughter of Mr. Thomas E. Mansergh, a woll-known chemical manufacturer at Salford and Clifton, Manchester. Since his wedding, Sergeant Standring has come up to the camp at Hornchurch, and he is expecting to leave for the front again—Egypt— very soon. j

The "Charley's Aunt" Comedy Company,', who aro producing "Charley's Auntj' in the Grand Opera House, commencing this evening, are particularly fortunate in having talented lady performers to call upon. Miss Ttuby Scott and Miss Marie Fix are both old favourites, Miss Scott having appeared in several dramatic productions, and Miss Fix has appeared in both oporatio and dramatic performances. Iheir scenes with tho "bogus" aunt are very comical, and give them both plenty of scope to show their marked dramatic ability. Miss Pauline Brown, who plays the part of Ella Delahay; an orphan, is making her 'first appearance on the dramatic stage, although sho is well known to Wellington audiences through her fine work in tho New Zealand Competitions some two years ago, when she was the only lady elocutionist who beat Miss Lilian Prichard. Last, but not least, the company has Miss Mabel HardingeMaltby, ono of popular, performers, whose interpretation of the part of Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez, the real aunt from Brazil, won very high praise on the company's recent tour through New Zealand. The proceeds are-in aid of the Soldiers' Hostel,_ and tickets may be booked at the Bristol.

Mr. H. E. Bunny, of Ahiarulie, Carterton, has donated £50 to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and the money will (jo through, the Itlasterton Patriotic Carnival Committee, and bo credited as votes for the soldiers' candidate for Queen of the Carnival.