In New Zealand.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 111, 3 October 1914, Page 5

In New Zealand.

THB MAORIS' RESPONSE. EXCITEMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT. •

Hy Telegraph.—Press Ansociation. •Gisborne, Last Night.

The local Maoris have thrown themselves "heart and soul into the arrangements for tho projected native expeditionary force, and to-day when the Gisbornc contingent of 18 was selected, some hundreds came forward. They were a magnificent stamp of men, in some cases standing as high as 6ft (Sin a»d weighing as much as 10 stone without an ounce of fat upon their bodies, pressing forward eager to be selected to go anywhere and fight anybody for the King and Empire. It was quite pathetic to see the look of disappointment which came over the faces of those young giants when told that the weight limit was 12 stone, and that no one over that weight eoald be selected. Dr. Scott, the medical examiner, declared that it was a positive sin to have to reject some of the magnificent stamps of manhood offering, for the simple reason that they

I were'Wer the weight limit set. Among the volunteers were a number of stalwart wahines, who became quite indignant when told that ladies could hot be accepted. "1 can shoot as well as -any wan who ever walked," declared one Maori maiden, who expressed utter scorn for the incomprehensible ways of the ,pakeha in despatching an army of men to fight without their women being there to look after them. "How tc'poor Maori going to get on with no one to cook for him?" asked another, who had volunteered her services for the commissariat department. When told that the army had men cooks, her look of scorn was eloquent. DETAINED GERMAN SHIPS. Dunedin, Last Night. A meeting -of those interested in cargoes on German boats detained in Sydney, Capetown, and other ; ports was neld this afternoon at the instance of the Chamber of Commerce. After discussion, it was decided to recommend the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to act in the matter of ships detained at Capetown in conjunction with other >.'ew Zealand chambers, in bringing the position before the Government. THE COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL FUND

Wellington, Last Night. The 'Countess of Liverpool forwards the following letter to the Press: —■

"As soon as the Expeditionary Force has left New Zealand, I intend to publish, through the medium of the Press, the manner in which, the fund has been disposed of. As all are aware, there will be reinforcements to be provided fox, which will be drawn from •all four military centres, but which will be loeatod,, previous to their departure, at Trentham. These 'men, I understand, will proceed to the front at certain stf.ted intervals, and I intend to utilise the balance of ' the money which is at my disposal to deal with these, objects. In case of anyone having articles which they are proposing to utilise for these reinforcements, it will be best, in order to injure proper supervision, and in order that they may resell detachments for which they are intended, that they should be sent to the 'Town Hall, Wellington, addressed to Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool, c*» the Mayoress, Town Hall, Wellington.'—(Signed) Annette Liverpool,"