BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3190, 5 May 1915, Page 54

BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.

MEETING AT NORTH-EAST VALLEY,

A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING

The people of North-East Yalloy turned 1 out on the 29th ult. in numbers that were sufficient completely to fill the large town hall, where a patriotic rally was held on behalf of the Begian Relief Fund. The proceedings were of a most enthusiastic nature throughout, stirring speeches, patriotic songs and recitations, and national music creating an appropriate atmosphere that had an inspiriting effect upon all present. The meeting was called by the Executive Committee that was appointed a fortnight ago as a result of a preliminary meeting convened by Mrs P. J. Blackman, and though it was not designed primarily to raise funds, the sum of £8 3s 2d was realised during the evening—£s 15s 9d by means of a collection and £2 8s 5d by the sale of sweets. The speakers were Mr Isaac Green (chairman), Rev. R. E. Davies, Mr H. P. Harvey, and Mr H. D. Bedford. The musical programme was brief, but extremely good. ! At the close of the meeting a number of ladies remained behind, and arrangements were made for n complete canvass of the district. ST. CLAIR MAY DAY EFFORT The St. Kilda Band, the Caversham Band, and Mrs Begg’s orchestra are to assist at the St. Clair festival, which is fixed for Friday and Saturday. Mr T. K. Siidcy, M.P., will open the festival. St. Clair presented quite a holiday appearance on Saturday afternoon, when, encouraged by the beautiful weather, there was another large attendance of the nublio at the pavilion to assist in the good work of raising money for the Belgian Fund. In the evening a number of_ people journeyed out from town, and, taking the day right through, the must have been well satisfied with their takings. The management has £350 already in hand in actual cash, and it is considered that the carnival will show a profit of between £SOO and £6OO. The nurses of the Forth Street Hospital had the motor garage adjoining the pavilion gaily decorated, and set out from there to sell sweets and also gently to

•draw one’s attention to the fact that they wore carrying collection boxes. The cnildren had a glorious afternoon’s entertainment, freely patronising the cars, which ran them round on a motor jaunt for a small fee. They likewise derived huge enjoyment from the laughing gallery and the crockery smash. The. High Street School Band, in their now kilt uniforms, played in the afternoon, as also did the Oaversham Band, and the Dunedin Pipe Band played at night. , The crowd was so groat on Saturday evening that numbers of people could not be served, so it is decided to continue the carnival this evening, lotting the May Queen competition (which is closely contested), also tho games go on for this extra night. During the evening the goat and tho sheep will be sold by auction, and the flagpole, which stands in Mr Percival Fenwick’s grounds, will be submitted to auction, it having been given to the committee for that purpose. , r „ The carnival was continued on Monday evenin° - when the remainder of the goods wore sold by auction. The 'Competition for May queen was won by Miss M Dougall, with Miss Lawrence second and Miss May Ewino- third. It is anticipated that £SOO will bo cleared from the carnival. CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MIDDLEMARCH. A few weeks ago a very successful meeting to raise moneys for tno Belgian Relief Fund was held at Middleman* by the Strath-Taieri Patriotic Committee, ana since then tho local committee has also done splendid work in raising further subscriptions. Up to date over £SOO has been collected, and included in the amount are the following donations; Dugald boson, Robert E. Matheson, J. V\. £25 each; A. J. Blakely, £11; Alex. Horn, A. M‘Kinnon, J 3. W. Messent, JB/wau Cameron, David Grieve, W. H. Jbliiott, J. Elliott, F. James, £lO each p Evening Sports Club, Pv. Beattie, David Peat, Robert Walker, James Gilbert, 1. W. Wise, Patrick Spratt, M. A. O’Connell, G. Hop, James Kirkland, J. W. Tisdali, 1 nomas Lowe, John Steele. Wm. Kirkland, £5 each; F. Moynihan, £3 3s; W. Higgins, £3; Wm. G.* Thompson, £2 4s; W, b. Williams, John Turnbull, B. G, Elliott, II G. Keith, K. O. Kinsman, £2 2s each; y F’ Williams, Mrs Carruthers, Miss G. Ebzery, George MTlardy, H. Beattie, YV m. Thomson, James Robertson, G. M Latchie, £2 each; Miss Burnet, £1 ss; Mrs Fletcher, Miss Scorgie, A. Scorgie, R. Scorgie, £1 Is each; Bert Robertson, H. F. Hastie, Miss Burns, Mrs Alex. Horn, John Grieve, Y. Cecil, A. Dawson, K. Dawson, Mrs A. J. Blakely, Miss R. R. Gamble, Miss I. James, Mrs W. Robertson, Miss Mary O’Connell, Miss Gladys Standling, Mrs A. M'Kinnon, A. S. Williams, Miss S. Burns," Mrs Burnet, Donald Cameron. H. Betting, H. Rose, E Irwin, Mrs G Robertson, Miss Monica O. M Bride, J. Brolly, Thomas Burnett, E. Chapman, C. Christie, D. Elliott, Miss Mary Elliott, Mrs W. Elliott, D. Fraser, James Shout, Duncan M'Phee, John Henderson, John Gordon, W. Harris, S. Kettle, J. Mathewson Alexander Millar, Hilda M‘Elligott, P * M"'Fadven, M. M'Grath, James MTlardy, 'Wm. M‘Leod, Miss Annie MTlae, N. M‘Rae, O. O’Neill, J. S. Renwiok, Mrs T. Ross, T. Ross, M. Tcnncnt, R. J. Thompson, John Tisdali, Miss Turnbull Wm. Bennett, £1 each; Wm. Moynihan’ Mrs R. Beattie, Miss Dolly Robertson, Miss Mary O’Connell, Mrs B. Robertson, A. Dick, j. M. Beattie, Captain Park, Miss Cecil, D. Matheson, John Murray, John Beattie, T. Burnett, W. Egan, F. Pickard, Miss Tonis, John Keast, 10s oaoli. Cash collected at concert, £153. TAIERI BELGIAN CARNIVAL. The Taieri Hockey Club, Taieri Rovers Rugby Club, and the Association Football Club held a tournament on Saturday tho Mosgiel Recreatiop Ground, in conjunction with the Taieri Belgian Relief Carnival. The weather was perfect, and the proceedings were enlivened by music from the Mosgiel Brass Band and the Taieri Pipe Band. The attendance of the public was fair, and the afternoon’s sport was very interesting. In the hockey No. 4 team (Rene Collie, capt., Violet Mitchell, Iva Tansley, Winnie Webber, Melvy Kirk, Eileen Stevenson,, Olive Tansley) won in the final by one goal to nil. Miss Kirk scored the goal. In the five-a-siclo association football No, 1 team (L. O. Gray, capt., A. Cook, W. M‘Lean, Jack Wcdderspoon, B. Oliver)) won in tho final by 6 points to points. In the Rugby No. 2 team (D. Findlay, H. Scott, Docherty, S. Hendry, Jack Kirk, M‘Leod, J. Robertson, capt.) was victorious in the final by 9 points to nil. Robertson scored two tries and Gow one try. Miss B. Pearson won the hockey ball driving competition, and Mrs M’Dougall (20oz) won the guessing competition for a huge apple (20£oz), In tho evening a dance was held in th£ Coronation Hall. CONCERT AT MOSGIEL. In connection with the Taieri Belgian Relief Carnival, a party of talented performers from Dunedin journeyed to Mosgiel on tho 29th ult., and gave a concert in aid of tho Belgian funds. _ The attendance was good, and the reception tendered the performers was a warm one. The audience appeared to he delighted with tho programme presented. x\s a result of the concert the funds should receive a fairly substantial increase. The National Anthem closed the • entertainment. PATRIOTIC DEMONSTRATION AT OUTRAM. The Outram Oddfellow;,' Hall was crowded to overflowing on the 28 th ult., when a patriotic demonstration in aid of Belgian relief was held. The chairman of the Town Board (Mr John Neil) presided, and made a few appropriate opening romance. Mr J. A. Johnstone was among those present. A Dunedin orchestra _ opened the programme with a patriotic selection, “iSea Songs.” Dunedin singers in the persons of Mrs R. A. Power, and- Messrs S. _ Angell and J. Leech, sang stirring patriotic songs; while Mr M'Conncll infused mirth into the evening by some humorous songs. Mr Tl. D, Bedford was the principal speaker of the evening. He stated that Belgium to-day was in extremis j It was bleeding to death. When the imagination had conjured up all the horrors it could conceive, the picture would lack the vivid colours of tho reality. Ho wished ho had tho tonguo of a wizard, that ho might airlift their optic nerve with th'o pain that would rack it wero they actually to behold the daily scene in Belgium. He wished ho could clatter upon the ear-drum with the noise of 10,000 cracking rifles and bursting shells. lie would transport them to that

place of unparalleled desolation called Belgium, and he would let them walk through its blackened and wasted fields; stand before its unroofed and dismantled temples; wander through its chill, deserted villages; gaze out upon its unending stretches ot graves. The angel of death had been busy with iris scythe, and had mown down the breadwinners of the country. Little remained of the people but aged men, women, and children. And from those rose an agonising moan which swept across all seas and continents. It told of bereavement unexampled; ©very household mourned its uncoffincd dead. It told of the dishonouring of chaste women to a degree unprecedented; few were the homes where heads did not bow down in shame. It told of uncountable multitudes of children hungry to the point of starvation. There was no house but felt the pinch. But what did it signify to us? If nothing more, it was an appeal, not to bo resisted, to our common humanity; we were men, and as such our hearts melted at the contemplation of such appalling- suffering. But surely it was more; it was the appeal ot a saviour to those saved. Belgium, like the Roman Horatio, stood at the bridge, stood at the gateway, of the road to the heart of France and of England, and beat back the vast hordes of Germany while the Allies were preparing their defences and mobilising their forces. Belgium’s part had been that of a, national martyrdom. She had crucified herself to save Europe. The quarrel with Germany was not hers. Germany constructed her gigantic military machine not to destroy Belgium, but to clash the sceptre of pre-emimont power from the British Empire. Belgium was te bo the highway along which the machine should run to its purpose. As far back as 1906 strategic railways were built throughout Germany to converge upon the Belgian frontier. But when the great machine in its progress to Paris crossed into Belgium, that little country massed the whole of its able-bodied manhood to the impediment. The nation in arms stood across the highway, and under the wheels of that great military machine —the Juggernaut the flower of its youth was crushed. Should the women and children of such a people starve, while wo had overflowing barns and full larders? Should we enjoy the rich fruit of their tremendous sacrifice and leave them to their agony? Every Belgian killed was a Frenchman or_ Britisher saved. If the Belgians starved, in honour we were bound to starve with them. In their splendid fight for the cause which was ours every young New- Zealander who could must leap to their side in the trenches, and every man, woman, and child who remained behind must accent a share_ of the burden of providing for the widowed, orphaned, and starving multitudes. The speaker was listened to with intense interest, and was frequently applauded. Tile entertainment concluded with a selection by the orchestra and a verse of the National Anthem. Some £65 18s 7d was subscribed or promised in the room, and the proceeds of the entertainment should increase the amount to about £BO. CONCERT AT PUKEHIKI. A very successful concert was held at Pukchiki on Wednesday in aid of the Belgian Fund. The hall was crowded with residents from all parts of the Peninsula. Mr Fairbaim occupied the chair, and briefly explained the object of the concert. The nrogrammo submitted was of a high standard, and every performer was vociferously encored. On each a ready response was made. Great credit is due to Mr Sinai 11 for organising a splendid orchestra, which, assisted by some Dunedin musicians, opened the concert with patriotic airs. Items wore contributed by Mrs E. A. Power, Misses H. Gardiner, Austin, and Yuile Messrs Gilchrist, C. Gray, Evvon, Bryant and Rawlinson. Miss Johnston acted as a very efficient acoompamste. Refreshments were provided by the ladies. 4 dance followed, which was kept up with great spirit. Musio was supplied by Miss Nyhon and the orchestra. During the evening 15s was raised by the sale of gentlemen’s bouquets. A vote of thanks was passed to all who had assisted.

ACTION AT TUAPEKA. Mr t. Martin, of tho Beaumont, has, after persistent effort, induced the farmers of the Tuapcka district to take stops for the holding of a winter show in Lawrence, the proceeds to be in aid 91 the Belgian Belief Fund. Tho matter was discussed at a very representative mooting of farmers in Lawrence on tho 24th ult., when it was resolved to accept Mr Martin’s offer to provide tho bulk of the exhibits necessary for such a show, and to render every assistance possible in making it a pronounced success. It was also arranged that a gift auction also bo held, and canvassers for all parts of the district were appointed. For the purpose of the gift auction Messrs Simpson and Hart offered to place their large grain store at the disposal of the committee, and the offer was accepted with thanks. The date of the show was fixed for Thursday, May 6 (stock sale day). It was frankly admitted by most of those at the meeting that the farmers had not done all that they should in regard to assisting the Belgians, and the enthusiasm with which the matter was taken up indicated that a very generous response could be anticipated. GENEROUS RESPONSE FROM THE TUAPEKA FARMERS. The winter show and sale of farm produce gifts, which is to take place in Lawrence on Thursday next, promises to be a pronounced success (writes our correspondent). The canvassers met in Lawrence on Saturday night, and. reported a very generous response to the appeal by the farmers throughout the various districts. Upwards of 50 sheep and lambs, two head of cattle, several tons of chaff and potatoes, and_ a large quantity of oats, wheat, and turnips have been promised. Tho farmers wives have also promised to do their part by supplying all tho eatables required for the refreshment room and also a largo quantity of poultry. The details in connection with the show and sale were arranged, and no stone is being left unturned to make tho effort a credit to our district. CONCERT AT PUERUA. A concert and sale of sheep, grain, etc., was hold in the Pucru®, Hall on Wednesday night. The building was packed to the doors. Mr P. S. Grant, who was m the chair, outlined the object of tho entertainment. A good musical programme was gone through, and stirring patriotic speeches were delivered by the Rev. A. Watson and Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P. Fat sheep, to

the number of 18, and a quantity of grain, chaff, etc., was sold by auction during the evening by Mr A. Duthie. A collection was also taken up, while a bevy of young ladies disposed of buttonholes, sweets, etc. At the close of the entertainment the chairman was able to announce that the satisfactory sum of £7B 6s 8d had been taken and that at least £77 would be forwarded on towards the Relief Fund. SALE OF STOCK. Messrs Stronach, Morris and Co. report having offered one wether to the butchers at sale, on behalf of the above fund. The contributions this week amount to £5 10s. OFFICIA L A CKN O WLED GMENTS. Mr G. L. Denniston, Consul for Belgium, has received the following letter from the Consul in Sydney, who is also the ChiefConsul for Belgium in Australasia; — “ Sydney, April 16. “ Dear Sir and Colleague,—l am asked by my Government to express to you, the authorities, and the people of Dunedin the heartfelt appreciation of his Majesy King Albert and her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for their magnificent help to Belgium. “I would ask you, dear sir and colleague, to have this wish kindly conveyed 19 the authorities and the people of Dunedin. —I am, dear sir and' colleague, “Yours faithfully, “M. Watteau, “Consul for Belgium. “G. L. Denniston, Esq., “Consul for Belgium, Dunedin.” SOUTH CANTERBURY CARNIVAL. TIMARU. April 27. The committee of the patriotic festival (with the queen competition) has Landed a cheque for £9500 to the Belgian Fund Committee. The Temuka fete realised £517 for the same fund. GENEROUS RESPONSE. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 28. Tho Belgian National Relief Committee’s appeal, contained in yesterday’s cablegrams, has had an immediate effect here, the Hon. Oliver Samuel having to-day made a contribution of. £IOOO to the Taranaki Herald Fund. WELLINGTON, April 28. Sir Walter Buchanan forwarded £2OOO to the Wairarapa secretary of the Poor of Great Britain and Allies Relief Fund. As ho has increased his bids on tho flags at Martinborough and. Carterton, from £IOO to £IOOO in each instance, ho stipulates that the money bo paid to the credit of the Belgian Refugee Food Fluid in London. ASSISTANCE BY FARMERS. WANGANUI, April 26. When war broke out it was stated that several farmers in the Rangitikei district had increased their cropping areas, and that they had put in a considerable quantity of wheat for tho Belgians. At tho annual meeting of the Marton branch of the Farmers' Union the chairman said that when war was declared over £7OO was sent away to W ellington, and wheat to tho value of about £7OO was now being thrashed for the British and Belgian Food Funds. Mr H. Lethbridge, of Turakma, gave 44 acres of land for wheat-growing. With the help of neighbours’ teams the whole of the area was placed in wheat, and the result will be about £SOO for the fund. Messrs G. H. Wilson. Elios Bros., E. C. Gaisford, S. Coombe, and W. Levin have also grown five acres or more each for the same purpose. LADY FRENCH’S APPEAL. On behalf of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children, Mrs R, W. Gibbs wishes gratefully to acknowledge the receipt of parcels of babv clothing for shipment to England in answer to Lady French’s appeal. Parcels have been received from Mrs Allan, Mrs John Ross, Mrs ,T. S. Tomlinson, Mrs Isaacs, Miss M‘Lean (Timaru), Mrs Allan Holmes, Mies Cooke, Mrs Theomm, Mrs M‘Georgc, Mrs P. Barr, Mrs Gilkison, Mrs Mirams (on account of the All Saints branch of the Girls’ Friendly Society), tne girls of Archerfield School), Mrs Arundel (from tho ladies of Mosgiel and North Taicri). Anyone desiring to help can obtain patterns and all information from Mrs R. W. Gibbs, 33 Manor place. On behalf of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children, Mrs Gibbs wishes to acknowledge with thanks parcels of baby clpthing- to be forwarded to our soldiers’ wives. Mrs Gibbs, 33 Manor place, will be glad to supply either patterns or information. RED CROSS WORK. WELLINGTON, April 28. The Prime Minister has received a telegram from his Excellency the Governor forwarding an advice from the Secretary of State tor tho colonies in answer to an inquiry from the New Zealand Government as to the articles which will be most acceptable to the St. John Ambulance Led Cross Association with the Imperial and Allied troops. . , , The information is contained in the cablegram that the Joint War Committee of the societies states that the goods most acceptable are blankets, hand and bath towels, sheets, light weight vests and pants, bone lint, medicated cotton wool, gauze, and gamgee tissue. In addition to the. articles mentioned by the Joint W r ar Committee 10 St. John Ambulance warehouse states tno articles most needed are kit bags, littecj cardigans, bed jackets of red or natural colour, flannel, night-shirts (flannel or cotton), dressing gowns, nightingales or reel or natural colour flannel, pyjamas of flannel, ward slippers, and shoots.