THE EMPIRE'S SMALLEST COLONY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 237, 22 December 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE EMPIRE'S SMALLEST COLONY.

GIVES A HELPING HAND TO THI

OLD COUNTRY

Eleven hundred miles south of Nev York and four thousand miles from England there is a little British colony whoso existence is scarcely known to anybody outside the Colonial Office.

fh;> Turks and Caicos Islands only boast of a total population of five thousand, nine-tenths of which is composed of people of colour. The rest of the population is made up of white colonials and a few English. Besides being the smallest colony, i f is also perhaps the most isolated, as a few brief facts will indicate. There is no direct communication with England, although steamers pass within sight en route for Jamaica and South America; communication with Jamaica, four hundred and fifty miles distant, is uncertain and never of more than monthly occurrence. American boats call about every three w\?eks with supplies and occasional passengers. A large number of people have never been out of the colony, and have never seen a train or a motor-car of any cte. Rcription. much less an aeroplane. \et, isolated as they are, the spirit of patriotic sacrifice which lias made anew the lifo of the. whole Empire, has not left them untouched. They haw contributed sufficient to purchase an ambulance car for the British Red Cross Society and 'have also sent a considerable sum to the French Red Cross funds. The various efforts !>y which this lias been accomplishel were started long before flag days had been thought of in the Old Country. To crown this spirit of devotion two of their number made the journey to England in order to enlist. Volunteers of such a calibre aiv not bke'y to do discredit to the great cause. RACK TO FRANCE WITH ONE LEG.

RECEIVED FORTY SHRAPNEL

WOUNDS

Major Hamilton Gait, who, it is said, will shortly return to France to rejoin Princess Patricia's Regiment, which he raised and equipped at his own expense, has lieen wounded on four occasions. His latest experience involved no fewer than forty shrapnel wounds and the loss of a leg. Notwithstanding his injuries, he is full of energy and pager to have another go at the Germans.

Ho has acquired a whole battery of false limbs, with which he is experimenting so as to choose the one best adapted for active service. The regiment has a glorious record, but its los-ies in officers and men have been severe. Four of the officers by whom -t has Ivoon commanded from time to time have been killed in action. the exquisite Consideiable amusement was created in Pitt Street, Sydney, a few weeks ago by the appcaituue in that thoroughfare dining lunch time of a fashionable fop of the Lord Dundiv.ry typo, wearing bushy "mutton-chop'' whiskers, '"peg-top" trousers, yellow kid gloves, bi'll-tnpner. anil a monoclo or spy-glass affixed to his eye. Many ladies gaped in astonishment at th. 1 exquisite, while some street Arabs lustily yelled out "Whiskers!" The dnndy. eventually finding that hu wa more an object of amusement than admiration, hailed a hansom enh and was driven off.

'•'You roniember that you sold me a horse last week?"' said the. cahm-r.n ans/rily to the horse-dealer. ''Yes. What about him?" "He fed dead yesterday."

"Well, T n.n-rr!" snid thV dealer. "1 told yon ho had some funny little ways, but niwn mv word I never kno.v liim to (!-! tint l^fore."