BRITISH AND BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16302, 8 February 1915, Page 3

BRITISH AND BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

COLLECTIONS IN ASIUIURTON. (I'ek United Fukss Association.) ASIIBUKTON, February 7. During the last lour months Uμ Ashburlon "iiuid for the reliel ol distress in Bntaui and Belgium lias bcim subacribed slowly but steadily, and on I'iiday its. total stood at £2a(X). The committee rosohed a fortnight ago that a bigger effort nhouLd be made, However, ami a representative, public" meeting was held yesterday U> urge tin- claims ol tho fujuiJ and to organise collecting on a, more extensive- basis. It was stated tluit so fur three-quarters ol Uhj •money suUnTilx'd had been sent to Britain, and Uio meeting unanimous y resolved that in future all uonaUuis suouid be in aid of the Belgians, unless specially earmarked otherwise by the donors. It was decided to divide the Ashburtoa county into districts and canvass tho wholeenergetically with a view to bringing the fund up to £5000 witnin a month. On i- riday the County Council voted £260 as a tii-st instalment towards tho fund, but tlie meeting expressed itself as dissatislied uioh this, and with only one dissentient— the county chairman- -carried a resolution asking tlie council to give £2000 as ite next instalment. A collection was taken up in tlio roo.n. and £575 was secured, beioro tlie meeting closed.

JOTTINGS. The settlors in the Glenledi district recently held a patriotic sports meeting and auction sale ot live stock donated in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, which benefited to the extent of £77 8a as a result of tho settlers' efforts.

Our Wanganui correspondent informs us that Mr 11. Munro, of EiUium, wiio served in blie South African forces during tho Boer war, hue been offered and has accepted, a commission in the Union forces for servipo in German South-West Africa. Mr Munro expecte to loarve for iSwakopmund in about a month. In the oouree of a letter Private C. S. Jenkins, of the 9th (Wellington) Regiment, now in Egypt, said he understood they would remain in Egypt until March, when they would go to France and straight to the front. He was disappointed at not having gone straight to England, ae having only been out in New Zcaknd three years, he was looking forward to spending Christmas at Home. In conclusion, lie eaid, "You can bet your life we will slather those Germans up if wo get half a chance." In addition to tho war funds being raised in Wanganui, another has just been started for tho benefit of distressed Servians. Mr Richards, station master at Morven, has been accepted us a volunteer of the South Canterbury Expeditionary Force. Lieutenant P. A. Elworthy, New Zealand Motor Reserve, who was appointed recently on probation to the garrison in Samoa, will proceed to England by tho lieinuera to undergo an operation.

Miss M. C. Duncan, senior ward sister at the Greymouth Hospital, has received intimation from the Defence Department that she has been selected as one of tho 50 nurses to be sent from New Zealand forservico at the front.

It is expected that over 50 volunteers will leave Oamaru this week for the Trentham camp. A feature (says the North Otago Times) is that the percentage of mounted men offering 13 100 per cent, more than thoso for infantry. Recommendations made by the Aucidand justices of the peace in regard to alione in tho dominion have been placed bofore the. Cabinet for careful discission and report at ■an early date. In Melbourne the new military regulations direct the internment of all enemy subjects from tho age of 18 to 50 yeara. The manager of a very large firm in New York, writing to a friend in Ohriatchurch (says the Press), under date December 31, says:—"l suppose you are feeling the effects of this unfortunate war the same as we are doing. Business here in most oases is very dull, and practically at a. standstill, end we are all hoping that something will happen to shorten the war and stop this unfortunate strife, no matter who is right or who is wrong." Mr and Mrs George Beethain, formerly of Masterton, but for manv years past resident in England, have given a. motor ambulance for tho New Zealand Expeditionary Foree. Tho ambulance was built to order, and can take four patients. A special feature aibout the car ia that a hot water service has been laid on, and there is also a tank of cold water. There are the usual blankets, pillows, bolsters, etc., for making the invalids comfortable, nnd a full supply of nurring appliances. The ambulance is quite the last word in all respects, and accompanied the British section to Egypt. The ranks of the Legion of Frontiersman! have furnished several hundred men for the New Zealand force. Between 300 and 400 are comprised in the main contingent. About. 100 frontiersmen were included in the second reinforcement, 40 of this number having been drawn from a. sinirle squadron in Poverty Bay, while 34 men of the howitzer battery are frontioremen, manv of whom were formerly naval gunners. One hundred men from the legion are in the ranks of the third reinforcement. Every one of the 26 men forming the Waitemata troop has joined the force.