BLIND SOLDIERS OF FRANCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10085, 26 September 1918, Page 6

BLIND SOLDIERS OF FRANCE

To tho Editor "N.Z. Times." Sir,—Before we leave Wellington I am goinT to ask of you, once more, the hosrinlity of your esteemed paper - to use it as our interpreter to thank very sincerely all those among tho inhabitants of your city who very kindly did give us oil their help during the exhibition of the AlHps that we had the great pleasure to hold in Wellington. We aro specially grnteful to His Excellency the Governor-General and ]\'inistors who gave the honour of their patronage; to Mr J. P. Luko (Mayor), who with his great sympathy for tho Allies and the French in particular, did give to that manifestation the patriotic impulse which ensured its success; to Mr Macintosh, our French Consul; to tho Academy of Fino Ars, whoso president

and members kindly did put their gallery ot our disposal, and besides that, buying and making the public buy for them four masterpieces, which will remain to Wellington as the souvenir of this war; to all the newspapers of Wellington which gave us publicity; to the Commercial Travellers' Association for their co-operation at the French evening held at tho King's Theatre; to the New Zealand Picture Supplies for the free use of their theatre; to Mr John Hittchcson and Captain Barclay, who, among tho can be considered as tho organisers of the manifestation; to all those who feindlv visited the exhibition, made donations, and bought souvenirs; ar.d finally to all the ladies who, under the direction of Mrs Luke and Mrs von llaast, co-operated in the work of selling. The statement will be remitted to the duly accredited auditors. In the name of tho blind soldiers of Franco again our best thanks. WILLY ROGERS. RAOUL BIGAZZI.