MR O. T.J. ALPERS'S GOOD WORK.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15279, 15 May 1915, Page 11

MR O. T.J. ALPERS'S GOOD WORK.

One of tho features of tho ceremony of crowning the Queen of the Ashburton Carnival at Ashburton on Thursday night was tho excellent speech made hy MrO. T. J. Alpers, who later on showed that his ability as an auctioneer quite e<jiiaUe<l his effectiveness sis an orator, for ho sold and resold, amid much merriment, ft Jarge Belgian Hag for the sum of £160 10s. Mr Alpers's work recently as a recruiting agent is a very fine example of practical patriotism, and he has been helped by .a band of enthusiasts who have worked hard and most unselfishly for tho cause. Within the last month or so Mr Alpers and his clever concert, party have attended nineteen meetings, sixteen or geveutecn of which have been organised solely by the moving spirit in this enterprise, and by the time the twentieth meeting has been ended it i s hoped that close upon £1000, or, at any rate, well over £900, will have been, collected, at an expense of £17! This sum does not include Thursday's £160 10s or tho sums collected at the other Ashburton fetes, because it was considered that Mr Alpers's party could not credit themselves with gathering the crowds at these affairs. There is also tho good done to the recruiting cause- to-be added to the hard cash received. This is harder to estimate, but it is undoubtedly real.