NEW ZEALAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 22, 12 September 1914, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[Peb Pbess Association.]

Although details have not yet been decided on, reinforcement drafts are certain to follow the expeditionary force to Europe. Men who desire to go on service should lose no time ill getting their names registered. Volunteers for oversea service will be taken from the units of the Territori.il force, and applications for registration should therefore- be made to the adjutant of a unit. Men who wish to serve in the mounted rifles should apply to the mounted rifles regiment, infantry to a regiment of infantry, and artillery to a battery of artillery, and so on. Applications made through the Defence Department, headquarters at Wellington, or through the district headquarters at Auckland, Palmerston North, Christchurch, or Dunedin, will not be considered. The age limit has been raised from 3-5 to 40, so many who have been disappointed will now have a chance.

In Dunedin flour has advanced £1 a ton, and is now £l3 10s. Millers say that this is necessary, as the majority were short of wheat when war broke out, and they cannot replenish stocks at anything like a reasonable price. One local miller has closed down, and others arc doing little work, finding it impossible to turn out flour at a profit.

News by the Waitomo, from Fiji, says that complete arrangements have been made for the defence of the town against possible German attacks. Practically the whole male population is under arms. The Japanese steamer Fukokumaru, which was turned away from Apia by German officials alter she had coaled the German warships at Caroline Islands, called for coal, and was allowed thirty tons for the voyage to Newcastle. Leaving port she struck twice on a coral reef, but sustained no serious damage, and was floated off.

After consulting the authorities, captain Ross, of the schooner Ysabel, leaves for Tonga with food supplies without war risk, being satisfied that there is no risk of encountering the enemy's ships. The Invercargill branch of the National Mortgage and Agency Co. received a cablegram yesterday from Messrs Maintz and Co., of Batavia, agents for the German-Australian Shipping Co., which read: "Wismar stays Banjoewangi." The non-arrival here means fairly heavy losses to local mercantile firms and Southland farmers as her'' cargo would have proved invaluable at the present juncture. Disappointment is also keen that the opportunity was missed of capturing the steamer at Bluff, (The Wismar was told at sea by a British captain of the outbreak of war. But for that, she would soon have been in harbor at Bluff.)

2000 TROOPS VISIT FEILDING Feilding. September 12.

Yesterday afternoon nearly 200(1 troops from the Awapuni camp visited Feilding. The whole district assembled to see them. The-ladies', committee served tea on the racecourse,' where 'officers and men wow; royally entertained, and great enthusiasm was shown. The men bivouacked here last night and marched back to-day.

JOTTINGS. Inadvertently omitted from the list of subscribers to the patriotic fund was Mr P. J. Petersen £1 Is. We have ascertained that the amount received from the Cardiff School Committee was £lO 2s 6d, but the secretary was instructed that £5 of this amount was to be inserted as subscribed by Mr Donald. This should have been Mr Donald Cameron, no doubt. SOCIAL AND DANCE. The Patriotic Social and Dance held in Mr Sangster's Barn, Bcaconsfiehl Road, on Tuesday evening, was voted a great success. Local residents turned out in strong force, and the number was swelled by parties from Stratford and outlying districts. Dancing was indulged in during tho. evening, interspersed with songs and competitions, the latter included (for gents) putting on (blindfolded) the donkey's tail, ditto for ladies, hitting tho Kaiser' guessing the number of peas in a bottle, guessing time the alarm dock would go off, naildi'iving for ladies, ditto gents, hat trimming (men onlv), for which trophies were won in the order named by Mr C. Paynter Ist, Mr B. Richmond 2nd; Miss Kennedy Ist, Mrs O'Rielly 2nd; Mr J. Lob'b, Mr Sheriff, Masters Phillips, Mrs Boyles, Mr Keightley, and Mr A. Sangster. Songs were contributed by Miss Kennedy, Messrs Douglas, Wilson and Swan, all of whom were encored, as also were tho Misses Rogers (violin and piano), and Mr Wilson (mandoline). The promoters take this opportunity of thanking the artists for their valuable assistance, also the donors )f tiophies, whase gifts elicited spirited competition. The catering was in tho bands of Mrs Sangster and willing assistants, whose duties wore lightened by the thoughtful action of a number of local ladies who provided well-filled baskets. Mr Richmond made an efficient M.C. Altogether, tho affair passed ofF with <i vim worthy of tho cause in which it was held. The success of the gathering was largely duo to Mr Falder, who (states our correspondent) is undoubtedly a born showman. The proceeds netted £6 .Is Od, which was handed over to the War Fund secretary.