Current News

Levin Daily Chronicle, 14 May 1918, Page 1

Current News

a. caoie message received by Sir Jas. Allen (through the Governor-General) states that the New Zealand Division moved out of the Sommo area on the 21st March, and came into action about Hamel and Hebuterne on 26th March. It repulsed four German attacks on the 27th, 28th and 31st March. Tho Ist Brigade and part of the 3rd attacked and captured a commanding ridge north of the Serre road, and took 290 prisoners and 110 machine guns. On sth April tho Division repulsed a heavy attack on the "whole of its front.

"It is rather amusing that lit mes should be left behind to produce butter which does not reach the soldiers at the front or the people in England,'' Major Conlan, during cross-exam-ination at the Auckland Military Board the other day of a dairy farmer who appealed for exemption on the ground of occupation. Dairy farmers may even have to reduce their production of butter in the near future. Farmers who are growing wheat are, in my opinion, much more essential than butter producers. ''

"Possibly it is a fact of good omen for the Dominion that to-day the first and foremost scientist of the world in the field of foundry work is a New Zealander, a chemist educated in our technical schools and university, whose name is worthy of being inscribed beside Rutherford's on our yet scanty roll of fame, Br Mellor, whose colossal help towards supplying Great Britain nith an adequate output of munitions will surely be suitably recognised by tho nation in the future,'' remarks Mr S. H. Jenkinson, concluding an -article on "Steel Casting' Furnaces under New Zealand Conditions," in the "Journal of Science."

A German paper learns that a good deal of attention is being given at the moment to various forms of animal, plant, and mineral substances for the manufacture of tyres. In place of rubber, flax and hemp are being ' used. These are soaked in rubber, paraffin wax, or celluloid. Tyres are also made of a series of layers of calico steeped in rubber, or of strips of leather specially treated. In place of plant fibres mineral substances are also in use. For instance, asbestos, which is mixed at a certain heat with balata rubber. From the same source it is stated that air tubes for tyres are being made in Switzerland from Japanese silk paper soaked in a form of wax.

F. E. Jones, for many years first horseman for Sir George Clifford's stable, has started as a trainer at Timaru. It is reported that Harold Young, who formerly did the light riding for the stable, will succeed Jones, and that his younger brother (George) will do the light-weight riding. Ashley Reed has been made a substantial offer to ride for Mrs Perry's stable next season, and will probably aecept. Messrs Biddiford will have first call on L. Morris. _H. Gray lias received several requests for his services, but has so far decided to remain a free lance. C. Emerson will again wear Mr G. L. Stead's livery, and C. Price will be associated with the Fordcll stable for another term.

A rather affecting scenc occurred at tho Military Service Board in Auckland on Wednesday last, when a mother of a soldier famliy heard the announcement that her last son, who was also under military age, would be exempted and left with her. The distressed mother, who has had two sons killed in France, and now one reported mi.sing, burst into tears in her gratitude, and, making up to her son, uttered loud praise and thanksgiving as she put her arms round him and kissed him. The young man naturally was as deeply moved by his mother's nervous collapse is were other spectators who sympathetically watched fnother and son jcave the Court arm-in-ami, weeping.

There arc 144 dentists, mechanics, clerks and orderlies in the dental service at the four camps. None of the n.c.o.'s, mechanics, «r orderlies are fit men. Of the officers" there are two out of fifteen in the First Division at Trcntham, and seven out of thirty at Featherston. There is one dentist at Narrow Xeck and Awnpuni camps respectively.

Both in proverb and in fact the bad penny comes back, for nobody, ineludig tram, .conductors, wants bad pennypieces, but the adage says nothing of good five-pound notes. However, one has returned to its former owner under -ixcepti'onal circumstances (says the Wellington "Post.") In February last gentleman- in one of the Government otflccs had occasion to send a flve-pound note to a friend in Sydney, and in due time a letter of acknowledgment came to hand. On Tuesday, Government pay lav, the same officer received a* part of his salary, tho identical five-pound Bank of New Zealand note, recognised by the signature of his friend across one co'rner, written at the time the note was exchanged in Australia.