LOYALTY OF CITIZENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 9

LOYALTY OF CITIZENS.

PATRIOTIC FUND FORMED.

GENEROUS DONATIONS.

ALLEVIATING DISTRESS.

Tho meeting of representative citizens convened by the Mayor of Auckland was held in the council chamber of the Town Hall at noon yesterday to discuss the question of the establishment of a patr'otio fund and to devise means of dealing with local matters that may arise as a. result of the present crisis. -

The Mayor, who presided, said ho was extremely sorry that there was occasion to call such a meeting. "The Empire,"' he said, "is now engaged in the greatest war the world ha 6 ever known. For all tho crisis is a supremo one. . Defeat, I hope, is unthinkable, for that would mean tlij passing of this country to foreign rule. Victory, on the other hand, means poaco and progress for another quarter of a century at least. The issues are of tremendous importance. Our sons are loavino to give their services to the Empire, and I have called you together to Bee what can bo done in this supremo crisis by those remaining behind. Wo can organise and assist with money."

Proceeding, Mr. Parr intimated thai/' citizens were already offering generous assistance. Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., had offered £1000; Mr. Charles Rhodes, a now motor-car; the Auckland Racing Club, £1000 towards tho patriotic fund and a further £1000 for a local relief fund' if required; Messrs. ( L. D. Nathan and Co., £500; and although a comparatively poor man tho speaker was contributing £50. (Applause.)

The Mayor then moved the following resolution That a fund, to be termed the Auckland Patriotic Fund, be formed by public subscription for tho purpose of assisting the Government in the defence of the country and for mitigating tho loss and suffering inseparable from a state of war." The motion was carried. With regard to the disposal of the fund the following resolution was carried:— "The fund &hall bo applied within the discretion of a committee, and any surplus remaining in hand at the close of the war, after the discharge of all liabilities incurred, to be returnable to subscribers in the ratio and manner decided upon by such committee, or applied in such other manner as the subscribers by a majority in value shall decide." Sum of £3500 Sent to Government. The Mayor asked tho meeting if it thought it advisable to send £2500 at once to the Government.

Mr. W. B. Leyland considered that Auckland should give a lead and send £5000.

Mr. A. S. Bankart also considered that Auckland should send £5000 as a first contribution.

Eventually the -matter was left in the hands of the Mayor, who subsequently despatched the following telegram to tho Minister for Defence Auckland City will contribute £3500 as first cash instalment ; also a new motor-car and 20 horses, all -available at once.' Am expecting further gifts of horses to-morrow." Committee Elected. Tito Mayor and Mr. N. A. Nathan wero elected joint treasurers of the local fund. A General Committee was elected as fol-; lows:— Hon. E. Mitchelson, Messrs. Arch. Clark, J. H. Upton, E. A. Craig, A. S. Bankart, W. Spragg, A. C. Caughey, W. B. Leyiand, R. Burns, S. Milroy, A. N. Sneddon, A. G. Lunn, H. W. Hudson, J, C. Macky, J. F. Ewen, Charles Rhodes, G. Elliot; H. Horton, G. Eraser, W. H. Pountney, J. H. Gunson, J. S. Milne, John Milne, E. Davis, F. Bodle, V. J. Earner, W. Coleman, 11. B. Morton, S. G. Chambers, James Buttle, H. D. Heather, O. Nicholson, A. B. J. Irvine, T. Bloodworth, Wesley Richards, A. Rosser, and W. Phelan. Additional Subscriptions. In addition to the subscriptions and gifts of kind announced, the following have been received: Great Northern Brewery, £250, and a promise of a further £250 towards a local relief fund, if required; clerical staff of the Great Northern Brewery, £30; W. B. Leyland, £100; the Hon. E. Mitehelson, £100; T. Peacock, £100; V. J. Larner, £100; H. B. Morton, £100; W. Coleman, £100; Wesley Spragg, £100; Hancock and Company, £100 to patriotic fund, £100 to relief fund, and £100 to the Mayoress fund; Bloomfield Brothers, £100; J. J. Craig, Limited, 10 horses; Winstone, Limited; £100; 0. A. Whitney, £25; S. Chambers, £10; four children, 13s. Including gifts in kind and money, the fund reaches a total of £5975 13s. The Mayor requests that all donations should be forwarded to himself or Mr, N. A. Nathan.

The committee of the Auckland Trotting Club yesterday decided to grant the use of its grounds to the Defence Department for the training of troops, and to vote 150 guineas to the patriotic fund. Sub-Committees Set Up. At a. subsequent meeting of the committee the following sub-committees were elected Executive, the Mayor, Messrs. Hudson, . Craig, Clark, Burns, Elliot, Pountney, Rhodes and Milroy; finance, Messrs. A. C. Caxighey, Heather, Horton, Macky, Bankart, Spragg, Sneddon and Larnor; local affairs, Messrs. Bodle, Leyland, J. S. Milne, J. Milne, J. Buttle, Lunn, Ewen, Coleman, 0. Nicholson, Chambers, Rosser, Phelan, Bloodworth and Richards. Mr. J. Y, Warren was appointed secretary. Four city councillors arc to be elected to the General Committee. GERMAN CONSULATE. AMERICA TO ACT. POLICE SECURE PAPERS. The Acting Consul-Genera} for the United States, Mr. L. A. Bacheldor, will take over the duties of the German Consul, Mr. Carl Seegner,, to-day. Mr. Seegner informed a Herald representative last evening that he had cabled to the United States Consul-General for Australasia at Sydney, regarding the matter and had received a reply that the United States Consul at Auckland would look after the consulate. The police yesterday took possession of the papers belonging to the consulate and asked Mr. Seegner whether he. was going to take up his rights as a British subject. "Of courso," added Mr. Seegner, "as I have been naturalised for 30 years I replied that I would assume my rights as a Britisher." The Wellington police yesterday took charge o! the German consulate. Tho i dooumenti were seized and sealed op.