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Taihape Daily Times, 16 January 1919, Page 7

NOTES FROM HOME.

(By Fred Pirani.) The Courageous, the latest battleship, has a tonnage of 34,000 and is 720 feet long (220 feet longer than the how Zealand. The thoroughness Of the German arrangements was to be seen between Albert and Bapaume in France, last September in the shape of a pumping station, equipped with oil-engine and apparatus 'Complete, which they had left intact- when retreating from tnc New Zealanders. An excellent supply of good water whs" flowing freffl it at the time, which proved welcome in the hot sumSeTlnonths, The Germans attempted to destroy the works with their artillery, but luck was against them, although their shells dropped near enough to be uncomfortable. One of the houses occupied by the New Zealand Soldiers'’ Club as a hostel for the men was previously the residence of Sir Phillip Randall, who married the daughter of Governor Hobson of New Zealand. When the New Zealand pressmen visited Shoeburgness to see war-dogs trained, one of the officers stated that the best men they had through their hands wore the New Zealand soldiers,

as they seemed to understand the animals better. Ou one day in October, Mrs. Smith Dorricn, wife of General Smith-’Dor-rien sent to the New Zealand Red Cross depot in London 500 bags for soldiers’ necessaries. The New Zealanders possessed the reputation of never doing without nccesary articles if they were available. During one bitterly cold winter firing ran out, and ia- digger discovered a stack of ammunition boxes belonging to an English regiment nearby. Fires were available, and the English Colonel discovered the shortage. He complained but “pinching” still-went on. One day two diggers were strolling along without the least intention of lessening the stock of boxes, when the Colonel came up and asked in honeyed accents if they were the brave Australians.. “Ch, no, was the reply, “we arc New Zealanders.” The aspect of the Colonel changed to one of fierce resentment and in a towering rage he shouted at them: “New Zealanders? Then go to h out of this!” Oue one occasion, the diggers drove the Germans out of a French town noted for its champagne. A search revealed the fact that large quantities had been overlooked, and as there was no likelihood of the owner ever getting possession of the liquor, the town water-cart was requisitioned, emptied, and filled with champagne, becoming part of the equipment of the men until it went dry!

Amongst notable men I mot at Home was Mr Henry Risely, of Bristol. He has been out to New Zealand sover-al times, and is the author of an excellent paper on the foreign trade of the Empire, and his devotion to the interests of Bristol is very thorough. It was chiefly owing to his efforts that the great stores and dochjs have been 'built ]at Bristol. New Zealand docs a large trade with that port and the arrangements for landling moat are excellent Mr Risely is noted for his hospitality to Now Zealanders of which I had ocular demonstration and during the war he has devoted himself life and soul, to their interests. I saw a .sample of rapidity in building work for which the New Zealand diggers at Home arc noted, at Sling Gamp, which was to bo the last camp for our forces in England. It was decided to establish a hospital for 500 there, and it only took five weeks to prepare the site, erect the buildings with eoncr'ofe foundations, make the roads, and fit the wards, kitchens and wash-houses up for use. I wonder how long similar work would take at Trentham. But BrigadierGeneral Richardson’s motto is “Hustle. ”