LEPERS OF MAKOGAI.

Evening Star, Issue 22414, 11 August 1936, Page 12

LEPERS OF MAKOGAI.

TO IBM EDITOR. Sir,—l feel it is my duty, as well a« a pleasure, to appeal to our New Zealand people on behalf of our 577 leper friends at Makogai, Fiji. There are 78 leprous children at this station, and over 100 of the patients are from New. Zealand and its dependencies. These sadly-afilicted people eagerly look forward to the gifts sent to them, and "the arrival of the steamer from our shores at Christmas time is a real red-letter day on the island. At about this festive season lepers may he seen wandering on the beach looking out to sea. When asked “ What [are yon looking for?” they have‘replied, »• • are looking to sec if there As. any steamer coming from New Zealand, We hope thev have nob forgotten us. In March last I received a Jotter from a Fijian schoolboy, thanking u» for what had been done to' help th®m. The concluding paragraph of ms reads thus: “We hope that you will remember us always.” Our little presents have helped the patients to keep their minds off the dread disease, reawaken their lost interest in hie, and are an aid in their cure. Last yea® 47 patients were discharged asJrF l -, The chief medical officer of Christchurch, Dr T. Flether Telford, is associated with me in this appeal ai joint trustee. , Gifts sent by rail or Ptfet Office and addressed to me for the lepers ar# now charged at half rates Gifts be sent to me care, of Christchurch ha* Company, Worcester street, and will bo duly acknowledged m ] the newspaper and also by personal letter, lunations of cash will enable us to buy what may be in short supply, and all money is spent in New Zealand. We wish to express our sincere thanks for the great help given us m tho past, and trust to receive a continuation of support to tins most worthv appeal.—l am, etc.. I>. J. JWOJIET (Hon. Collector). Christchurch, August 30.