Wounded soldier sent to Rotorua

Some old identities and some of the committee of the first picnic of the Port Chalmers Old Identities' Association at Portobello on February 17 [caption as originally published with 11 of 12 people named]. Back row (from left): Mesdames Smyth, W. Love, Densem, Basire, Thomson, White and Woolsey. Front row: Mess R. Love, J. Fauley, John Mill (first president) and W. Fail (vice-president). - Otago Witness, 28.2.1917.

Mrs Ferguson said that the man had spent more than a year in the Dunedin Hospital. He had been wounded three times, and, sadly enough, was, in addition, tubercular. It was at length seen fit to send him to Rotorua - unfortunately not a good place for such a subject - thinking it might do him good. He was very miserable there, but those on the spot had done their best for him.

Mrs Ferguson had learned with horror that he had not enough shirts, underclothing, and pyjamas. She communicated with the Otago Women's Association, which immediately forwarded the man a kit. What she wanted to know was who was responsible in these cases.

She had approached Surgeon-general Henderson, but he said that the man having been discharged, she would have to consult with the Base Records Office. Some warm comments were made round the table regarding the case, and members mentioned that it did not stand alone.

Eventually a committee was set up to go into the matter, with a view to obtaining the fullest particulars and taking any action that might be thought necessary.

•A story told in the Auckland Police Court last week as to the hotelkeeper who opened his house on Sunday under the impression that it was Monday, has a parallel in a legend as to an occurrence in the Waiwera district some 40 years ago.

In those days communication with centres was irregular, and almanacs were little regarded. From these causes the settlers were apt to be uncertain in their chronology.

One Sunday morning a clergyman was journeying afoot through the district, to hold a service in a neighbouring hamlet, when he noted farm work proceeding as usual in all the fields within sight. Accosting a settler who was driving a plough team close to the road, he remonstrated with him for pursuing his avocation on the Sabbath Day.

''Sabbath be hanged,'' or words to that effect, rejoined the agriculturist, ''this is Monday. We had our Sunday as usual, yesterday.'' Sure enough, it was found that the whole community was a day out in its reckoning.

•Mr W. T. Young, general secretary of the Federated Seamen's Union of New Zealand, has forwarded the following letter to each individual shipowner and shipping company in New Zealand, totalling over 40:

''Dear Sir, - You will be cognisant that the period of the agreement between the Federated Seamen's Union and the steamship owners of the dominion expired on December 31 last.

"My executive council has determined that a new agreement covering the working conditions and protecting the rights of members on board ship be executed at the earliest possible date, and with that object I have the honour by direction to transmit for your consideration and approval the enclosed copy of demands formulated by the union for that purpose, and to request respectfully that your representative will confer thereon with the representatives of the union at Wellington at 2.30 p.m. on the 20th inst., and on behalf of the council I shall be pleased to receive an early intimation that this meets with your convenience and approval.''

- ODT, 23.2.1917.

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