100 years ago — from our archives
THE military authorities have decided to appoint 13 military police and one n.c.o. to have charge of Dunedin district. Such police have already been at work in northern centres for some time, but up to the present Dunedin has had none. Of the 14 men required the Dunedin headquarters has to find five. The men chosen will receive expeditionary force rates of pay with a 4s ration allowance if they provide their own rations. They must be men of good physique who have nevertheless been medically rejected as unfit for active service. Applications must be made to the group commander at the Kensington Drill Hall, and must be accompanied by two references as to character.
The duties of the police will be generally to preserve law and order among all men who are under military authority, and include the tracing of shirkers, the apprehending of men illegally wearing the King’s uniform or appearing in plain clothes when they should be in uniform, the checking of drunkenness, and especially the bringing to book of men who are attempting to evade medical examination.
The Tramways Committee reports that it is now in a position to submit definite proposals with respect to the extension of tramways in Mornington. The whole question has been exhaustively considered and a great deal of information obtained. The following recommendations are now submitted:— (a) that the only tramway extension line in Mornington to be undertaken at the present time be the renewal of the Maryhill line; (b) that the Maryhill line be reinstated by using sufficient rails lifted from Elgin road track, and that steps be taken to obtain the necessary amendment to the Elgin road OrderinCouncil to permit of this course being followed; (c) that sundry other repairs to the line required by the Public Works Engineer, and repairs to the engine recommended by Mr E. Roberts, C.E., be hereby authorised; (d) that the matter be now remitted to the Finance Committee to make the necessary financial arrangements. The estimated cost of the works, as detailed in (b) and (c), is £1618,
An unusual instance of father and son serving together in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces is given in the case of Privates Augustus Clement and Frederick Clement, of No. 6, Elm Grove, Fitzgerald Avenue, Linwood. The son, Private Frederick Clement, left New Zealand on December 12, 1914, with the Second Reinforcements, and went to Egypt, and but for a bad attack of pneumonia would no doubt have been in the landing on Gallipoli, where his mates were killed. The father left on August 14, 1915, with the Sixth Reinforcements, and was at the evacuation of Gallipoli. It was three months before they met, at midnight, in camp, in Egypt. Together they left for France in May last as drivers in the New Zealand Army Service Corps, and except for a few weeks’ illness the son had in Wimmereux Hospital in France, have been together ever since.
The destruction of fur seals was a matter submitted to the New Zealand Institute meeting by Drs Cockayne and Thomson. The meeting passed the following resolution:— ‘‘That this institute learns with regret that the declaration of an area as a national park does not prohibit sealing thereon, and urges that a special Act be passed defining the limit of an area for a national park, including the southern fiord lands and waters, with protection under severe penalties of seals and other animals therein.’’ — ODT, 5.2.1917.