BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 28

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

The contribution to the Belgian Relief Fund acknowledged this morning as from the North Otago Patriotic Fund brings up to £IOOO the total provided from that source. Wo acknowledge this week the receipt of £65 4-s, collected iu tue following sums in the Hawea district in aid of the Belgian ’Relief Fund Mr and Mrs Rowley £l, Mr W. John 10s, Mr A. Muir ss, Mr J. Buchanan ss, Mr D. Smith 10s, Miss C. Smith 7s 6d>, Messrs Barclay Bros. 10s, Mrs J. Smith 10s, Mr William Smith £l, Sunday School children £l, Mr C. Harvey 10s, Mr W. P. Cotter £l, Mr U. Hartstonge £l, Mr F A Collings 11s, Mrs F. A. Codings 10s 6d, Mr ii. Codings ss, Miss M. Codings ss, Mr P. J. M'Cartncy £2, Mrs P. J. M'Cartney £l. Mr R. Kingan £2, Mrs .R. Kmgan £l, Mr II Hodgkinson ss, Mr and Mrs Kane £2, Miss L. Woods ss, Mr A. Woods 2s 6d, Mr D. Gillespie ss, Mr W. Gillespie 3s, ‘‘‘Wellwisher ” ss. Mr M, Allison £2, Mr A, Allison ss.' Mr E. Winmill 10s, Hawea School girls 10s lOd, Hawea School prize money £5, Mr L. Robertson ss, Mr J. Dunsmuir 10s, Mrs and Miss Harvey ss, Air G. M'Kay ss, Mr W. Kmgan £5, Mr J. Haugh £5, Mr H. Bullock £l, Mr J. Lloyd £l, Mrs Lloyd ss, Mr M Lloyd ss, Mr J Haugh, juri. 10s, Mrs M Coll 10s, Mr J Rae 10s, Mr A. Walker 10s, Mr J. Gmv 3s, Mr J. Byers Is 6d, Mr A. Carson 5s “X. Y.” Bs, Mr U. Urquhart £2, Mrs John ss, Mr T. Hansen ss, Mrs D. Bell 4s, Mr Lange Is. Mr L. Small ss, Mrs Lange 3s, Mrs Woods 3s, Mr A. Brown 10s, Mr U. F. 801 l ss, “Sympathiser” 3s, “ A Friend ” 2s, Mr F. Morrison £l, Mr T. Byers ss, Miss J. M'Lean 10s, Captain Murison £l, Mr D. Bell, sen., £l, Mr J» Lange ss, Mr A, Tavlor sa, Mr C. Hodgkinson ss, Mr R. Harvey ss, Mr A. Perry 6s Mr A. Drake £l, Mr David M'Lennan 5s Mr F. G. Collins 10s, Mrs R. Atkins

10s, Mr A. Kane 10s, Mr D. Kane 10s, “A Friend” 2s 6d, Mr D. Short ss, Mr J. M’Lcnnan ss, Mr D. Gierson ss, Mr J. Kano, son., £l, Hawea Domain Board £s* The following are the individual subscriptions to a sum of £2l 14s. which we have received from “ the lads and lassies of Greenfield ” in aid of the Groat Britain and Ireland Relief Fund: —Mr Alfred Lucas £l, Mr Robert' Hyslop 10s, Mr Archie Hyslop 10s, Mr George Cottrell 10s, Miss Kathleen Turner ss, Mr Walter Pitt ss, “An Irishman ” ss, Mr S. King 10s, Miss Clara Hyslop ss, Miss Esther Hyslop ss, Miss Winnifred O’Leary 2s 6d, Mr Allan M’lntosh 12s 6d, Mr Donald MTntosh 10s, Mr William Bell 10s, Mr George Smith ss, Mr William Coates 10s, Mr Alfred Philips 10s 6d, Miss Coates 10s, Mr Goodman 10s, Miss Ruth Smith 10s, Mr Harold Hardy 10s, Mr William Stevenson 10s, Mr Bert Fairbairn 10s, employees of Mr Thomas •Christie’s chaffcutting plant 15s, Mr Foster ss, Mr John Crawford ss, Mr James Crawford ss, Mr Robert Crawford ss, Miss E. D. Smith 10s, Mr Bert Stephens 10s, Mr Gorge Linklater £1 2s 6d, Mr G. M‘Laughlin 10s, Mr E. M’Laughlin 10s, Mr W. J. Henderson 10s, Mr J. J. Hardy £2, Mr Allan M‘Donald ss, Mr Frank Rogers 6s, Miss G. Gibson £1 Is, Mr James Burns 10s, Mr Edwin Smith £l, Mr Shefford 10s, Mr Thomas Calder 10s. We also acknowledge this week the receipt from the Hcriot Patriotic Committee of £67 2s 6d. which, with tho exception of £2 10s for the British Relief Fund, is to be applied to the Belgian Relief Fund. The following are the details of the subscriptions:—Adams Bros., £5; Mrs Kempthorne, £5; A. Kompthorne, £5; Jas. Finlay, £5; Samuel Dunn, £2 10s; Cha's. M’Veigh, £2 10s; E. Ottrey, £2; Mrs J. W. Adams, £2; Wm. M‘Kay, £1 Is; Andrew M‘Kay, £1 Is; Robt. McClelland, £1 Is; John M’Kenzie, £1 Is; W. A. M-Ken-zie, £1 Is; D. S. M’Konzie, £1; RM’Giickin, £1; W. Borthwick, £1; “A Friend,” £1; R. E. Plyde, £1; H. R. Crossan £1; R. F. Sim, £1; A. M. Moncur, £1; R. Aitchison, £1; Mrs Denham, £1; C. Todd, jun., £1; Desmond Todd, £1; Alex. Haugh, £1; Samuel Kirk, £1; C. W. Harvev, £1; H Adams, £1; Smith Bros., £1; G. Haugh, £1; F. G. Murphy, £1; J. A. Moyle, £1; F. J. Thurston, £1; John Robertson, £1; E. Arnold, £1; Forbes Kydd, £1; James Troup, 10s sd; Plugh Curry, 10s; T. A. MKenzie, 10s; Neil M‘Kav, 10s; H. Kearney, 10s; E. and L. Clack, “ 10s; Geo. Gordon, 10s; W. Clack, jun.; 10s; John Hcgarty, 10s; Chas. Cook, 7s 6d; Mrs Shanks, ss; J. Buttar, ss; Chas. Kydd, ss; Chas. Thompson, ss; A. Herbert, jun., ss; Ernie Adams, ss; Vincent Richards, ss; Len. Brounlio, ss; H Clack, ss; Jas. MTay, ss; Geo. Richards, ss; J. W. Kydd, ss; Mrs Kydd, ss; Ben Clack, ss: A. Neilson, ss; J. H. R. Kirke, 2s 6d; Mrs Gordon, 2s; —total, £67 2s 6d. Tho Patriotic and General Welfare Association has received a contribution of £3 3s as a donation to tl Belgian Fund from the children attending the Waipori Faffs School. The amount was collected for school prizes, but tho children attending the school, wishing io make some sacrifice for the poor of Belgium. ic-'oßed to send the money to the fund and to forgo their school prizes this year. THE BRITISH AND BELGIAN CHRISTMAS BOX FUND. Tho following additional subscriptions to the above fund have been received: —A family of five children, £1 each; “J. M. S. £1 Is. DUNEDIN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION. No parcels for the British and Belgian Belief Fund will be received after Thursday, December 3, until the first week in February. The committee hopes, however, that all those who can will continue to work at home eo that there will bo a •good donation of clothing to send Homo, to arrive in the early spring. The committee also desires it to be known that it cannot receive too many hand-knitted socks. There will bo 700 men to equip early in the new year —and it is hoped during the holiday season that women will knit as many socks as they can. Balaclavas are also wanted, and more money for cardigan jackets. The Countess of Liverpool has telegraphed that the Queen Mary Fund cases, containing 1000 pairs of socks and 1000 belts for Lord Kitchener's men, forwarded by tho Otago Women’s Association, wore to have left Wellington on the Ist for London. Another case will be despatched from Dunedin within the next two or three weeks. Over 30 women were busy at work on the 3rd at the Early Settlers’ Hall, making handkerchiefs, service bags, holdalls, and attending to tho numberless other details connected with the operations of tho association. The handkerchiefs, service bags, and holdalls are for the Otago reinforcements. Hand-knitted socks and Balaclavas are also wanted, as the committee expects to equip the 700 men from Otago early in the new year. All workers are welcome. It should be mentioned that no more parcels will bo received for the British and Belgian Fund until next February. The association is sending a large case of chocolates and a parcel containing 2 COO cigarettes to Samoa as a Christmas box to the Otago men now stationed there. The association is also taking in hand the forwarding of a large quantity of private parcels to the Otago soldiers in Samoa. It is understood that only 17 cases of o-oods were got away on Wednesday to Wellington. About 50 cases in all were sent to Port Chalmers. It is not yet known, however, whether anofher vessel took any of the cases left over. Some 80 cases of goods still remain in the National Mortgage Company’s stores in Dunedin. The workers at the Early Settlors’ Hall are busy finishing the packing for tho British and Belgian Relief Fund l . No more parcels will be received for this fund until February. Every day next week workers will be welcome from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. to bow for the Expeditionary Force. A case for the boys in Samoa was sent off on Friday by the Westralia. Tho thanks of the committee are due to both tho Union Company and the Huddart-Parker Company, who have undertaken to send the case free of charge to Samoa. Lady Liverpool Fund.—Goods: Mornington women, Misses Nelson, Mrs D. M'Kcnzie. Cases were received from Otokia (M’Coll), Dunback (Bell). Tiroiti (Ward), Milton (Campbell), Mosgicl (Hawke), Gore (Express Comnanv), and three cases from the south (per Mr J. A. Johnstone). Workers will be busy uady this week from 10 a.m. till D p.m. making up various articles for tho men who are going to the front. Work m connexion with the British and Belgian Relief Fund is not being done

at tho Early Settlers’ Hall at present, but the committee will bo glad if women who can do so will take the cut-out garments home and bring them back completed early in February. Two little boys have offered 14 canaries to bo sold for tho British and Belgian Relief Fund. For the British and Belgian Fund:—Mrs Dr Robertson (Tapanui), and from Misses Knight and Millin two boxes full of beautiful new clothes. Workers have plenty to do making holdalls, housewives, handkerchiefs, etc., at the Early Settlers’ Hall. Gifts were received for the Lady Liverpool Fund from Mary Cockerell (Macraes), tho women of Waikaia (per Mrs M'Donald), Mrs Hide (Avenel), and for Queen Mary’s Fund from Miss Rawson. Monetary: Letter-carriers, for the Belgians, £1 14s 6d; executive Girls’ Peace Scouts, £4 4s, to procure comforts for the troops leaving Wellington; tomato plants, 6s; Mrs Haggitt, for Cardigans, 7s. OVERSEAS CLUB. The following donations to the Otago School Children’s Christmas Fund for the Belgian children are gratefully acknowledged by the Dunedin committee: —From the Enfield School, £1 4s: Stirling, 6s 6d; Kokonga, 11s; Matakanui, 9s; Reomoana, 3s 4d; Waitaki South, 10a; Hampden, £1 6s. The Dunedin committee wishes to acknowledge with thanks the following donation to the Otago School Children’s Christmas Fund for the Belgian children from the following schools; —Kokoamo, 4s; Waitahuna Gully, 8s; Ranfurly, 29s 7d; Allanton, 16s; Otekaike, 11s sd; Totara, 225. The following donations for the Otago School Children’s Christmas Fund for Belgian children are acknowledged by the committtee of the Dunedin Branch of the Overseas Club: —Karitane School ss, Popotunoa School ss, and Maheno School £2 18s. As? tho fund will be closed shortly, the committee requests any schools who may have donations in hand to forward them on as soon as possible. Thursday and Saturday wore busy days at the Mornington Council Chambers. Twenty large parcels were packed and sent to the Early Settlers’ Hall ready for shipment. A largo number of socks and cuffs were also received for tho Lady Liverpool Fund. PORT CHALMERS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION. The ladies are delighted at tho interest taken in the work. Parcels for the Belgians still continue to come in—knitted socks and Balaclava caps and cuffs for our own Expeditionary Forces. Several ladies have expressed a desire to continue knitting articles till the end of the war. Everyone is now desirous of making the forthcoming carnival, to bo held on election day, a huge success, and over £IOO has been already received in connection with the carnival queen’s competition. Money donations have been received as follows: Belgian Children’s Relief Fund: P. Hill (Kelso) ss. Belgian Relief Fund: Mrs Morgan’s concert £34 11s, Mrs Gardner £1 Is, school girl’s entertainment 16s Ogd, “Two Friends” (per Mrs Cunnmghame) 11s -fid, Mr R. Hutton 3s. Queen Mary Fund; Lancashire (per Mrs Cable) 10s, “ E. M. C.” 2s. Goods: Miss Mawson, Mrs R. Douglas, Mrs Stevens (Reynoldstown), Mrs Miller, Mrs Captain Thomson (six pairs of socks), Mrs Basire, sen., Mrs Emerson. Miss Horton, Miss Spence, Mrs Borlase, Miss Murray, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Norman Snow (Sawyers’ Bay, sixth donation). Port Chalmers District Pligh School (16 pairs of socks), Mrs Maysel Taylor, Miss MTnnes, Mrs White (Mihiwaka). ORPHANS’ CLUB ENTERTAINMENT. The British and Belgian Relief Fund will henelit to the extent of considerably over £IOO as a result of the entertainment given last evening in His Majesty's Theatre by members of the Dunedin Orphans’ Club, on the Ist inst. in His Majesty’s Theatre by The takings at the door amounted to £lO7 13s ; but it is anticipated that this amount will bo increased by the proceeds from the sale of tickets. SUGGESTED GIFT BY SHEEP FARMERS. The Chairman of tho Public Appeal Committee of tho Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association has received a suggestion that the sheep farmers of Otago should each donate a portion of their wool clip to tho British-Belgian Relief Fund, and already two farmers to whom the suggestion was mentioned have stated that they will each give the proceeds of one bale of their best fleece wool. There are few sheep men in Otago who cannot do as much as this or more, or who, if they realised the urgent needs of tho Belgian nation and of the dependents of our own soldiers and sailors, would not willingly help the fund by gifts of wool or otherwise. The thought that there are seven millions of starving people in Belgium should in itself be sufficient to incline our prosperous farmers to respond generously to the obligation that rests_ upon every man and woman in the Empire to do their utmost to help. It is suggested that farmers throughout Otago who are willing to assist in this or any other way should communicate their intentions to the chairman of the Public Appeal Committee, Box 462, Dunedin. FOR THE~BELGIANS. CHRISTCHURCH, December 3. Tho Stephenson and Linley Pantomime Company conducted street entertainments to-day for the Belgian Relief Fund. They proved most successful, tho amount realised being £IOO 12s. ELTHAM, November 28. A gift auction of goods and stock, hold hero to-day in aid of the Belgian Relief Fund, proved very successful. The gifts were numerous and useful, and bidding was brisk. A Belgian (lag sold for £137. It is estimated that the sale will realise over £7OO. The total contributed to the Belgian and Patriotic Fund is nearly £IOOO each. TIMARU, December 4. Tho local committee for tho British and Belgian Relief Fund has sent £4OOO array. It has £6OO in hand, and is trying to make it £2OOO before Christmas. HAWERA, December 5. At a ball hold on behalf of tho Belgian Relief Fund on Friday night £4OO was raised by tho sale of Belgian flags. Tho total amount realised was £SOO. Tho money will bo sent away at once. NAPIER, December 5. Tho secretary of the A. and P. Society yesterday forwarded to tho Prime Minister £1450 for transmission to London for the

Belgian Fund. An organised collection is • V>"nitr made to-day on behalf of tho Christmas gift fund. December 6. AS house-to-house canvass and a street collection on Saturday, together with an openair fair on the Marin© Parade in tho evening, resulted in over £BOO being collected for the relief of the distressed Belgians. CLOTHING FOR BELGIANS. DESPATCHED TO WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 3. A trainload of clothing for the Belgians was despatched from Auckland to-day to be shipped to Wellington for London. A largo number of people witnessed the departure of the tram. Speeches of commendation were delivered by the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward. The train, consisting of 14 carriages and a 120-ton engine, was profusely decorated with national Hags. Mr Burns, Belgian Consul, stated that 637 cases of clothing were being sent away to-day, and 101 more cases were to follow. The very lowest value of the clothing was £20,000. In the course of his address the Prime Minister said the w r hole dominion had risen splendidly to the occasion, and he thought the provincial district of Auckland had done particularly well in rendering assistance to our bravo allies, the Belgians. A proud boast in olden times was, “I am a Roman citizen.” He thought our boast to-day should be, ‘T am proud to be a citizen of the British Empire.”—(Applause.) New Zealand -was prompt to send troops to the front, and her soldiers were the first to set foot on conquered German territory.— (Applause.) She was now first, and Auckland deserved the credit, to send a trainload of clothing away for our needy friends the Belgians. Wo had not gone to war for fun, but because we conceived it to be our duty, and we would continue until German despotism and “Kaiserism” were things of the past. Ho was sure this, unique occasion would be remembered for scores of years to come. —(Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward said it was a grand thing to see a New Zealand-made engine drawing a train fully equipped with clothing for the suffering Belgians, and ho was pleased to endorse the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister. —(Applause.) AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Tho following communications, which speak for themselves, have been received by the Mayor (Mr J. B. Shaddock;: “ London, October 26, “Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge, with many thanks, the receipt on the Bth instant, through the Bank of New Zealand, of a remittance of one thousand pounds (£1000) for the relief of the Belgian poor. I need not say that - had groat pleasure in handing this sum to his Excellency Count de Lalaing, tho Belgian Minister, and herewith I enclose copy of the grateful reply of his Excellency, together with the formal receipt for the amount. I may add that the press here was “duly notified by me of this most generous help from Dunedin.—l am, etc.,’ “ Thos. Mackenzie.” “Belgian Legation, 15 West Halkin street, Belgrave Square, London, S.W., October 13, 1914. “ The Hon. Thos. Mackenzie. “ Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing £IOOO from New Zealand, transmitted through the Mayor of Dunedin, and I hasten to ask you to convoy to all kind contributors my very sincere thanks for so generous a gift. I can assure you such tokens of sympathy are most touching, coming, as they do, from so distant a part of the world, and are a means of greatly alleviating the distress among my suffering countrymen *n tnis hour of trial. Belgium will never forget the help that, she has received from all parts of the British Empire. —I am, etc., “ (Signed) Lalaing, " Belgian Minister.” RELIEF OF THE POOR. CLOTHING FOR GREAT BRITAIN AND BELGIUM. It must be exceedingly gratifying, both to tho ladies connected with the Patriotic Committee and those associated rvith the Overseas Club, to have received such a generous and hearty response to their appeal for clothing for the relief of tho poor of' Groat Britain and those who have suffered through the war. Tho quality and quantity of the goods received wore of a most serviceable kind, and the public cannot fully realise the amount of time devoted by those ladies in receiving, sorting, and repacking such a large and varied collection of articles. Naturally the ladies were extremely anxious to have these consignments sent forward at the earliest possible date, and whilst the various shipping companies generously offered to carry them Homo free, it was recognised owing to tho great demand for space that it would take some months before the committee could expect to have all the goods shipped, A few weeks ago it was arranged by the Government to receive the clothing and ship it by tho troopships leaving Wellington, and thus ensure tho goods being distributed at the earliest possible date. The following particulars of the shipments made to date will give our readers some idea of the support received and the quantity of goods handled by the ladies connected with these two particular associations. On account of the Overseas Chib 65 cases of clothing have been shipped as follows: —Nine cases per Pakeha, eight cases per Zealandic, 10 cases per Rakaia, 21 cases per Rotorua, 17 cases per Verdala. The total measurement of these shipments is tons, and the approximate value £ISOO. On account of the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee 266 oases of clothing have been shipped, as follows:—17 cases per Pakeha, 10 eases per Zealandic, 12 cases per Rakaia, 52 cases per Verdala, 175 cases per Pohorua (for transhipment at Wellington). Tho total measurement of those shipments is 101 g tons, and tho approximate value £5250. In addition to these shipments 95 cases of oatmeal wore also sent bv the Pohcrua for transhipment on board the troopships. PATRIOTIC CIVIL SERVANTS. WELLINGTON, December 4. In a c ircular to the heads of departments of the civil service, the Minister of Internal Affairs, expresses tho thanks of the Government. to members of tho public service for tho manner in which they voluntarily combined to provide so largo an addition to tho patriotic war fund. Contributions from all departments of tho

public service, other than the post office, police, and railways, amount to £6593; from o.ij post office to £2250; from ttio police to £941 Os 8d ; and from the railways (special fund) to £2300. The Minister says that this is a total of no Ices than £12,084 Is Id subscribed within throe months by a body of men whose salaries are already subject to considerable monthly deductions for superannuation funds, and even this total does not include amounts contributed by the service to British and Belgian relief funds, and to the distressed New Zealanders’ fund. The service in this, as in many other respects sinco the outbreak of the war, has set an example to the whole of the dominion of a generous sacrifice to the call of the Empire. EMPLOYMENT "AND RELIEF. The regular meeting of the Employment and Relief Committee of the Otago Patriotic and) General Welfare Association, held in the Council Chambers on Friday afternoon, was well attended. Mr F. G. Gumming presided. Tho report of the Relief Committee, adopted without discussion, stated that up to the present 82 applications for relief had been considered, and relief amounting to £lB2 2s 3d had been granted, while 164 tons of coal had been distributed. The Employment Committee reported that so far £1567 3s 6d) had been paid in wages, and that 101 men were now employed on various relief -works. Twenty of these -wore on the University section of the Leith wall and 12 on the City Council section. In addition, employment had been found privately for 20 odd men. A second clause expressing dissatisfaction with tho small number of men on the City Council section of tho Leith -wall gave rise to some severe criticism of the council. — Both clauses were adopted. AN ALIEN COMPANY’S BUSINESS. TAKEN OVER BY PUBLIC TRUSTEE. WELLINGTON, December 1. The Gazette Extraordinary announces that the Public Trustee has been appointed by the Government to control the business of the Continental O. and G. Rubber Company (Ltd.), which has been carrying on business in New Zealand since the com-, mcncemont of the present war with Germany. This action was taken under “The War Regulations Act, 1914,” the Attorneygeneral being satisfied that not less than half the company’s share capital is held by or on behalf of alien enemies. WAR TAX ADVOCATED. (From Odh Uwn Coebes^onbsnt.) CHRISTCHURCH, December. 2. Tho Hon. H. F. Wigram sprang a surprise on the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce this evening, when he proposed—- “ That this meeting views with favour the imposition of a war tax, special exceptions being given to those whose families have given personal service.” Mr Wigram explained that it was very well known that a number of wealthy people, who could afford to give freely to the Empire in its need, had carefully refrained from doing their plain duty, leaving the burden to be borne by the generous, who, in many cases, could not afford to give nearly so well. Without the imposition of a >yar tax it was difficult to get at these people who were deaf to apireala for help. Personally, he favoured something in tho nature of a super income tax, which. would get everybody in just proportion. He felt strongly that those who had given the best gift of all —personal service—should be excepted, whether that service consisted of makingone in tho firing line or nursing, and he felt inclined to suggest that the death duties on the estates of those killed in action, should be remitted also. Mr Holland pointed out that tho weak point in tho scheme- was that the people who had been generous would bo taxed twice over. Mr A. H. Turnbull demurred to a suggestion that the tax should start on incomes of £4OO per annum. New Zealand was a perfect paradise for the working man, who should do his share in bearing the burden of the country. Ho heartily approved of coming down very heavily on those well-to-do people who had refused to subscribe to the various funds raised. Ho would like to have a treble tax on them. One man in Christchurch who was worth at least £IOO,OOO had absolutely refused to subscribe anything, and only the other day had refused to give Is to the Soldiers’ Tobacco Fund. Ho was quite in accord with Mr Wigram’s idea, but thought it too crude in its present form. Mr Wigram, in reply, said ho had purposely moved the resolution on general lines. Previously ho had added clauses exempting those who had already subscribed to funds or had given horses, automobiles, etc,, and ho fully approved of the idea of not taxing donor's twice. He would withdraw the motion and leave the matter to the council to decide upon. SERVICE OF INTERCESSION. ADDRESS BY DR WADDELL. Under the auspices of thc_ Council of Churches a united service of intercession for the war was hold in the Moray Place Congregational Church on the 14th. The Rev. E. D rake presided over a gathering of a bout 150 people. Tho hymns appropriately chosen for the opening exercises were “Oh God Our Help in Ages Past,” “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” and “ When Wilt Thou Save tho People?” Mr Duncan Wright led the meeting in intercessory prayer, and the 46th Psalm was road by tho Rev, G. Heighway. 'the Chairman explained that the meeting had boon called at the request of many. It had been said that tho churches were doing very little in this crisis, but lie might suy that tho churches were not advertising all that they wore doing. At no time had there ever boon more public and private prayer over anything. He introduced the speaker of the evening. Dr Waddell. Ur Waddell said ho was profoundly convinced that there never was a period in the Church’s history when it was so necessary fr it to make its voice hoard and its influence felt. The hour of the Church had come. Never had there been such an opportunity for it to hold up its head and to assert itself. Now we wore face to face with those opinions and principles against which the Church had been sent to bear a testimony, and against which it had in a more or less degree warned tho world. What were these principles and politics? They wore politics do-Christianised, politics exhausted of every ideal for which the

Cross stood, the politics of the vandal and the Hun, reinforced by all the resources of science and all the subtlety of a philosophy that denied God and derided His Christ. The creed of the. German war lords had deluged the world in blood. What was to bo done? We could not all go to the front. The groat majority must remain behind. Wo could seek to get recruits, collect clothing and prepare it, gather in money, and so on, but all that was not distinctly Christian, All that could be done as well by the world as by the Church. What was the Church’s business then? The primary need was that we should be thrown absolutely upon God, and that brought them to prayer and the rationale of their meeting there that evening. Was prayer of any use? It was either the supremest reality or the supremest nonsense. Which was it? As Norman Macleod wrote, “The poorest man who is great in prayer is perhaps a greater man in affecting the destinies of the world than the Emperor of Russia.” . He believed that becauao. of the authority of the Bible. Whafc was it but the story of the conquest of prayer ? The whole life of Christ was the story of the power of prayer. He believed Norman Macleod’s statement also because of the verification of the Bible in human experience. How crowded the centuries were with verification of the far-reaching influence of prayer. It was much easier to believe in prayer in these days than it was a century ago. Science had made it so much easier. The philosophy of materialism was dead, and we were living now in a universe pervaded by thought and will and life. Why might not prayer set unknown forces in motion? Prayer was liberating God within you, letting God move through you. Not all prayers were answered. The greater number were not. That was because they were not true prayers. They were not offered “in My name.” This tremendous conflict woidd be won, not by their soldiers, but by themselves upon their knees. That was the place to win the victory'. Any victory that did not throw them back into the arms of God would be no real victory. At the conclusion of the address several members of the audience led in prayer, and two or three suitable hymns were sung. The meeting terminated with the singing of the National Anthem. JOTTINGS.. A very successful concert, in aid of tha British and Belgian Relief Fund, was hold at Lovells Flat on Friday, 27th ult. The proceeds totalled £lO3, including- £69 12* 5d cash and promises, £2O door money, anj value of 10 sheep and three fat lambs donated. A contribution of £IOO has been given to tho Empire Defence Fund by the Wellington Harbour Board. At tho annual general meeting of tho Wanganui Gun Club, a sum of £25 was given to the Belgian Food Fund as a first donation. The Wairoa Gymkhana Committee forwarded tho sum of £725 to the Belgian Relief Fund, being tho first instalment. Trooper Hart, a member of the Otago) Contingent, was admitted to the hospital o-i Saturday night * (says tho Wellington Post), suffering from a fractured right arm. He slipped on tho pavement in Cuba street, and fell heavily to tho ground, with his arm beneath his body. Miss Quaker, who was elected queen of the carnival at’ Westport recently, generously donated the £2O won by her as queen to the Belgian Relief Fund. In tho course of a conversation with a member of a mercantile firm, a Southland Times reporter was informed that by tho Turakina there arrived from the Old Country a gentleman who has been commissioned to* purchase 10,000 remounts for army purposes in the dominion. The question naturally arose as to whether there was that number of suitable horses procurable in this country, and it was conceded that if the quota required is to be picked up some of the regulations that have hitherto been enforced with regard to age, size, etc., will need to be given tho go-by. Mr and Mrs L. C ait ley and family arrived in New Plymouth on Thursday evening (says the Taranaki Herald). Mr Cattloy served his apprenticeship at Messrs Obey and Rollo's foundry and afterwards went to London, where he secured appointment as a marine engineer. Later he was engaged by the Belgian Government, and subsequently went to Boston, where he was engaged by the General Electric Company, one of the largest companies in the States, as electrical engineer and tester of turbine generators and motors. While on the way across from America they saw a Gorman, warship at Honolulu and. two Japanese warships were waiting outside the throe-mils' limit for tho Germans to come out. Tha German was disabled, and it was claimed that this had been done purposely in order that she might avoid the Japanese. They had to scud to New York for some now! machinery, and this would take about si>; weeks, and then it was presumed tho vessel would have to come out and face the Japs. The general feeling in America was in. favour of the Allies. Commander Briggs, who was referred to in Friday’s cables as leader of tha Navyflying expedition into Germany, is a cousin of Messrs Lysnar, of Poverty Bay district! (says the Herald), and one of four brothers who are all connected with the army and navy, including General Briggs, now at tho front; Vice-admiral J. C. Briggs, K.C.E., with the navy; and Major Briggs, in charge of the defences on tho Tyne. In a letter Miss Lysnar received from Mrs Briggs, sen,, it is stated that this is a very anxious time for her. L T p to the time she wrote tho war, had been going on for 63 days, and she had had no letters from her sons, onlypostcards, just saying, “I am quite well,” which was a great comfort to her, but she opened tho papers each day with a trembling hand to read the roll of honour. Mrs Briggs’s son-in-law. Major Pope, is commanding' a large number of recruits at Cardiff, and another son-in-law is captain o* the Royal Engineers at Chatham. Tho movement promoted by the South) land Anglers’ Society by which tho anglery of the district were induced to donate the ip catches on Saturday night and Sunday t® the Belgian Relief Fund has proved a greaff success, and great credit is due (says tin' Times), te those who have had the organ is ing and engineering of the scheme. ‘ Permission had been obtained to auction tho fish; the Railway Department conveyed them free; the New Zealand Express Com* pany charged nothing for cartage, anq Messrs Win. Todd and Co. accepted the task of disposing of them by auction without charging for commission. The anglers’ contribution amounted to 517 fish, ranging from 81b to a fraction of a pound avoirdupois. The collective catch, with tho exception of 20 perch, consisted entirely of trout. From the time the auctioneer invited the 200 people present to bid for the first fish ho

offered until the last lot was sold, there was a refreshing air of briskness about tne proceedings. j.ne max..muni price readied for a single fish was 9s, several of them g<j.n <r at jjiiOL*; ana as a lesuit oi tile sale £35 18 6d will go to swell the Belgian jfteiiei jl-uixU. iue actual top price accruing from the sale of a single tish was 17s but that was ow.iig to one purchaser causing a fish he had bought for SJa to be offered a second time, the later effort causing an additional credit of Bs. ah iruitgrowers m the Nelson district are being invited by the association to giro cases of apples for the Expeditionary i orce. Two Germans, members of an American schooner now unloading timber at Napiei, have been arrested as prisoners of war. The war has affected the price of ‘news paper. The Empire Press Union circular tor October states that the price has gone up from Id a lb to Ijd and 2d a lb. Mr Joseph Joseph, of Grant road, lington, has presented a piano to the Defence authorities (says the Dominion), to be placed on board one of the transports w itu the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, for the use of the troopers. A request has been received by the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union from the Government for assistance in obtaining 150 mounted riflemen and 250 infantrymen as the Auckland quota for the contingent which is to be sent away to reinforce. the main Expeditionary Force. As- a result of the recent wool sale, a anember of the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Society, who is at present in the Old Country, has had £SOO forwarded to him from bis manager for the British and Belgium Relief Funds. This (says the Napier Telegraph) is his second donation. Both sons of Mr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., have joined the Army Medical Corps of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Dr E. A. Widdowson has been appointed surgeon captain, and is in the present reinforcement camp at Trentham, and Dr H. L. V\ iddowson expects to go into camp shortly. Both graduated in the New Zealand University from the Otago Medical School, and the latter has recently returned from London. It is worthy of note also that two of the surgeons with whom Dr H. L. Widdowson was immediately associated at the London Cancer Hospital—Dr Miles, of the visiting staff, and Dr Dinnick, of the house staff — are also at the front. The teachers of the primary schools in the Auckland province (says the Herald) have been particularly generous in their contributions to the Patriotic Fund. Their fourth donation to the fund (£267 13s 6d) was handed to the secretary of the Auckland Patriotic League on Saturday. Over £IOOO has now been subscribed to the fund by the teachers. It is not generally known that Lord Kitchener is in direct communication by telephone with Sir John French at the front. Lord Kitchener can sit in his office in London and communicate with the battle front; and with the complete system oi telephoning that is in vogue in France, Sir John French is acquainted with everything that is in progress at the various battle points and Lord Kitchener knows the results immediately. News has been received in Timaru (says the Lyttelton Times) that Harold Lewis, who left for the front as a member of the Ambulance Corps, had died at sea from pneumonia. He was 20 years of age, and was the only son of the late Mr John Lewis, nurseryman. He was a bright lad. and was learning the engineering trade. He took a very keen interest in ambulance work, in which he was exceptionally well np, and as soon as the war broke out he determined to go to the front to serve his country. He had some difficulty at first in getting away, but with patriotic enthusiasm ho persisted in his application, and finally was selected. A number of shearers working in Southland (says the Times) are moving with a view to organising a “ Belgian Relief Day’’ among all the shearers in the district. The idea is that by mutual agreement the shearers should devote their earnings of one day to the Belgian Relief Fund. A clay in January is suggested, and as there will then be some 300 shearers in the sheds of Southland, and their earnings run up as high as £2 a day, a shearers’ Belgian Day will produce a very handsome sum. The promoters of the scheme are enthusiastic about it. and they suggest that it should be supported by all shearers, unionist and nonunionist. They think that in such a matter there should be no division in the ranks, but that shearers should combine solidly in a cause that commands the sympathy of all. The members of the Caversham Baptist choir have unanimously decided to give the proceeds of this year’s Christmas choral service to the Belgian Relief Fund. The Waverley branch of the Farmers’ Union has received over £IOOO for its British and Belgian Relief Funds. A number of men, between 40 and 50, who are offering themselves for the reinforcements, attended at the Hospital on the 4th to undergo medical examination. The men at the Trentham military camp are being instructed in the use of the bayonet. Complete sets of bayonet-fight-ing equipment arrived in New Zealand recently, and have been issued for use in the camp. A fine example has been set by the owner of a number of premises in the business portion of Rotorua. Recently his tenants received notification that during the continuance of the war their rents would be reduced by 10 per cent. Mr Thomas Horton, nurseryman, of Hastings and Pahiatua, had an exciting voyageto England. On the way to Santos, in Southern Brazil, the Andes was chased by the German warships Dresden, Bremen, and Cap Trafalgar, but once in neutral waters they were safe until the arrival of tho British cruiser Glasgow, when they were able to resume their journey. They picked np the crew of tho British steamer Homowood, which was sunk by the Bremen, and took them on to Liverpool. Leslie Massey, a First Standard pupil in one of the Christchurch schools, took to his teacher on Wednesday (says the Lyttelton Times) a sealed money-box, the contents of which ho said he wished to give to the poor Belgium children. When the box was opened it would found to contain £1 12s 2|d, part of which he had gained by collecting, and part by selling pot plants begged from his father. An elderly lady living in the Albury district. Mrs B. Bone, who is 81 years of ago, forwarded a very valuable gift on Wednesday to the St. John Ambulance in Timaru, for transference to the front (says the Herald). The gift took the form of 19 Nightingale bed jackets, all made by Mrs Bone, who bought tho material herself. She made 13 Balmoral caps when the war first broke out, and presented them to men leaving for the front. It is worthy of note that Mrs Bone helped .to _ make lint from old linen for wounded soldiers at the time of the Crimean w.ar.

Women folk are not particularly welcome at Samoa just at present. According to instructions issued by the Union Steam Ship Company to its branch managers, wives or other female relatives of residents of Samoa must, if they wish to visit Samoa first apply direct to Colonel Logan, and his reply giving consent must bo _ produced before tickets arc issued. Lady missionaries or wives of missionaries have also to apply to Colonel Logan through their respective organisations, and present the reply when taking out a passage. In the case of other female applicants for passages from New Zealand, they must obtain permits from the officer commanding the military district in which tho application is made. At the conclusion of the Carisbrook ADunodin match on Saturday the members of tho former team presented D. Reid, one of their number, who will leave for Trentham. shortly to join the reinforcements, with a sot of military hair brushes suitably inscribed. A collection at the Roslyn Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning ni aid of the Belgian Relief Fund amounted to £33 11s, and a collection taken in the Sunday school for the same purpose amounted to £3 15s 9d. A gala day held at Picton raised £173 towards tho Belgian Fund. Two residents of Westport gave £2O each towards the Patriotic Fund. Mr W 7. H. D. 8011, formerly M. P. for Wellington Suburbs, arrived in Auckland on Tuesday (says the Star) by express from Wellington, and left by the Niagara for Vancouver, cn route to England. He held a commission as captain in the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force at Samoa, but resigned that position to return to New Zealand, that he might proceed to England to join the King Edward Horse. This famous Territorial regiment is comprised of citizens of the overseas dominions, and Mr 801 l hold a commission in it in his law student days in London. The policeman is proverbially generous when it comes to helping those who need assistance, and the police force of the Auckland district has proved to be no exception (says the Herald). Quito recently the men between them raised the handsome sum of £374. Gf this amount ‘£3o4 has been devoted towards supplying the members of the Expeditionary Force with necessaries and a few luxuries, the balance of £7O being handed over to the fund for the relief of distressed Belgians. Although it was considered that little was to bo feared front German cruisers, the mail steamer Marama, which arrived at Wellington from San Francisco on Wednesday (says tho Post), showed no lights at night between the American port and Papeete. Absolutely no use was made of tho wireless installation. As it happened, the voyage was quite without incident. There was not even a “scare’’ of the slightest description. Practically throughout the journey the weather was fine, and passengers on board spent an enjoyable time. “The most frightened and anxious people in London during the crisis immediately before the declaration of war,” says Mr Geo. Swan, who returned from England on Tuesday (says the Pahiatua Herald), “were the Americans. They all seemed to bo afraid that once war broke out they would not be able to get back home. There were several Americans staying at our hotel —the Strand Palace—and on the Sunday preceding the declaration of war (August 2) there was a big explosion in tho vicinity. When it happened one young American girl, with her faee ghastly pale, said: “ Good-bye, mother, the Germans have come!” And she honestly believed it. A few days later the American contingent began to dimly realise the real power and resources of good Old England.” We notice from the Sevenoaks Chronicle of October lb that Mr and Mrs H. E. Molitus, former well-known residents of Dunedin, took the leading part in a patriotic concert held there at which there was a largo and fashionable audience, and the sum of £4O was netted for tho local fund. We understand Mr and Mrs Melitns’s eldest son, Paul, a student at Cambridge, has volunteered, and joined a battalion composed of public school and university students.

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES LIST. Previously acknowledged £2734 19 10 B. Balharry 3 3 0 Frank Taylor 1 0 0 Staff of telegraph office and telephone bureau (additional) 0 11 6 “Buttonholes” 0 3 2 “ Bridge Winnings ” 0 2 6 Trustees of late John Morning Douglas (per the Belgian Con100 0 0 sul) Collected in the Hawca district (per Mr D. Hartstonge) 63 4 0 Employees D.I.C. warehouse 8 0 and workrooms 0 Waikoikoi Presbyterian Church (special collection) 5 5 10 Tapanui Presbyterian Church 0 (special collection) 5 1 J. A. Paterson, North-East 0 Harbour i 1 Collected by a little girl “L. M. M.” 0 6 0 0 6 6 “ N. M.” 0 i 0 Heriot Patriotic Committee ... 64 12 6 Waikoikoi Belgian Relief Fund 63 15 1 Collected by suppliers at the opening of T. and P. cheese 0 factory, Merton 8 iU Miss M. C. Ross (per the Bel0 0 gian Consul) 5 Masters Reginald, Irwin, and Sydenham Malthus “ Smarty ” i i 0 i 0 0 Willsher Bay Tennis Club, 0 Port Molyneux i 0 James Williamson U 10 0 Per “ J. B. D.,” Edievale (ad0 ditional) ••• 0 10 Alexandra Patriotic Committee 81 0 0 Lewis R. Tosswill (per the Belgian Consul) “Sympathy” ... ... ... • •• 4 4 6 z 1U 0 Collected at meeting held as 13 farewell to Mornington troopers “Back Blocks” 1 9 1 0 0 “ A Poor Friend” ... 0 10 0 “W. W.” 0 10 0 “Grateful” 0 5 0 Bank exchange 0 1 9 Telegraph engineers’ staff and 0 telegraph linesmen, Dunedin 3 10 R Hutton, Waianakarua (procoeds of sale of skins) 2 19 4 Collected by Mr T. C. Don0 13 nelly, Matakanui 6 Joseph Evans, sen., St. Kilda 0 0 (additional) “A. B. W.” 5 0 5 U North Otago Patriotic Fund 437 17 (per the Belgian Consul) 0 Proceeds of social at Earns9 cleugh (per. Miss M. Hanley) 7 6 “English Sympathy ... ... cl Rise and Shine Dividend ... 5 0 0 Z 1U 0 Proceeds of sale of badges bought by Percy Carvalho (Hyde) and resold by him ... 1 5 6 Total £3626 13 10