GALLIPOLI DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2631, 29 November 1915, Page 6

GALLIPOLI DAY

SPORTS' EFFORT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR SOLDIERS A BIG SUM RAISED Wind and rain,' the enemies of out-' door gatherings, made an unsuccessful attempt on Saturday to againi spoil Gallipoli Day. ' Gallipoli Day' was to bavo been celebrated on the previous Saturday, but the elements were too violent to make an open-air gathering possible, and a week's adjournment was decided on. Nevertheless, the day originally chosen yielded, one .way and another, £1830.

The sports bodies, who had organised tho celebrations with a view to raising money with which to buy Christmas comforts for Now Zealand's soldiers, ivere not encouraged by early occurrences on the da.y of their second attempt. , Heavy rain fell in the small hours, and later the wind rose, and the skies threatened. Auxious officials telephoned .to the State weaiher prophet. What was it going to be—wet or fine p Bad weather —cannot hold sports, was the gist of the prophecy. "Can you tell us the time of the next shower?" inquired an irrepressible sport. And in tho face of the promised storm, the officials unanimously agreed to."go on with the game." ■,Fortune favoured the brave. The weather held up, and' improved, the gathering wa-s held, and 2000 people turned out to see the fun and do' a little for the oause. Tho campaign was opened in the streets in time to catch people on their way to work. Collectors and sellers were out on the warpath. Flowers and other

things one could buy, and many did, but popular fancy favoured a little speculation. Surprise packets had been put up in thousands, and it was whispered that sjime of them contained half-

sovereigns. The sixpenny investments of the half-sovereign seekers must have mounted to a goodly sum. The prizes fell to the few. Tlie average speculator, opening his envelope in mild excitement, found that the coin was a half-penny, or that the note was a word of ~thanks for his - sixpence. In the afternoon tho campaign was carried to tho Basin Reserve, where a bright and varied programme had been promised. Of the two thousand people present many were children. Numerous adults had. no doubt, been, deterred by tho foreboding outlook of tho morning. Their timidity lost them a good outing, and the weather was not at all unpleasant, The programme was opened with a march by No. 42 Company, Kilbirnie,, •Drum and Bugle Band. The boys very well, and were heartily 'applauded. Throughout tho day the skirl of the pipes was heard across the green, and Highland daiicing was dis-. persed through the programme. The dancers were James M'Lennan, Daisy M'Lennan, Annie Grant, Rita Hauds, Thelma and Jean M'Kenzie, and Jane Jclley.

A. very fine gymnastic display was given by the Y.M.C.A. pupils, under Mr. M. Tracey. Their items included: — Free movement, ladies; dumb-bells boys; club swinging, ladies; bar-bell drill, boys; dumb-bells, ladies. Tho men of tho Y.M.C.A. gave a remarkably good display on tho horizontal anil parallel bars, and of hand-balancing. In this Mr. Tracsy and his pupils excelled. The tutor's work was a groat treat, and lie has somo exceptionally capable pupils.

A girls' hockey match was played between sides known only, as "Yellow" and "White." Tlie crowd' worked up quite an _ enthusiasm over the game, and tlie girls responded with a very fair exhibition. "White" won by two goals! to one goal. 1

The fancy costume competition was won by Miss AVilsori. "Topsy Tnrvy" was second, and "Baby Bliss" was highly commended. •

The boys' half-mile walk was an affair filled with- humour, but an exacting judge gradually eliminated from the contest those whose extraordinary efforts to walk rapidly caused the laughter. J. M'Kenzie won the race, and D. Hawthorne was second. •

The Technical College Cadets, under Lieutenant Duffy, provided a display of military physical training and organised games, and a team of twelve from No. 31 Company, Senior Cadets (under Lieutenant Rankine), did physical drill and bayonet fighting. This latter was oho of the features of the afternoon. The drill of the Senior Cadots was almost perfect, and they showed great proficiency in bayonet fighting. This team won the championship at Auokland last year. Hair-dressing and hat-trimming competitions for wounded soldiers provoked much merriment. The hair-dressers introduced some new % fashions, and the hats turned out by the men milliners were more novel than the latest Parisian styles. Corporal Osborne and Miss Reid won _ the hair-dressing, and the three leading "milliners" were: Sapper Williams, 1; Driver War eh an. 2; and Corporal Chesterfield, 3. ■ Mr. L. Lindlev (Waterside Workers' Band) blew in first in the bandsmen's race/ Mr. W. Jupp (Central National Reserve Band) arrived second. The house teams' relay race was won by Duthie's, with Bannatyne's second; and Miss Fordyco won the musical chairß competition.

For assistance rendered, the Sports Committee wishes to specially thank Mr. Jupp and the members of the Central National Roserve Band, the Waterside Workers', Band, and the Drum and Bugle Band.

In the evening the effort was continued in the City streets. The Highland Band played in some of the principal thoroughfares, and local talent, staged on a motor-lorry, drew a big crowd to the Boulcott Street comer where songs, recitations, appeals for coin, and invitations to take six shots at "Auntie" for a shilling were all intermixed in a whirl of earnest endeavour.

THE FINANCIAL SIDEt It is anticipated that the fund ' will reach the very, respectable total of £2500. Of this sum £533 was collected in the streets and at the Basin Reserve oil Saturday, andnearty all of the money was raised by the ladies, who sold l flowers and other tilings and plied collection boxes everywhere. Several amounts of money collected are not mentioned in the list which follows Mr. De Castro collected about £15 in the Government Buildings. The side shows at tho 'Basin Deserve realised about £15. The Roseneath School amount included the 'proceeds of the sale of tho picture of Anzao Bay, which, realised £22 10a. Anion" the bids for tho picture were the followingThe Belgian Consul (Hon. Charley Johnston), £10; the French •Consul (Mr. Macintosh), £5; the Japanese Consul (Mr. T. Young), £5; Mr. J. Tripe £1 Is.; and Mr. P. Griffin, £l.ls, Th o picture was presented by Harrington's, Ltd., and framed by Messrs. Eaton and Co. The baton used by tho headmaster of tho school (Mr . B, Darrocli) in conducting his chorus of children'in patriotic songs in the streets on Saturday was also sold by auction. It had been presented by the Bristol Piano Company, and it was purchased by Mr XJ M'Cabo for £1 ss. Altogether about 7000 surprise packets were sold. Some of tlieso contained "orders." if t] leso orders are presented to any member of tho conunitteo ho will at oiice repudiate any liability. Cheque# have been ro--oaived, from Jit. Attd Mrs. C, R, Smith

for £41 55., collected at the Napier wool-sales, and for £39 lis. 2d. on subsidiary lists. They expect to be able to forward about £20 more. Following aro details of the collections ;—

Basin Reserve. r , £ s. <J. &ates 67 11 0 Mrs. Atkinson and ladies of Karori Golf Club, soft drinks sales 5 12 2i , ami putting competition o 12 Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Aitken, ice crcain ... G 7 2i Sirs. Townsend, a-ftornoon , r tea 15 16 6 Mrs. M'Vicar, flowers, badges, etc 19 i 7 Miss Marks and Sirs. Lovestam, sweets 17 3 2 Totals £131 ii 8 In the City. I/ambton and Thorndon (Nurse Everett) 10 7 10 Kelburn Avenue (Mrs. Gibbons) 25 9 8i Kirkcaldie s (Mrs. Wallace) 10 11 i Stewart Dawson's (Sirs. „ Batt) 47 l'o 6i Post Office (Mrs. M'Cor- ■ mack) 22 7 0 Queen's Wli'arf (Mrs. Gaw- ' ler and Mrs. Trim) 6 1 Gi Willis Street (Miss O'Malle.v) 22 18 10 Cuba Street (Mrs. Gibb)... 39 3 8} Courtenay Place (Nurse Cole) 23 8 10 Mrs. Meldrum 10 19 lj Produce stall (Mrs. Willis. Mrs. Will. Lawson, and Wadestown ladies) .... 45 '2 8J Roseneath School (Mr. R. Darrocli) ; 31 13 10 "Charlie's Aunt" lorries ... 22 14 9J Surprise Packet Committee 73 18 10 Miscellaneous 9 0 0} Total amount received £533 5 1