CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 306, 24 December 1903, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

« ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Subscriber: We are unable to ascertain without more precise information. CHRISTMAS CHEER (To the Editor.) Sir, —The near approach of this festive season is my plea for your kindly indulgence in the way of making known through your columns the needs of the various social agencies in this city. Annually the inmates of our homes are given a dinner on Christmas Day, and a useful gift is presented to each, thus making them feel that they are neither forsaken nor forgotten. So far this has been possible by the kindness of the Auckland people," and I am hopeful that this occasion shall be no exception, for the many "socially stricken" look forward to this time when peace and goodwill prevails, and Father Christmas, even to the children of larger growth, links on the dim and distant past with the present, and in the warmth and joyousness of his visit they laugh and forget their sorrows. Would you permit mc then to appeal through your valuable columns for that practical sympathy which has so often put it within the reach of the Salvation Army to further brighten the lot of the large number of sorrowful and suffering ones sheltered in the following institutions in this city:—The Rescue Home, Parnell; the Maternity Home, Hepburn-street, Ponsonbv"; Prison Gate Home, Epsom; the Men's Shelter, Lome-street.—Yours to uplift the fallen, JAS. GILMOUR, Lieutenant-Colonel-THE LATE MR BUCKRIDGE AS A YACHTSMAN. (To the Editor.) Sir. —I must tak" the liberty of contradicting the statement made to your reporter yesterday by a so-called friend of the late Mr Buckridge, to the effect that Mr Buckridge was a clumsy man and would be likely to fall into "a boat instead of stepping in. I think I am safe in saying that T am in a better position than any man in Auckland to juriire of his agilify in a small yacht, as he and I in company brought the Kia Ora hack from Point Rodney. While admitting that he was not an expert yachtsman, judging by our (Auckland) standard. 1 must say. in fairness to him, and in refutation of thp above-men-tioned unfair statement that there was nothing in his movements which could be described as clumsy. In fart, I had to admit that he war. a belter hand in a yacht than T, in common with many others in Auckland, had up to that time thought him to be.—l am. etc.. WALTER BALLEY. Of Bailey and Lowe.