HERALD PATRIOTIC FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15737, 12 October 1914, Page 9

HERALD PATRIOTIC FUND.

FURTHER SUBSCRIPTIONS. TOTAL OF £9626 IN HAND. Two subscriptions 'received on Saturday increased the amount in the Hhrai/o Patriotic Fund to £9626 10a 6d. They were as follows: — £ s. d. Patriotic Social, Upper Waiwera 8 2 0 Katikati Public Library Committee, proceeds of euchre evening 15 6

CITIZENS' CONTRIBUTIONS. DONATIONS ON SATURDAY. The Auckland -Citizens' Patriotic Fund was augmented on Saturday by subscriptions amounting to £27 14s lid. This brings the fund to a total of £49,980 03 3d. Details of Saturday's donations are as follows :— £ s d City Council Workmen, eighth contribution 25 18 11 Employees of City Council Waterworks, eighth contribution ~ 1 16 0

PUBLIC WORKS OFFICERS. AUCKLAND SUBSCRIPTIONS. The first contribution made by officers of the Public Works Department in Auckland was £92 3s lid. The men employed on the North Auckland railway construction works have decided to contribute monthly to the War Fund. Their first contribution was £17 12s 6d. and their second £17 7s 6d.

QUEEN MARY COLLECTION. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Sunday. The appeal of Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool on, behalf of the Queen Mary collection of articles for the use of the army has met with a good response during the past week. Tho chief item sent in was a gift of two thousand pairs of socks from Mrs. Holland, Mayoress of Chrietchurch.

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND. ABUNDANCE OF FOOD. EFFICIENCY OF NAVY. [BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ; Ciuustchurcti, Sunday. A letter from the wife of ail officer with the British fleet in the North Sea, received in Chriskhurch by the last mail, gives an interesting glimpse into , war conditions in England. The writer says : —"I don't think you can realise the secrecy there is in this country. ' It is very much to be admired, and we feel | we do our little bit when we don't comI plain about it. Think of that force of ! men landed in France, and we knew i nothing. We heard rumours that so and i so had gone, but we never knew where. We began to think they wore not sending any men at all. It's just the same with i the navy—absolute secrecy. I had two letters from ■ last week. He is well, | but can say very little. They have to I go in and coal very often, so I suppose j they are steaming about a great deal. He says that the German fleet is not nearly so efficient as was supposed and that they will not come out and fight. It is perfectly marvellous what the English Navy has done. Food is hardly any dearer than before the war. There were awful panics and people ordered enormous supplies, which were not given them. One woman is supposed" to have ordered 60 sides of bacon and she was given two. But, now that the ' silent navy ' has got the mastery of the seas ; everything Js normal again."

After referring to Earl Kitchener's plans, the writer says:—"Three of the men from here are applying—chauffeur, footman and one of the "gardeners. It means great inconvenience to householders but it doesn't matter. The farmers all have the most wonderful crops they have had for years. Of course, labour is" scarce so all the gardeners hero are sent round to different farmers. Everybody helps all they tan." The writer mentions that there is to be no term at Oxford next year and thinks two of the colleges have been turned into hospitals. "Mr. says the opinion in London is that it is to be a long war."