New Zealand

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 187, 16 January 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

LETTERS FROM GENERAL OiODU ~ PLEASED WITH IUS COMMAND. -MEN BKIIAVLNG IiXCEiXENTLY. Diuiediii, Last Night. Following are extracts from letters written to the .Minister of Defence by General < tod ley:— "December 1. —We were fortunate in getting our ships through the Suez Canal before the Australians. Trains have been arriving all night, and troops as they arrive bivouac oil the camping ground. Everything has gone extremely well, the men disembarking from tile trains in a most orderly and methodical way. Tins morning 1 rode round tlie whole camp, and found all settled down satisfactorily, but the camp is absolutely ill the desert, and we shall have a grand scope for training. I was delighted with the condition and appearance of the horses. They stood the voyage very well, but the total loss of horses was 70. The Australians lost 190."

On December 7 General Codley wrote: "We are practically settled already, and it relleets enormous credit on everybody that we should have been so quick. I am delighted with the -way the stall and the troops have worked. The physique of our men and the condition of tlie horses are most favorably commented on by all who see them, and everything promises well for our training. The camp is very dusty, but quite comfortable. The men are behaving excellently, and even at Alexandria, where they were cooped up in the ships pending disembarkation, they behaved very well on the whole, and only a few of them broke out into the town. Trains have been arriving all day and night, and the men were dumped down in the desert, without food or shelter, as we were not expecting them so soon, and the stall' of labor is quite inadequate to keep tilings run ning; hut they have all been very cheerful, and have kept up well. The clothing docs all right for wintvi here, as the hats are practically as good as helmets, and tile coat is only hot in the middle of the day, when we go in shirt-sleeves if necessary. It is very cold at night. It is lucky we brought tents. 1 anticipated something of this kind. The Australians bivouac without tents, and there are none to spare in the country."

HIS MAJESTY'S APPRECIATION*. OP NEW ZEALAND'S EFFORTS. Christcliurch, Last Night. In opening a flower show to-ni<iht Lord Liverpool said lie saw that the- St. John Ambulance Association had a stall, tile proceeds from which were to go towards the. Red Cross purposes at the front. In connection with this, he would like to read letters from His .Majesty the King and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, which showed that they and the people of England appreciated all the efforts being made by the colonics during the crisis. The. King stated tuat he was much struck with the splendid way the people of New Zealand had come forward with men, money, and kind, for he realised that the expense must be a great drain on the resources of the country. It was noble of New Zealand people not only to send their troops, but also, to contribute so generously to the needs of the distressed and the various relief funds at Home, which had benefited greatly by their efforts. "I appreciate it highly, and so do the people of the Old Country," concluded His Majesty." The Prince of Wall's' letter was in a similar strain, and Lord Liverpool said that he was glad to be able, to read these messages, which showed our efforts were appreciated. (Applause.)

NEW ZEAUAXDER DILI) AT SEA. Gisborne, January 15. Advice ha.- been received of the deatli at. sea, on January 10, of pneumonia, of Malcolm Campbell, a member of tlie Legion of Frontiersmen, with the Expeditionary Force. He was aged 40. and .was a well-known local settler. OTAGO'S 01 FT. Dunedin, Last Night. Alioni a week ago the Otago Daily Times made an appeal to the public to provide, iiy tlie end of January, £IOOO for a motor ambulance, 'to be sent to Ihe war. Subscriptions received up ta to-day toial C 1122. The resnonsc ha.? Icon so graii/ving, and several promises to assist having been received, tlwt it lias been decided lo make an appeal for nil additional £IOOO for a siniPar purpose.

PRINCE OF WALES' FUND. NEW ZEALAND'S FIRST CONTRIBUTION. TIIE PRINCE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Wellington, Last Night. His Excellency the Governor has received the following letter from the treasurer to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales' Fund, dated November 25 th, 1914: "My Lord, —I am directed by the Prince, of Wales to express liis Royal Highness' thanks for the promise, communicated through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, of the sum of £12,575 from New Zealand to the National Relief Fund. His Royal Highness is most grateful for this splendid addition to the funds, and asks you to be so good as to make known to the people of New Zealand bow warmly lie appreciates their kindness and generosity. —(Signed) Walter Peacock, treasurer.'' The above has reference to the. first amount sent from His Excellency, through the High Commissioner, for the Prince of Wales' Fund from Wellington and Canterbury districts.