Yet nothing could have been further from the imagination but a few months ago than the possibility of such a happening. When the history of the war is written in its relation to the Empire it will certainly not be complete without a chapter on the work of the women.
New Zealand has already sent many trained nurses away on active service. Australia and other parts of the Empire are similarly represented at the front.
The Australian Expeditionary Forces were, indeed, more fortunate than those from New Zealand in that their base hospitals in Egypt were fully staffed with competent Australian nurses when the ship loads of wounded arrived from the Dardanelles in the last days of April.
Not lightly can the Empire estimate the debt which it owes to the sisterhood, labouring under the Red Cross, to bind up the wounds of war, to alleviate suffering, and to restore the sick and battered to convalescence.
The unity of Empire is illustrated in this home coming of invalided and wounded New Zealanders attended by Australian nurses. To these devoted women the people of this dominion will feel that, as was indeed expressed on their behalf by different speakers on different occasions yesterday, they owe a great debt of gratitude.
• An immense crowd assembled in and around the Octagon Hall yesterday to do honour to the soldiers and nurses who have returned from the front, and who landed from the steamship Willochra. An enormous crowd had to remain outside the hall, the condition of which would not admit of another one being squeezed in.
A small but efficient band contributed national and patriotic airs while the crowd awaited the arrival of those returned home. The entry of the soldiers and nurses produced the utmost enthusiasm, cheer rising on cheer.
• Mr T. Chalmer (chairman of the Dunedin Fire Board) stated at a meeting of the board, held yesterday afternoon, that the losses by fire in the city during the year ended June 30 totalled 29,284, as against 13,810 for the previous year.
The difference in the losses was accounted for by the fact that they had had two big fires during the year in premises which carried very large stocks - namely, Penrose's and Messrs Bing, Harris, and Co's. Between the two something like 13,000 was lost.
These two fires, said Mr Chalmer, were examples of what loss accrued through the brigade not getting an early call. In the fire at Messrs Bing, Harris, and Co.'s building a great amount of damage had been caused by smoke, and, as the premises were closed up at the time, the fire had been burning some time before it was discovered.
The fire at Penrose's also occurred when the building was shut up, and the fire got a considerable hold before the brigade received notice.
Subsequently Mr Chalmer drew attention to the increase in fires in the city, there being 39 for the past year, as against 19 for the previous year.
Mr Stronach said this statement once more raised the question of the advisability of holding inquests into the cause of fires.
Such a proceeding might be decided on in the course of time.
• An incident that is causing much amusement in a parish not far from Wellington (says the New Zealand Times) discloses an example of the old saying, ''Practise what you preach.''
The vicar would not allow a raffle to be held at any entertainment or function in connection with the church, and while the carnival was on in Wellington exhorted his flock not to take part in raffles or games of chance.
Strange to relate the vicar's wife has become the lucky possessor of the winning ticket in a raffle for a piano, and now the vicar is wondering if he has not made himself understood when his own household have failed to follow his instructions.
- ODT, 20.7.1915.
