INTERESTING ITEMS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 252, 19 July 1915, Page 8

INTERESTING ITEMS.

Tli e Minister for Defence has liad a telegram from Alexandria advising him that as there is a shortage of writing paper and envelopes at the front, every person writing to a soldier should enclose in th e envelope one sheet of unused notepaper and one envelope, which the soldier in his turn may use to write a letter from the trenches.

Blood-red poppies, white daisies, and blue-bells have been sent from Gallipoli by Private Carl B. Henson to his father, Mr. Carl Henson, of Ballendel--1?;, Melbourne. The flowers were gathered on the battlefields, and seeds from the blooms are to be planted to keep in memory the gallant charge of the Australians.

Letters received from soldiers ij§ Egypt complain of great irregularity inf the delivery of mails. In on e instance, it is stated, mails been delivered to in Egypf ■vere taken to the and ther e thrown ashore and%ft. Relatives and friends of th e soldiery who have been sending papers regularly are receiving word that they have %|t reSft: ed their destination. On e troop: in hospital at the base received twelve weekly papers in one bundle, although a copy was dispatched every week from Christchurch.

The matter of compulsory registration of all males with a view to military service was discussed by the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union this week. The opinion was generally expressed that every man of 'serviceable age should be prepared to tak e some part in the defence of the Empire, and the following resolution was carried: "That the Government b e asked to adopt a system of compulsory registration with a view to selecting men for military serviec as required." This resolution will be sent to the Prime Minister and to members of Parliament. It was further decided to arrange for representatives of the excutive to discuss the proposal with the Mayor, the chairman of th e Harbour Board, and the president of the Chamber of Conif menee. In explaining the object of the conference th e provincial secretary (Mr A. Schmidt) stated that the idea iwas to draft a scheme whereby the 'men who could best be spared for service abroad might be chosen in rotation.