Lord Kitchener, it is feared, was drowned on Monday evening. He was aboard the Hampshire, bound for Russia.
The vessel was sunk west of the Orkneys. Sir John Jellicoe reports that the Hampshire, carrying Lord Kitchener and his staff, was sunk on Monday night, at 8 o'clock, west of the Orkneys, either by mine or torpedo.
Four observers on shore saw four boats leave the ship, heavy seas then running. A patrol vessel and some destroyers immediately proceeded to the spot, but the searchers up to the present have only found some bodies and a capsized boat.
It is greatly feared that there is little hope of any having survived. The Hampshire (1905) was an armoured cruiser of 10,850 tons and 23½ knots speed, mounting four 7.5in, six 6in, and 20 smaller guns.
Her normal complement was 655 men. A Reuter's message states that it is officially announced that Lord Kitchener was en route to Petrograd to discuss important financial and military questions with the Czar.
A High Commissioner's message adds that the voyage was undertaken at the Czar's invitation.
•The clerk of the Dunedin Presbytery (the Rev. J. Chisholm) said that as the Presbytery had not yet had the opportunity of doing anything in connection with the early closing of hotels he had drawn up a motion, which, he thought, would meet the wishes of the Presbytery. The motion read:
"Having regard to the absolute necessity of utilising to the utmost extent all our resources of men and material for the successful prosecution of the war that is now raging, and being well assured that the traffic in intoxicating liquor as at present carried on wastes much of our substance and impairs the efficiency of our manhood, this Presbytery, while gladly recognising the avowed intentions of those in authority to exclude wet canteens from military camps, most earnestly protests against the seeming reluctance of the Government to restrict still further the sale of strong drink, and strongly urges that legislative action be taken to ensure that during the war hotel bars shall be closed from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.''
The resolution was passed unanimously.
•The Road Committee of the Otago Motor Club recommended that the secretary write to the Tuapeka County Council to the effect that most counties in Otago had direction signs erected at crossroads, and request that the council might see its way to erect about a dozen of these on the main roads of the county.
The committee was of opinion that the club should express its thanks to all motorists who so generously subscribed to the fund for the improvement of the Main North road.
The committee drew attention to the fact that the headlights on most cars were a source of danger to traffic, and thought that some action should be taken to make owners dim their headlights in town at least.
The report was adopted. In connection with the last clause it was decided that a small committee go into the matter. The opinion was expressed that the headlights should be depressed.
A suggestion was thrown out that the glass might be frosted in some way.
•Some years ago the owners of the Bushey Park Estate, near Palmerston, in Otago, offered their property to the Government Land Purchase Department, and the offer was declined, the price being then about 5 per acre.
This same property was sold the other day to Mr Melhuish, of Christchurch, for not less than 25 per acre. The property is between 1500 and 1600 acres.
- ODT, 8.6.1916.
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