NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 241, 2 July 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

GROUNDED SCHOONER REFLOATED (By Telegraph.—Trosa Association.) AUCKLAND, Tills Day. The schooner Eli:;a Firth while beating out of the Kaipara harbour yesterday, grounded on the inner end of Tory Shoal. She was floated off this morning- and beached in Waikcri Bay A WOUNDED NEW ZEALANDER. Hi REMAFvKABLE ESCAPES. AUCKLAND, June CO. Advice has been received by Mr G, f Clark, of Auckland, that one of his sons, Private Albert Clark, is returning Writing from No. 5 General Indian Hospital, Alexandria, en May 14th, Private Clark describes the manner in which he has been incapacitated although at the time he expected to return to the front. A member of the J Second Reinforcement Contingent, Private Clark was wounded in the first day's fighting, but returned to the firing line and was agaiu severely wounded. "I must consider myself very lucky to be writing at all," ho says,

"for I liav e had four different bulletwounds. I got on e through my wrist and a small wound on the rigvht side of my neck, during the first day's fearful fighting, but they soon healed up, and I soon returned to the firing line. I was with the Australians, away from my company, for th e first five days iu the thickest of the fight, while our bcys ihad only the first two days. In, my last engagement I was shot right through the ankle and was again shot in the hip while helping one of our lieutenants. It was terrible. We both fell in a bayonet charge, and only four of us got back out of seventeen. I crawled back to give him a hand, and I saw two chums shot dead while help* ing me with the lieutenant. Then I got a smack in the hip which left me powerless to help him. I left the officer and crawled back to cover, where I dressed my wounds as best I could."

Private Clark continues: "I lay in that piace for two days before I was found, and was in a terrible state when two Essex boys found me, and next morning carried me to the hospital ship. I shall be all right and into it again in a few weeks."

OUR SOLDIERS J WELLINGTON, Jun e 30. In reply to Mr Poole, the Minister fcr Defence said bhat his attention had been drawn to certain statements made in the Auckland Press, by Trentham soldiers, regarding the conditions at the Trentham Camp. He questioned whether a Trentham soldier ever mad e the statements referred to, which were full of gross inaccuracies. It was a' vll e attack upon the Defence Department. Tomorrow he would make a full reply to tihe various attacks made upon the department. The Minister for Pubiic Health said the patients were being provided for in an adequate way, and will be so> provided for. Mr Russell asked whether the Defence Minister regarded the rate of sickness at Trentham as more than normal, and whether, if the rate was abnormal, <he was making inquiries regarding the cause. Mr Allen said that he was constantly inquiring regarding the cause. Influenza war, n ow very prevalent in th© community generally, and he questioned whether the percentage of cases at Trentham was greater than it was outside. He hoped to be abl e to answer all these questions more fully to-morrow. In reply to Mr Parr (Eden), Mr Allen said that there were in all about seven thousand men in the camp, and that tbe total number suffering from measles and influenza was about four hundred.

COUNCIL OF EDUCATION. TVELLINGTON, This Day. The first meeting of the Council of Education was held to-day, Dr. "W. «T. Anderson, Director of Education, presiding. Mr. Allen, Minister for Education, said he sincerely trusted the Council would assist him in the matter of the educational policy of the country. The chairman explained that theCouncil was only an advisory body, and it was not deemed expedient to confer upon it administrative powers. He hoped that much good would result from its deliberations. The Council passed a motion expressing gratification at the manner with which the young men of the country were responding to the call to arms. ~~^— -_„-._ ILLICIT LIQUOR DEALING. STRATFORD, This Day. David Shepherd Maxwell, storekeep*- «¥ of Taurakawa, was to-day charged on four informations with (selling liquorwithout a license. A large; quantity,'■'■■ was found on his premises.' The pplie<s r gave evidence that" this sale tad •.'' going on. for tome time. Defendant,.- . ■wiio had sold whisky at 10/- a bottlej ': was fined £5Cr on the first charge, £lO on eacH;'of the other charges! , . ; *