LADY LIVERPOOL FUND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15983, 18 August 1917, Page 2

LADY LIVERPOOL FUND.

DEPOT NOTES. I (Contributed.) The days of 644 Colombo street, as the contro of the fund's activities, are drawing to a ciose. The advisability of moving to larger premises has been concerning tho minds of the executive for some time, and arrangements for a move aro almost completed. The interest in our soldiers' welfare has expanded to such a lively extent that it it imperative to move into a more commodious building. At the annual meeting tho president, Mrs Holland, will give in detail the advantages anticipated in having larger premises. It is just three years sinco this Society Mas constituted, and the first meeting held in the City Council Chambers. The response to the call for women willing to do tiieir part in the national crisis was then most nobly responded to. Much had to be Jearnt as to how best to do that part; snags, ' then, as now, were not wanting to daunt the weak-hearted, but difficulties were only met to be overcome, and now, after three years' experience in that work, we find our workers, with ranks well reinforced, more anxious xhr.n ever, to be a "standby" i'or the soldiers, and' a source of strength to their country. Sinco tho work of this Society was inaugurated, and the original committees formed, "much water has flowed under the bridge." The war is not yet over,_ and perhaps thcro is much work that women can do, still to be done. The Depot, at Gil Colombo street, opened in March. 191(5, by her Excellency the Count-ess of Liverpool, is now too crampcd to do satisfactorily the work at hand, and for the better carrying out of tho aims of the Society, the largo building latterly occupjod by Messrs Fenncr and Co., at the corner of Tuam and Colombo streets, has been acquired and will shortly becomo the centro of our work. The aims of tho Society are now so well known that it would seem superfluous to write about them. Suffice t if to say that the main object is to make tho life of our soldiers on the battlefield as cheerful and comfortable as possible, and well-nllod i parcels, regularly sent-, are calculated to help in this direction, as well as being tokens-cf rcmomlirance from thoso in their own land, for whom they are Tight in g. The Lady Liverpool Fund is the only association in the Dominion doing this work for our own men when on active service, and, therefore, we hope to still receive that generous support from the peoplo of Canterbury, without which it would be impossible to successfully carry out tho work which, under tho presidency of the Mayoress, this organisation has undertaken.

Next Wednesday will be heralded as the morn for violets, and on that day, with the breath of spring pervading the city by-ways and highways, old and young, rich and poor, may enjoy the profusion of blooms aiid each add a coin that at the day's ond may help to swell the funds or the Red Crosa and the .Lady Liverpool Associations. These who can send flowers for that day are invited to .do so, and may leave them at tho Art Gallery, on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning. A produce stall, too, is to be run in connexion with Violet Day, and perhaps many people who cannot give violets or flowers would be pleased to assist by scuding other products.of tho garden. All kinds will bo welcomed at the Art Gallery, on Tuesday, or at the produce stall (under the presidency of Mrs Hen nab), in .Cathedral square, close by the_ God ley statue, on Wednesday morning. The -schools are keeping well in touch with the depot,, and in every grade are sending their contributions for the front, and sending without stmt their soldiers' gifts. Another very pleasing feature of happy childish thought is the "children's party'' for our soldiers, where the little guests each arrivo with a: gift, not for the little hostess, but for a soldier. A most interesting and very large contribution came in this manner from Mrs Hamish McLean's happy little gathering of children on Cashmere Hills this week.

During the week some good contributions iiavo been vscnt in. Tlie Hokitika. branch sent £'fo for Christmas puddings; lieefton branch sent a special Christmas gift of £19 12s, in addition to their usual monthly donation. Timaru branch is doing splendid work, tlx© Mayoress, Mrs Maling, setting herself energetically ■to work to increase tho quota, of gifts from that centre. This branch has also sent us a cheque for £B5 towards goods to be sent to the Jwv.v Zealand Soldiers' Hostel in for which Lord Plunket asks help. The Akaron branch ha 6 also sent us a special donation of £6 towards Christmas gifts.