SALE OF GIFTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15941, 11 June 1915, Page 4

SALE OF GIFTS.

WIDE RANGE OF QOODS.

FROM A PIG TO A VIOLIN.

From a pig to a picture, from a wheelbarrow to a violin—such was the wide range of a miscellaneous assortment of gifts to the Hospital Shin Fund which were sold by auction at Messrs. Richard Arthur and Co.'s rooms last evening. There was a large attendance of bidders and others, and the auction room was crowded during tho greater part of the sale, which lasted for upwards of three hours. Mr. T. B. Arthur, assisted by Mr. A. H. Jones, conducted the sale, which realised £190. '1 his sum will be handed to the Hospital Ship Fund free of all costs or commissions.

Several of the articles offered were sold and re-sold several times, the highest figures realised by anv single gift being £18 ss, which was tho total paid (or a silver teapot, which, after the niuth sale, was returned to the owner. A mode! yacht was sold ten times, nine times for £1. and finally for £2 10s. The total will bo increased to £16 10s by a special donation of £5 which was promised conditionally on the yacht realising £8 or upwards. Two pedigree Mexican Chihuahua terriers, presented by Mrs. (Dr.) Bedford, were sold for £6, whilst two Persian cats, which did not appear to appreciate the noveltv of their surroundings, brought £1 and 12s 6d respectively. A pig which has achieved fame as a pedestrian, having, it is stated, walked from Gisborno to Otahuhu, also came under the hammer, but despite all the eloquence at the auctioneer's command, the bidding stopped at 10s,. at which figure the much-travelled animal found a new owner.

A copy'of the Sun newspaper, containing an account of the coronation of Queen Victoria, realised £1, whilst an autograph letter from the lato Earl Roberts realised 15s. A violin, stated to bo 250 years old, was sold for £4. Several articles of jewellery and pictures .were disposed of at low prices. The comprehensive nature of the gifts was illustrated by the offer of "registered launch moorings at Northcote," but these did not eliftit a bid. The cruiser launch Ikarere was not sold. Tbo salo concluded with cheers for the Auctioneers.

CLOSING 0? GOVERNOR'S FUND. DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS. ■ [BY TMJtOBAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] Weixiskto-v, Thursday. | His Excellency tho Governor lias issued the following notice in regard to the hospital ship:—"ln viow of the splendid response which has been accorded! all aver the Donxinio i to my appeal for equipping the hospital ship, I think the time has arrjved when a date should be given for the closing of the fund. I should be glad, therefore, if no further contributions ere *ent to the, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs after Wednesday, June 33. I As soon as all expense* connected with the [hospital ship have been paid, I propose to placo the surplus money on deposit at the Bank of New Zealand, and utilise it fox purposes' which in any way .affect the I will-being of our sick and wounded, whether by replenishment of comforts for tho hospital ship, base hospitals, stationary hospitals or convalescent homes."' LIQUOR ON THE SHIP.

FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES ONLY. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.]

WauoswON, Thursday. The Chrislchurch Presbytery baa been alarmed because a quantity of liquor is being put on board the hospital ship, and has passed a resolution condemning the Government's action. The Minister for Defence stated to-day that the liquor is for medical purposes only. " I know all about this," said the Minister for Defence, when the matter was brought under his notice. " These people have got a wrong impression into their minds. As far as I know, although there has been no definite decision on the matter yet, the hospital ship will be a 'dry' ship. By that J mean that the staff will comply with the conditions that are laid down for our training camps, and no alcoholic liquor will be supplied to them except at the command of a doctor. But it is accessary that wo should stock that ship with a certain amount of stimulants, which may be required for medical purposes, and the stock of stimulants that is being placed upon the ship is simply for medical purposes. It may be that the quantity seems large. Ido not know what' the quantity is, but I do know that it is simply to make provision for six or twelve months,' service, and that it is for patients only. The medical man in charge of the ship says he ought to have a certain amount of alcoholic stimulant on board. I presume that it is needed in certain cases for wounded men. If a man's lifo were lost on the ship because he could not be kept alive for the time being with brandy or something of that sort that the doctor had recommended, I should not like to be the man responsible for his death by refusing now to allow stimulants to go on board "the ship. '

APPOINTMENT OF CHAPLAINS. MINISTER EXPLAINS POSITION. [BY TELEORATII.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Tho Christchurch Presbytery, along with other Nonconformist clergy, is showing some concern about the appointment of only an Anglican and a Roman Catholic chaplain to the hospital ship. This matter was referred to the Minister for DeI fence to-day, and his reply was that the ! decision to. allow only one. Anglican and one Catholic chaplain to go on the ship was not the decision of the New Zealand Government, but the decision of tho Imperial authorities. "We asked the Im- ' perial authorities what chaplains should go on the ship," Mr. Allen said, " and they replied, one Anglican and ono Roman Catholic. lam aware that the Nonconformists have asked that a nonAnglican should be seat, and I have had to toll them that I am not able to allow one to go, because the Imperial regulations do not permit of it. For ray own part, I think that two chaplains will be all that, will be required, Because there will be only 400 men an the ship. I think I may also say that surely this is not the time to bring up things of this kind. Surely the Nonconformists can safely trust their wounded to an Anglican chaplain for a few days, which is the length of time that wounded men are likely to be on the ship, which is intended to carry men from the Dardanelles to Egypt or Malta, where there are hospitals. It m possible, though not at all probable, that she will have to go to England with wounded.