On receipt of that appeal action was immediately taken by the Government, it being decided that the date of departure of two contingents of thoroughly trained men should be advanced - one by a week and the other by three weeks. Putting the departure of these drafts forward necessarily meant that other drafts would have to go into camp at an earlier date than was intended.
Class A of the Second Division would also be mobilised earlier than was the Government's intention. A supplementary message had also been sent to each dominion by Mr Lloyd George for the Government's confidential information. The contents of this message could, of course, not be disclosed, but they greatly impressed the Government as to the need for immediate aid.
Troops' treats slashed
People have become accustomed to seeing white cloth covered parcels on their way to the parcels office of the Postal Department, but it was quite a novel sight on Wednesday to see persons returning as fully laden as they went in, and the indignation was great when it became known that the parcels office refused to accept soldiers' parcels unless sugar or cake formed the contents.
A Daily Times reporter was shown an imposing list of articles the importation of which into England by parcels post is strictly prohibited by the Imperial Government. The list, which apparently covers the whole range of portable articles, includes such favourite items as cocoa, milk, chocolate, cheese, tobacco, etc.
The position now is that no more parcels can be sent from New Zealand except sugar in small quantities of cake, and it is probable that the latter item will also be prohibited when its omission is noticed. No reason has been given for the authorities' action, but it is thought that the shipping shortage is the cause.
Cathedral cross erected
A ceremony of an interesting nature and of some historic interest took place at the new Anglican Cathedral yesterday morning, when an addition was made to the building symbolic of the faith for which the structure stands.
This consisted of placing a small cross in position on the front gable of the cathedral-that is, the front facing the Octagon and ecclesiastically recognised as the ''west'' front, though in point of fact it is the east front.
The ceremony, which was of brief duration and simple in its nature, took place on a platform over 100ft from the ground, this being reached by a narrow winding stair which presented some difficulties to the older members of the party, but no complaints were heard.
Credit criticised
''It is very regrettable that shopkeepers all over New Zealand allow the wives of working men to run up bills. Other women who are not the wives of workers are allowed to do the same without reference being made to the husband.'' So said Mr S. E. McCarthy. S.M., during the hearing of a case on Monday.
- ODT, 12.4.1918.
