WELCOME GIFTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 9

WELCOME GIFTS

cmasmM as? mako&ai

HEARTFELT THANKS

LB-TT-Bfi FROM LEPEB^

Dean Eegnault has received letters from the leper station, Makogai Island, acknowledging in heartfelt terms the gifts of the New Zealand people to the patients. It will be gratifying to the donors to know that their efforts on behalf of the patients enabled the lepers to spend a happy Christmas time. It is safe to say that very seldom, if ever, has the steamer Hinemoa (which conveyed the gifts) been the harbinger of such joy as was the result, of her trip on this occasion.

The letters of acknowledgement include one from Sister Mary Suzanne, the French, nursing sister, who recently visited Wellington, and who spent some time in Auckland in studying the intricacies of the cinema machine and the refrigerator, which were included in the gifts. Even the blind, patients got a share of the enjoyment, as will be seen from the letters.

Sister Suzanne wrote: —"Here we , are again amongst our dear patients; and everything given to. us and sent to us vhas arrived here safely. We admit with a deep feeling of gratitude that during^ our visit to New Zealand we-met iindness' everywhere, and everybody was moat generous. Thanks to all the people .who sent gifts, either of goods or money; and thanks to you for taking charge of and packing the gifts so carefully that nothing has been, damaged; thanks also to the [Union. Company, which carried every-

the five bikes. Then came the big boxes. Why, the poor boys could hardly carry them, they were • that weighty. When all was landed, the Public Works Department carpenters started to open them. First,"the engine and dynamos were opened up. Sister Suzanne is the engineer, and quite a learned one too. Then came the freezer, which was hooked up and got ■under way for hard work, and has been doing wonderful work ever since. Then, the cinema was opened; but they didn't show pictures that night, as the natives thought they would; but since then we have had some beautiful programmes. Even, the blind go to the pictures. They sit beside some one who tells them all about what is being shown.

"Well, gradually the good Sister got all the oases opened up,- and the things sorted out; but it is still a mystery to me, and to a good few more, how and when you good people got so many wonderful gifts together in such a short time. At Christmas time all the gifts and dreas material and dolls were displayed in a big new ward in the womens' compound. You will no doubt get a photo of it from Sister Suzanne. You should just have seen the young folk each getting around with two and three dolls, all decked up in beads, etc. I am quite sure you could not imagine what sort of a time they had/Then the gifts for the men and boys were displayed, in the same manner. You wpuKf'naye smiled to see all the boys with long paper hats and instruments of all kinds. They formed a band, and had quite a great time. That was New Year's time, or near to it. Then on New j Year's Day we had a canoe race, which caused great fun. Oh! I forgot to mention about the little toy motor-car, which caused the greatest excitement of all. At present it is in the repair shop, as the boys were too heavy and broke the axle. "I am writing this for us all, as our ( good Sister Mary Suzanne has such a big task to. carry on here, she h.as not much time for-letter writing. We will always pray for you all in New Zealand. "Yours very sincerely, " The Patients of Makogai."