THE VETERANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12447, 17 December 1903, Page 6

THE VETERANS.

.. TO THE EDITOR. ' Sir,—A stranger in the land, bub having relatives therein, I learn that the Veterans'' Home bazaar is unpopular among! a small section of the community. : Some people think the veterans could he accommodated in the Costley Home; others say, " What a shame to uproot these old men from where they havo lived for so. many yeab among their friends." Shame," sir, on all who entertain such .'narrow and uncharitable opinions of a generous and carefully-thought-out effort to bring comfort to old soldiers, who deserve well of all the English-speaking race. May they never learn by bitter experience that the poor have few friends, and that even relatives find attending upon aged people trying, unless they have expectations of what may be left to them. Can anyone begrudge the small help the Governor asks for when it is seen how comfortable and independent these old soldiers can be in their Veterans' Home? Englishmen all, throw from you all mean and. sordid feelings, and respond generously to the opportunity affordecV you by His Excellency. Help him to establish a lasting memorial of New Zealand s gratitude to those who did their best to help the Empire in time of stress. They took their risks for vou.— am, etc., v Auckland, December 16,1903. CAY,

Q . ,_ :" TO THE EDITOR. '''■':■ \ ■';. fair,—Would you please kindly insert this letter in your valuable morning paper as a letter of gratitude to Lord Eanfurly, to his at 1.1 7 lfo the Countess, and to " Lord JNorthland and the public'at large on behalf of ; the veterans who have the honour of being inmates of the Veterans* Palace ? We . cannot find words strong onough to express our gratitude to the abovenamed for building such a palace for us old veterans to pass the remainder of our lives in. We all feel proud ' and very thankful to Lord and Lady Ranurly and their beloved son for the su-? preme kindness and interest which they have taken on behalf of us old veterans to build for us such a palace to pass the rest of our lives in in comfort. We are all of the same opinion, that -the place is wrongly named. We consider the place ought to be named the, Veterans'- Palace, because very few. of us, if any, have had the pleasure of living in such comfort and in such a palace before.,'/, We, the _ inmates, are determined to show our gratitude by behaving ourselves and - doing all that is possible for us to do to honour our beloved Governor, the Countess and Lord Northland and the publio generally. Now for a few words about our beloved Colonel Sommerville and his daughter.' . They do everything that is possible for them ~; to do for our comfort. We show our gratitude to them by obeying their orders. We feel sure that Colonel Sommerville and his daughter are the right people in : the right place. They are both Al; their equals are not to be found in the colonies. The diet is";, simply Al. We never'' had our food so clean and comfortable before, thanks to our" . . colonel. There is not one inmate who would _ not undergo any hardship to benefit our 1 colonel or his daughter. We all feel truly ; thankful for such a palace and food. By inserting this letter you will greatly oblige the old veterans. Thanking you, sir, in anticipation.— remain, etc., The Veterans of the Palace. ~,'-. Onehunga, New Zealand. P.S.We have the best view in New Zealand. ■ ■ ■ ■' v '