A HANDSOME GIFT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 7

A HANDSOME GIFT

Mr. Archie M'Neilage, who suffered the loss of a leg after undergoing ail operation in the Alasterton Hospital to unable him to qualify for enlistment, was presented with a purso of 800 sovereigns by the settlers of the district at the garden party held at Carterton on Thursday. The Hon. AV. Eraser, in making the preseutatiou, said it gave him great pleasure to bo present as representative of the Government, and to join with, tlio settlers iu expressing appreciation of the sacrifice made by Mr. M'Neilago, and sympathy with him in the disappointment he must have felt at being unable to do what in his heart ,he was set upon doing. He had shown himself prepared to go forth and join the other bravo fellows, not only in fighting for his country, but in maintaining the honour of the race from which he had sprung, and in. preserving the freedom whioh they enjoyed in the truest and best sense. The sympathy . expressed was characteristic of the settlers of the Wairarapa, who, in, .their generosity, had shown a glorious example to tho rest of the Dominion. Captain Donald Simson, on behalf of Mr. M'Neilage, who was overcome with nervousness, acknowledged the receipt of the handsome present. Captain Simson said Mr. M'Neilage deserved the same honour and the same credit as men wiio had sorved their country at tho front, Unfortunately, however, the law did not make provision for the relief of such cases, although it might do so in the future. In tho meantime, it was the duty of private individuals to come forward and mako up for the defect in the legislation. If ever there was a case that should appeal to the generosity of tho people, this was one. (Applause.) '