LOYAL GUILD OF WOMEN

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11535, 18 March 1903, Page 5

LOYAL GUILD OF WOMEN

A CANTERBURY BRANCH FORMED

A meeting, called by the Mayor of Christchurch, was held at the City Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of discussing a proposal by Mrs ik'ddon, suggesting that a Loyal Guild of Women should be established for the purpose of assisting in keeping in good order and repair the soldiers' graves in South Africa. Mr H. F. Wigram, .Mayor of Christchurch, presided, and* there were about fifty ladkii present, including -Mrs Wigram. and a few gentlemen. 'iii'- Chairman read a number of apoloy\vn fur übt-t-!.<■•_■. several ol tlie writers ei:----clu-h.-' (ioiuit_■•_;.: towards th* 1 object, ol tlie (.•!■ .;i'-l-u Lt.'irue. and went on to _iy thai In- had been ,'_ked by Ml* Seddon lo call ihe niee-.iiik', the object beinij to -s-t.i-t_l:.-h ,i X'.w Zealand .Soldier-/ Grave Ctlil.l, ill Li>l_t..clio__ with the Guild of tile loyal wi-m-'ii e>f South Africa. Mr Wigram thru rv,A Mrs Seddon'.- letter to him on the subject. Continuing, iie said he did not tir.r.k he j.fce.i add any words .of !ii_ own in recommendation of the objects ot tii-j propped Guild, tor be felt thai tbe objeu> wvitld have Uie heartfelt »>yiiipath\ of ali in tin- Mjiony. He would call upon Mis Williams, who had kindly confuted to lead an address prcpaied by Miss Todhuntcr. The address was read by Mrs Williams, _bo added that the appeal for funds bad been most splendidly responded to by tlie countries which gave their boys when the war broke out. ft now remained for New Zealand to say what should be done on behalf of Lor brave sons, whose graves were lying (so far away from home. Mr Wiiiiam said he was* sure lie was voicing th*) .sentiment of the meeting if lie impressed v very hearty vote of thanks to Miss Tudhunter for the very excellent address which Mrs Williams bad so kindly read. A motion to t-d-; effect was proposed by the Chairman, -v. "lried unanimously. Colonel 1 _-Ti.-. t .:"., said he had attended the tiueiiw held in London, and there he wm; :_&_:- for certain information as to till- probabilities of being able to ascertain tlie louaiities of the different graves, and how thay could be best treated. Ho related what ho knew, and what was being done in South Africa. One of the preliminary _tepn taken by the Guild, through th* _-_-aq»artew at Pretoria, wa* to obfain diagrams and plans showing the location of the different graves, and commanding officere were instructed to draw a sketch plan showing the spot where a man was buried. As. a rule, however, the men had to be buried in the most suitable spots immediately after they were killed, and he wa.s aiiaid.that a great number of .graves would never be discovered. Latterly, however, every commanding officer of every district furnished a description pointing out the localities- of graves, and where possible snapshots of ttie graves were taken. Over some graves temporary crosses and monuments had been erected, but in many parts, where the war _as still going on, it was quite impossible to do this. At the meeting held in London it was urged that a separate New Zealand Guild should be e_tab.Lsbed, and that New Zealanders should contribute in order to locate and mark' the spots of their fallen soldiers. It was also suggested that there •were many other persons in New Zealand, who had "friends fallen in the war, who would be willing, to contribute to the funds of the Headquarter Guild, in order to locate those graves not special to NewZealand. The funds of the New Zealand Guild would be devoted entirely to marking tlie graves of fallen New Zoalanders, but tliat would not prevent others, desiring to do so, from subscribing to the general fund for a similar purpose. The Chairman announced that he had just received a telegram from Mrs Seddon, statiug that a meeting had been held in Wellington, and officers appointed, and subscription lists were being circulated. Continuing; Mr Wigram said he took it that all present were there with the object of becoming members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Soldiere' Graves Guild, and he would propose .that those present become members of the Guild. This motion was adopted. The following officere were then elected; —President, Mrs Wardrop; treasurer, Mrs Way; secretaiy, _ li_s Todhunter; committee, Mesdames C. C. Bo wen, Neave, (.. Harper, J. Williams, Recce, Todhunter, J. B. Ross, Rvan, W. C. Nicholls, Wigram, Bourne, A. Dickinson, Slater, Lewin, J. Mncfarlane, Hutton, Cardale, and Francis.

The Chairman intimated that the matter of sending out subscription lists- would be dealt with by the Committee.