VIOLET DAY.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15369, 28 August 1915, Page 9

VIOLET DAY.

-— ♦ . ——. . . FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. SPLENDID/RESPONSE OF £741. In all the principal streets yesterday, and at every coign of vantage, an army of collectors pounced upon all and sundry offering bunches of violets and other flowers in exchango for the nimble sixpence, or other coins of greater value. ' Badges, on which were represented the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag, were worn by the collectors on their arms. The worthiness of tho object in view-«-the augmentation of tho funds to assist tho Dominion's wounded soldiers — lent force to the appeal made, and softened even the stoniest heartß. The work of collecting started early, and was carried on vigorously. Many of the business places * n town devoted windows to displays in support of the appeal, tho windows being suitably dressed. The first shift came off at noo», and the financial result was in the vicinity of £230. Early in the afternoon the committee seemed threatened with a shortage of flowers, but the difficulty was overcome to a large extent when an additional supply came to hand from Mr Arthur E. G. Rhodes. Shortly after 4 p.m. the auction of spccial bunches of violets was fy&d in Cathedral square, in front of the Red Cross Sales Depot. A fairly large crowd congregated and bidding was fairly brisk. Mr G. R. Robertson, of Tonks, Norton and Co., conducted the sale.. The. special bunch, which was made by Mrs Thompson, one of those at the stall outside the Sales Depot, was bought by Mr George Scott for £5. Messrs G. E. Rhodes and G. L. Donaldson each bought bunches for £2, and Messrs A. L. Smith and J. S. Barrett bunches at £1 each. Other bunches were sold at lQs and 5s each. The amotion realised about £14. An incident is narrated of a gentleman who, when approached by one lot of sellers of flowers, said that h© had promised to buy from tho sellers at the next corner. It was found that he had mado the same statement at the next corner, and at four other corners, and possibly at many others. The collection for the day realised the splendid total of £741 133 Id, this sum being made up as follows: —Cheques £6 2s. notes £11, sovereigns £5, halfsovoreigns £11. half-crowns £57. florins £89. shillings £152, sixpences £260, i bits £75 coppers £13. The foregoing total also includes tho sum of £62 4s 6d collected at the Clarendon Hotel during National Week. An auction sale of flowers, otc., was conducted at tho Opera House during the interval last night, by the Mayor and Mr F. W. Johnston, and the sura , of £4 5s was obtained. Mrs W. D. Stewart and her assistants I who equipped and conducted a stall in Cathedral square did remarkably well, their total for tho day just reaching £50. All connected with the collection worked indefatigably throughout the day, a particularly heavy burden falling upon Air G. L. Donaldson, honorary secretary, arid Mr C. G. Dalgety, hon. treasurer. These gentlemen were on~duty from 8.30 a.to. until well after 10 p.m., without a break.

The Mayor, Mr H. Holland, desires to thank moat sincerely ail those whose efforts yesterday produced such a splendid result. In connexion with "Violet Day" in Christchurch\ the Mayoress of Ashburtou (Mrs R. Galbraith) appealed to the residents of Ashburton for help, with the result that a very fine collection was gathered, and forwarded to Cliristchurch. The main portion of the collection was provided by the scholars of the primary schools.