His very strong defence of the character of our men involved no reflection on any person or paper in New Zealand, but was directed solely against the author of an unwarranted slander.
During an address on Anzac, at the Hamilton Town Hall, before a packed house, Chaplain-captain Blamires made reference to the article published in the Outlook, in which the men of the New Zealand Main Body were vilified as having rushed straight into vice on arrival in Cairo.
Chaplain-captain Blamires gave the article the lie direct, and said he could unhesitatingly say that not one-fifth of the men of the Main Body fell victims to the temptations which beset them.
There were in the ranks, he said, men of criminal tendencies, who would have followed criminal careers wherever they were; while there were others easy-going and curious to know what life in an eastern city was like.
There were still others who were naturally weak, but of all these, the majority - the very great majority - with-stood the trial with great courage and nobility of soul and mind, and the over-whelming majority of the troops were nobler, cleaner, and purer men as the result.
■Writing to the clergy of the diocese regarding the celebration of Anzac Day , the Bishop of Nelson says:- ‘‘Some efforts are being made to celebrate the day with festivity and carnival. I am sure, however, that those who think seriously, and who realise the gravity of the present circumstances, will see that such a method of celebrating the anniversary of the death of so many of our heroic brothers is entirely out of harmony with the fitness of things. As a befitting remembrance of their heroism and self-sacrifice I ask you to make arrangements in your parish to keep the day as one of solemn memorial and intercession. Naturally you will arrange for the usual celebration of Holy Communion ... Other services may be arranged, according to local circumstances, but opportunity should be seized, where possible, to tell the children the story of the heroism of our boys. Such a method of observing the day does not preclude such patriotic gatherings as will tend to the deepening of our national life and sentiment.''
■That motors as a means of locomotion are increasing in popularity was evidenced at the Gore races on Thursday.
In the grand stand enclosure there were 105 cars of various descriptions, of an approximate value of £26, 250.
This number was independent of the numerous cars that were running for hire to the races.
On the first day of the races there must have been a good many more cars on the ground.
■Very few people have any idea of the work entailed in bringing milk to their doors.
A lady member, at the meeting of the Dairymen's Association at Christchurch, gave an account of her day's work, and it may open the eyes of those who think dairying is a pastime and milk purveying a pleasure.
‘‘I rise at 2.30 every morning,'' she said, ‘‘and I work on without rest till 8 p.m. I have to work hard, as I told an inspector who came up on his motor cycle. I haven't a motor cycle to go round the country on for a few hours per day.''- ODT, 5.4.1916.
