THE WAR FUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11373, 16 May 1900, Page 5

THE WAR FUNDS.

Mr. James Kirkor acknowledges the following further subscriptions to tho patriotio fund: —

Proceeds of chrysanthemum show at Katikati, per Mrs. R. Katterns ... _ ... £4 0 0 Further contribution from Rotorua, per A. D. Dansoy 18 3

£5 8 3 THE TOTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Patriotic fund £6,262 5 0 New Zealand Contingent ... **7 14 4 Comforts for sick and wounded 58 16 6 Rough Riders' Contingent fund 4,408 2 7

Grand total £11,176 18 5

TESTIMONIAL TO COLONEL BADEN-

POWELL.

Yesterday morning a few gentlemen met at lunch time, and made a vigorous commencement with the proposed shilling subj script-ion for a testimonial to Colonel Baden--1 Powell. The sum of £4 Is was collected, | and was paid in to the Herald office. The following were the subscribers : —Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., J. W. Shackelford, A. C. Caughoy, H. M. Smeeton, R. S. Abel, W. E. Hutchison, J. P. Hooton, W. 11. Rushbrook, E. H. Potter, A.E.F., R. T. WarI nock, J. R, Self, Gowie, J. T. Reid, R. ! Todd, Mr. Roe, Mrs. Roe, Mr. McDermott, ! W.M., F. Stone, Mr. Talbot, W. Mercer, I A. Rogerson, A.8.5., C. Young, 8.A.C., Mr. Rainev, S. A. Best, Littlejohn, Rove, Main, G. M. Reid, W.R.G., A. E. Oswald, A.J.F., F. McMaster, A. Sneddon. C. Newland, Friend, J. A. Haslctt. J. H. Muldoon, R. W. Reals, C.A., W. Waterworth, Rev. J. K. Davis, Mr. Arraytage, W. H. Burton, Friend, R. Eagleton, Mr. Dennis, Mr. Eyre, J. G. Laurie, Mr. Davis, Mr. Freeborn, F. Potter, W. H. Potter, Mr. Wood, Mrs. Wood,. T. Jones, J. McLachlan,. W. S.

Furby, W. "',. Astlev. Dr. McDowell, A.H., T. B. Arthur, H.E.S., Mr. Jones, W. J. Rues. Mr. Kearns, Mr. Rennick. Mr. Skeates, Mr Anderson, Mr. Cheal, E. E. Pierce, W. Cruickshank Norman Baker, T. Tudchope, J. Hutsey, Connolly. J. Court, G. Sinclair, 'Hie first seven gentlemen on the list aro willing to act as a committee to collect subscriptions, and to take any proceeding which the subscribers may consider best to carry out the object.

I The following lias been received at the Herald Office towards the Baden-Powell testimonial fund, per Mr. J. W. Shackelford: Forty-one subscribers, £2 Is. THE PATRIOTIC FUND. Our Mahurangi correspondent writes The committee appointed by a public meeting to obtain subscriptions, or in other ways to augment this district's contribution to tho patrii otic fund, appear to have finished their I labours, and, as the results show, deserve- tho thanks of tho district for tho attention and I time given to the object. Tho committeo ' have submitted tho balance-sheet for publication. Tho receipts aro stated to bo:— From tho Rose Casey excursion (tho steamer kindly given free by tho McGregor Company), tickets sold £15 Is, collected on board £3 Is 9d, " Abrenlminded Beggars" 2s, total £18 14s 3d. Expenditure: Posters and stamps, 7s BJd: balance. £17 17s Oid._ Tho concert' in tlio Masonic Hall (kindly given free): Do/ nttions— Lushington, £5; Mr. E. Morison, £1; Mr. Moir, £1; Miss Moir (from sale of flowers), £2; programmes sold, £117s 6d; tickets, £47 17s 6:1; "Absent-minded Beggar" and tambourines, £6 4s sid; total, £61 19s 5Jd. Expenditure— and stamps, 8s 2^d; kerosene, 6s. Balance, £64 5s 3d; showing a grand total of £82 2s 3Jd. A cheque for.this amount has been remitted to tlio Mayor of Auckland, with a request that the amount bo placed to the fund for which it was collected. It appears that tlio athletic tournament was not a succes?, inasmuch as the prizes awarded to tho competitors absorbed tho wholo of tho takings. Tho Post Office Department also collected about £5, and a general collection previous to tho appointment of the commilteo amounted to about £10, and a further sum was collected by the scholars in tho Warfcworth school, so, on the whole, our district did not do f-o badly, as our contribution could not bo much below £100, and will surely bo a help in relieving some distress.

MAFEKING CELEBRATIONS.

PREPARATIONS IN AUCKLAND.

Excitement is growing in the city in connection with the expected relief of Mafeking, and preparations are being made for a big display on the arrival of the good news. A deputation of citizens, consisting of Messrs. (1. Fowlds, M.H.R., Jas. Kirker, Wesley Spragg, and A. C. Caughey, waited on tho Mayor yesterday morning, and urged that steps should be taken to have the rejoicing made as public as possible. Arrangements have accordingly been mado for tho news being mado widely public immediately on its arrival in the city, and citizens are expected to do their best to make the celebration worthy of the occasion and of Auckland.

The precise nature of the local demonstration will, of course, depend on the hour at which the news arrives, but whether it comes by day or by night the citizens will bo immediately made aware of the fact by tho firing of six charges of blank cartridge from the cannon in the Albert Park, LieutenantColonel Bank?, officer commanding the Auckland Volunteer District, having already arranged this matter with Captain O'Brien, "A" Battery Artillery.

The authorities of the several churches are also expected to have the church bells rung for one or two hours after the receipt of the news, and to facilitate this the Telegraph Department have arranged to communicate the news by telephone to clergymen in charge of churches.

Tim Mavor. in a notice to citizens, published in this issue, requests the observance of the lirsl afternoon after receipt of the news as a half-holiday. {So that there may be perfect uniformity in this matter the desire of the Mayor is that if the news reaches Auckland before noon on any day that afternoon bo observed as a general half-holiday, while if the news is received during the afternoon or night then that a half-holiday be observed on the following afternoon. Citizens are also requested to make a display of bunting by day, and to illuminate their premises and dwellings by night, and already, it may be stated, private individuals and business firms and companies have been making preparations to this end. The Mayor has been in communication with Colonel Banks, with the view of arranging for a military parade, and the officer commanding the district has expressed his willingness to endeavour to bring this about, probably on the first evening after; the receipt of the news. The hope has also been expressed that the friendly and kindred societies will turn out and assist in the general display.

Yesterday Mr. G. Fowlds, M.H.R., telegraphed to the Defence Minister as follows: —"Suggest that instructions be given to have Hie fort guns fired immediately news conies to hand of relief of Mafeking, whether night or day; excitement growing here." At a meeting of the City Schools Committee last night it. was decided to grant a holiday to all the children attending the City Schools on the day the news is received, and in the event of it coming in the afternoon or evening, it was agreed that the holiday be observed on the following day. It has been arranged by the local telegraph authorities to communicate with the warships in port immediately the news is received. Captain Freeman, of 11.M.5. Mohawk, kindly intimates that should the welcome tidings come to hand during the day Her Majesty's ships will be dressed in bunting, and if at night will burn coloured fires, guns to be fired at whatever time the news arrives.

Should the news of the relief of Mafeking be. received before one p.m. on any day this week all telegraph and telephone offices will close between four and five p.m. If news is received between one p.m. and 5 p.m. offices usually open after five p.m. will close between six p.m. and 8 p.m., and if recoived during the night all offices to be closed the following day at some hour to be hereafter notified.

The Mayor, in his notice to citizens, also requests that on the Sunday following receipt of the news thanksgiving services be held in all the city churches.

[BY. TELEGRAPH.—TOESS ASSOCIATION'.]

CnmsTCHURCn, Tuesday. A meeting, of the Citizens' Committee to make arrangements for the public celebration on receipt of the news that Mafeking lias beer, relieved decided that business people should be asked to observe a half-holiday when the news comes to hand; that a mass meeting, at which addresses be given, should bo held in Cathedral Square; and that a bonfire should be lit in Hagley Park, where a display of fireworks should also be given.