NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 338, 18 November 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

A GREAT CONFLAGRATION, WHARF WOOLSHEDS DESTROYED. MOTOR SPIRIT STORE CONSUMED CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A big fire early this morning at Lyttelton destroyed the New Zealand Shipping Company's wool store, containing valuable machinery and five hundred bales of wool. The flames spread to the Harbour Board's motor spirit store, where four thousand cases were stored, and it was soon a seethj ing mass. The damage is estimated at thousands of pounds. THE "SCUTTLERS" ACT. A RUSH FOR PERMITSTO LEAVE NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON. This Day. Something like a rush for permits to> leave the Dominion occurred at the Department of Internal Affairs yesterday. Many were anxious to leave forSydney to-day but as every application must be investigated before a permit is issued, many will miss the steamer.. Shipping companies are asking intending passenger's to produce . their ■ permits before issuing tickets, but even--if a ticket is procured, this does not

entitle a passenger to go aboard an outward bound ship, or relieve the Company from responsibility for letting him go without a permit.

SPORTING. MARLBOROUGH MEETING. SECOXD DAY. BLENHEIM, This Day. The weather is fine ofr the second day, and there is a fair attendance. Results:— Scurry.—Roseland 1, Orinndo 2. Signoretta 3. AIII started. V\'on by a short head. Third Trot.—Cremorne 1. Gladall 2. Alabama. Thorpe 3. Scr.: Reform. Won by several lengths. DEFENCE NOTES. Staff Sergt.-Major Tuckey has received the following telegram from headquarters at Palmers ton North: "One hundred infantry required for Monday. Do all you. can to secure some." A PATRIOTIC REPLY. Immediately on receiving this telegram the Sergeant-Major wired to a married woman living not far from Taihape asking her to find out if tier husband, who had already enrolled, could leave on Monday and within a very short space of time she w'redT the reply, "Yes, will come." PRINCESS MARY'S PRESENT. As is well-known Princess Mary seat a Christmas gift to every officer, noncom, and man at present serving in the Empire's forces, ' including all those who were serving on the New Zealand! staff. When visiting Palmerston yesterday Staff Sergt.-Major Tuckey received his gift. It is a stamped metal box, made watertight for carrying cigarettes or tobacco. Inside was a pencil case made out of a 303 cartridge steel, the nickel casing of the bullet being replaced by a silver pencil holder. These cases ha%e evidently been obtained from the front as all have at one time been fired, and show marks of hard wear. Engraved on the case is the initial —M—of the Princess under a crown. A Christmas card was also enclosed, on the cover being printed the Crown with the initial beneath, but the card is dated for this coming Christmas. Inside the card are the following words: "With best wishes" for a victorious New Year. —From Princess Mary and friends at Home." The inscription also bears a laurel wreath. with a bayonet through it. The cover of the box is splendidly worked. A! border extends round the lid au.l the names of Britain's Allies (as at 'Xmastime last year)) Belgium, France, Servia, Japan, Russia, and are inscribed. At the centre of rr-.e top border are the words, "Impo-inm Britannieum." and in a position at the bolfcbm are the words, "Christmas, 1914." In the centre, enclosed in a wreath is a reproduction of the Princess' head on either side being inscribed the initiol "M."