CHRISTMAS SHILLING GIFT FUND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2607, 1 November 1915, Page 6

CHRISTMAS SHILLING GIFT FUND

£300 RAISED ON SATURDAY travellers and warehouse MEN'S EFFORT.

'When the idea of giving every soldier .at' the Dardanelles and at Samoa a Christmas present was first mooted by tho Combined Amateur Sports Committee the matter was taken up enthusiastically by the Commercial Travellers' Association, and a special rally under their organisation was made in the City on Saturday. Tho members, under Mr. A. J. Carlton (secretary), worked most energetically, and were ably assisted by a Ladies] Committee -under Mrs.. Hugh Wright (chairwoman) and Miss Hulston (secretary). Flower sellers were everywhere to be met with, and shops, offices, and even private residences were not allowed to pass without a call. The basement room underneath the Commercial Travellers' Club was tho centro of much activity, and was the depot of quantities of flowers sent in from 'Blenheim, Otaki, Hutt, AVellington itself and its suburbs iu very generous profusion. Here numbers of ladies wero at work arranging the bunches and baskets of flowers, which later appeared in the streets for sale. In addition there wore badges for sale, and the organising committee regretted that it had not arranged for a larger supply, as the 1800 which were made were quickly .sold, while constant inquiries woro being made for more, which of course were not forthcoming. 'These badges woro shaped as a model of New Zealand, and wero stamped in both silver and brass, the former bringing in 2s. 6d. and the latter a shilling. It is probable that badges 1 will be 6ent to the soldiers at Galiipoli, and it is easy to imagine how such a' souvenir of tho country they Lad left behind them would be received by the men who havo upheld its honour so well. Two large dccorated lorries were lent by Messrs. J. O'Brien and Co., and on them a concert party, under the direction of Mrs. F. Montague, toured' the streets. Tho collections which resulted from these open-air entertainments were valuable additions to tho v general fund. In front of tho Empire Hotel tho audience it one time of the day was almost completely of khaki-clad figures, a rather appropriate coincidence. The piano was ! ent by Messrs. Begg and Co. The Trentham Band, by permission of LieutenantColonel Potter, Commandant at Trentham, also assisted, .and very materia ally helped to swell the grand total. As a result of the day's effort the sum of £300 was taken, a very satisfactory ending to the labours of everyone concerned, especially when it is remembered how many previous efforts have been made by other bodies, and also that a blustoring dusty day like that of Saturday was not the most encouraging of meteorological weather conditions. Included in the £300 were the following donations: — £ s. d. Mr. C. G. Wilson 10 0 0 Mr. J. J. M'Grath 10 0 0 Mr. W. F. Larkin > 10 0 0 Mr. M. A. Carr 10 0 0 Mr. A. A. Marryatt 5 0 0 Mrs. M. 1. Carr - 2 10 0 Mrs. J. J. M'Grath 2 10 0 The amounts received at the various stations were as follow:—Lorries (in •charge of Mrs. Montague), £35 4s. Bd.; Post Office (iu charge of Mrs. Keith), £26 18s. (id.; Kelburn Tramway (in charge of Mrs. Batt), £24 18s. 7d.; Stewart Dawson's (in charge of Miss Hueston), £24 los. 2d.; Government Buildings (in charge of Mrs. Wright), £22 7s. 6d.; Winder's Corner (in charge of Mesdanies M'Donald and Longmoro), £12 los. lOd.; Woodward Street (in charge of Mrs. Philps), £11 Is. 2d.; Courtenay Place (in charge of Mrs. Rash), £8 9s. 9d.; Boulcott Street (incliarge of Mrs. W. Smith), £6 ss. 4d.; Vivian Street (in oharge of Mrs. M'Bain), £5 19s. Meals for the lady workers were generously provided, by the following:—The Royal Oak. tho Grand Hotel, the Empire, the Grcsham, and the New Occidental Hotels, also- by Messrs. J. Godber and Co., Ltd., and D. Bohan and Co.