It is also well known that these bookmakers have their agents in nearly every workshop or factory, who book bets, collect the half-crowns, half-sovereigns, or pounds as the case may be for them while they wait outside with their motor cars or bicycles. This is how hundreds of young men are tempted and victimised. Was not a terrace of houses in this city built on fools' money?
Is it not a positive disgrace that such things should be tolerated? Further, is it not also a fact that as soon as a race is over the result is wired from the nearest telegraph station by bookmakers' agents, to their principals in whatever town in the dominion they may be located? Is not this against the law also, and cannot this be stopped? - I am, etc., Disgusted.
Missing steamer
The Union Company officials have absolutely no information of what may have happened to their cargo steamer which was due to arrive in San Francisco from Auckland on June 25 - close on two months ago. She was equipped with a wireless installation, but its radius was limited to about 500 miles. The conjecture that the vessel may have been destroyed by the submarine disturbances which occurred round the coast of Samoa in June is questioned by the local officials, as on their reckoning she should have been clear of the locality at that particular time.
It was reported in a cable from Vancouver in our issue of Monday that three American, one British, and one Japanese boat were overdue, and had been given up, and that the owners believe that the loss of the vessels is due to time bombs, but it is hardly supposed that the Union steamer is one of those referred to in this message. Nevertheless, the feeling has now become general that she has been lost - by what means, may or may not be known later on. Captain Saunders was in charge of the vessel, and the crew, almost entirely composed of Australians, was finally signed on in Auckland.
Baths for soldiers
The hot baths which are provided by the authorities in France for the use of soldiers after being in the trenches have been described by a Wellington boy in a letter to his parents. The baths, in his case, were in the dye works of one of the big cotton mills. The old dye vats were utilised for the purpose of bathing, and in each vat were from 10 to 12 men.
The water reached up to the neck, and was warm with disinfectant in it. Before bathing, says the writer, the men leave their valuables with a N.Z.M.C. man, and then are each given a peg on which to hang their clothes. After the bath under-clothes and a towel are given to each man, and his uniform is disinfected.
All the laundry work is done by a staff of women - in this place they number 170 - who boil and wash all the things and then steam them in special machines. The baths are usually under the supervision of the New Zealand Medical Corps. - ODT, 22.8.1917.
