THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

Evening Post, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 27 December 1899, Page 6

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO DATE £2460. A meeting of tho General Committee of the Patriotic Fund Avas held in the City Council Chambers this morning. There wore present — The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. j. G. W. Aitken) in the chair, Messrs W. A. Keunedy, L. Tripp, J. P. Maxwell, J. Dulbie, T. Gale, J. M'Lellan, J. Plimmer, sen., H. Beauchump, F. \V. Haybittle, M. Kennedy, A. Veitch, Revs. H. Van Staveren and C. S. Ogg, and Mrs. A. Tasker. A letter ■ was received from Mr. G. London, Petone, offering to send out subscription lists in Petonu, but it was decided on the motion of Mr. H. Beauchamp that the Mayors and Chairmen of local bodies throughout tho Provincial district should be communicated with and asked to tuko the matter up. Mr. J. J. Koberts offered to get up sports at the Basin Reserve in aid of the iunds if the Committee would grant the use of the Reserve and appoint a sub-commit-teo to act 'with him. It was decided to thank Mr. Roberts for his offer, which, however, the Committee cov.ld not see its way to accept. ', A letter, was receiyed from Colonel Penton enclosing a cheque for :35 to. be divided equally .between the Imperial and local troops, and stating that a similar sum would be forwarded monthly during the currency of the war. The Chairman intimated that he had received a telegram from the Mayor of Christchurch suggesting* that a fund should be raised for increasing the numbor of men to be sent to South Africa. He had aft^pr consultation with several members of the Committee replied that it was considered desirable to limit their efforts to relief purposes for the present. Dr. Anßon wrote stating that he had sent £1 to the New Zealand Times and £24 to the Evening Post to be distributed among the three funds organised, but ho now wished the whole amount to be devoted to the Patriotic Fund. • Mr. J. T. Marshall wrote suggesting that Kipling's "Absent-minded Beggar" should be printed on the Premier's Christmas Card and sold at la as a means of adding to the fund. The letter was referred to the Executive Committee to be appointed presently. Mrs. -Tasker was authorised to convene a meeting of ladies to take in hand the providing of clothing for the refugees in South Africa. The following gentlemen were appointed members of the Executive Committee : — The Mayor, Messrs. J. Duthie, T. Gale, J. M'Lellan, J. Plimmer, sen , H. Beauchamp, F. W. Haybittle, and M. Kennedy. The Chairman reported that the total amount of subscriptions collected -and promised up to date was £2460 17s 7d.