THE VETERANS, HOME.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11305, 21 June 1902, Page 9

THE VETERANS , HOME.

LORD RAKFVBILY'S PROPOSAL. COMMUNICATIONS" WITH THE MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH. The Mayor desires to draw attention to the following which have been exchanged with his Excellency the Governor. As the Mayor hoe to be in Wellington, to attend the Municipal Conference eorty next month, he ftiU be unable to take up the matter till after his return, but in order that time may not be lost, he would be glad to receive the names of any gentlemen who would co-operate with him in farthering a proposal which .must commend itself, especially at a time like the prevent, when our local forces have afforded so splendid a justification for their existence. The telegram from his Excellency is as /oifowt:— , 'The Governor begs to dfraw your Worship's attention to the movement he ia desirous to inaugurate to establish a home to hold soma forty aged veterans who hare seen active service in the army, navy, or colonial forces.' He has this day received a cable from London informing him thfttH.R-H. Prince** Christian, presi'dwt of the Incorporated Soldiers and * l^J? r "'..P eC P i Society,, entirely approves Uta» establishment of such a home, and ' will place the matter before her • .ettwrittee with the least delay possible. * , Ta» Governor would point out that the ♦fts&iushmenfc of this home would be of inesthnable benefit now to the very many mpectaWe men who have, besides other doeds elsewhere in our Empire, done much to Majesty's supremacy in New *««*[•. Otd age homes and other eharitAbi* institutions do not cover the necee- J •ities of these people, who mostly prefer to we todependeirtiy in dire j»verW ,to having either to be separated from their wives w to be mixed up with the crowd of un- , fortunates who may be obliged to live on the,country's charity, amongst whom are tasnjr imbedle or suffering from incurable djtsfets. This condition of things should not be, The Empire owes much, to those who have served it, and though many receive pensions, others are not so fortunate. It would be not only a great act of kindness to these old people if the establishOMntofihome for them could he quiojcly realised,. •but such a home woutd be. a fitting memorial to the many who have lost ttwwjives in South Africa. It Would also oommeraorate in a lasting and useful mannsr their Majesties* Coronation year. The Oqwrnor expresses a hope that this pros- . fiet may meet with your Worship's supl pott, and that you will establish a committee to collect funds with a view of help. . m this object. ; The Governor feel* con■i s Bdtat that he will now receive good sup- " *-ts&* lWtt to assist in its establ - i '?f£ mai ' provided the people of New Zea- % JMO support the proposal. He, however, ■*-'~ «* no intention of launching a new charity W: ;«* colony until he sees that it can be i-i made permanently successful. The funds wllected can .be allocated to any of -the '•" rrtft™ Building and furmshing '"-„*._, ™5r5 W wowment of an "In Memoriam'' 'Y-«Er 0t flottll 8»; (3) permanent endowment. ■* '-■- SP c "" tn *t"» of the first home must be in tr M»e North Wand, two-thirds of those for ' t**^ 11 wat P reßenfe «quired,living there. ; .« funds permit, a second home of a smaller - nature could be afterwards established elsewhere.—Ranfurly." -."' . Mayor replied as follows: —"Reply»g to your Excellency's telegram, you may _ fwy on my hearty support. I should like » have a definite project to lay before the . mwsn*. May I suggest that if, as I under- .- stood, the home n to include separate cott*«j, such proposal might be to build and i endow a cottage or cottages to be known •c the "Canterbury Cottage," and possibly devoted primarily .to veterans from this province. If this system were adopted in other centres I think we should jgfc substantial support from this Island. This coming week is so much occupied with Coronation oeCebrataons that I am afraid I could not arrange such a meeting •* would do justice to your proposal immediately, ond as I have to be in Wellington early next month, I should like to leave it over titl my return, and would confer with* your Excellency "regarding dcv. tails and amount required if you approve % W»s course.—H. P. Wigram, Mayor. X To this his Worship has received the fol- •* wring from his Excellency:— In reply IMkis Worship's suggestion as to there be"%£Ottages specially dedicated to Cant "*te r * and Canterbury veterans, the Godesires that districts conwlbutiaf should have proportional reprethe inmates of the proposed