CHRISTMAS ON MAKOGAI ISLAND

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

CHRISTMAS ON MAKOGAI ISLAND

going to God asking His choicest blessings for.all our generous friends.'*'

THANKS PROM THE LEPERS.

A New Zealand patient writing under date "Makogai, 15th January, 1927," sent the following touching letter:—,

"You will no doubt wonder who is •writing to you; but I am quite sure 70U will guess as soon as you look at the above address. I am one of the many happy ones who has enjoyed some of the wonderful gifts you and other good people like yourself sent us from dear old New Zealand. 1 will try,and give you some idea of how the generous gifts were appreciated by all. "On the arrival of our two good Sisters, there was great excitement in the little camp. You see when we lose two of our good angels for any time they are very much missed by One and all. Well, they came ashore from the motor launch. After a little talk and reception by the other good Sisters on the beach, they came up, and then the excitement started when they began to tell us about all the wonderful things they had got for us all." Then a few days later the steamer Hinemoa arrived with all the cases of goods and gifts. I tell you there was great fun. The lay superintendent had all his men down to land the goods. First came

£500 annually to the chief hospital boards for mental clinics, to be pro. videa at the hospitals. He intend' ed to tpush the claim that accommodation, for . mental patients at the hospitals before the dispatch to a mental institution, instead of their detention in a police station. A "borderland" institution would be opened shortly in "Wellington.