RED CROSS FUND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 51

RED CROSS FUND.

THE KING’S APPEAL

The Dunedin streets were again in the hands of the collectjrs on Thursday, and it is safe to say that no one wiio visited the City during the day escaped the appeal of the rattling money-box. Not that the collection was of the disturbing order reminiscent of carnival days, holding up the traffic and tilling the thoroughlares with hands and fancy-dressed people. There was no display of any kind. The collectors quietly manned the street corners and made their presence felt unmistakeably. The response was good, and few got through the day without putting hand in pocket once or twice at least. The collection was the result of a special appeal recently made by the King throughout the Empire for funds for the Red Cross Society, and it was thought fitting to make October 21 —Trafalgar Day—the occasion for the appeal throughout the dominion, which was,conducted by the St. John Ambulance Association, at the request of the Government. Dunedin City was not the only scene of the efforts of the collectors, for the campaign for funds was waged in Palmerston, Hampden, Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Mosgiel, Balclutha, Gore, Invercargill, and other country districts. At half-past 7 o clock on a bleak, rainy morning, the collectors turned out, undeterred by the unfavourable climatic conditions, to intercept the stream of workers bound for the shops, offices, and factories. The least opulent of them responded liberally, according to their means, in the maojrity of cases. The curt retusa. was not rarer exception, the gentle refusal was not frequent, the cheerful i-esponso was the rule. Any and every sum was welcome. It must bo admitted that copper was the common harvest, and the more precious metals wore not bestowed in profusion. Still, every little helped, and the labourer who dropped his four coppers in the box, forgoing, perhaps, his little midday luxury, received as bright a smile as the bettcr-to-do man who parted with half-a-sovereign. The excellence of the object appealed to all; and surely there could be no better object than the mitigation of the sufferings of those who have been wounded in fighting for their country! A particularly successful part of the scheme was the employment as collectors of a number of returned soldiers in uniform, their names being as follow: —Sergeant Johnson (in charge). Sergeant Dodds. Lancecorporal Andrews, Driver Williams, and Privates Tall, Young, Johnston, and O’Donnell. The committee in charge of the collection consisted of the Rev. V. G. Bryan King (chairman), Messrs J. E. _ Bone (secretary), R. W. Glcndining, Livingstone, W. M. Wilkinson, G. Morton, T. Ross, T. Coull, and Beadle. Morning and afternoon tea was served to the workers at the Art Gallery by Mrs Speight and a number of lady assistants. The street collection in Port Chalmers, Carey’s Bay, and Sawyer’s Bay yielded £36 11s 4d. The collectors worked most energetically from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m, although the weather was most unfavourable. Some of the contributors responded most liberally. A few of the ladies collected at the early trains from Port Chalmers. The ''staff of the National Bank kindly stayed late in order to count the money received in the Dunedin district. This amounted to £323 6s 7d, those figures, of course, not including amounts obtained in Port Chalmers or other centres in Otago. To this total must be added £4 16s 8d which accrued from the salo of cakes at the Art Gallery. The secretary of the Otago Centro of the St. John Ambulance Association, has received the following additional donations, in response to the King’s appeal towards the fund for the Red Cross Society:—Anderson Bay Draughts Club. £2 4s; Mr Robert Elliott (Tuapcka), £5 ss; Tuapcka Mouth Patriotic Association, £2. It is understood that the Mosgiel collection amounted to £l2 9s. Mr J. E. Bono will bo pleased to receive any further contributions. On Thursday a systematic canvass was taken up in Balclutha for the Red Cross Fund. At the time of writing all the collection boxes had not been returned (states

our correspondent), but close on £SO had been received. - . The weather on Thursday was all against the special effort on behalf of the Rod Cross Fund (writes our Lawrence correspondent), but notwithstanding this drawback the willingband of workers bravely faced the elements, and the result (£3O 12s 4d) proved highly creditable to their persistence.

DEMONSTRATION AT MOSGIEL

The Coronation Hall at Mosgicl hold a large audience in the evening, when a de monstration of Red Cross methods was given, followed by an address on the work of the association by Mr J. E. Bono (the local secretary). Musical items were also given at frequent intervals, and the proceedings were greatly enjoyed by all present The Mosgicl Pipe Band rendered several selections in the streets before the meeting, and the demonstration was proceeded by the playing of the National Anthem by the local brass band, under the conductorship of Mr Whyte. The curtain was then raised and disclosed on the stage a group of members of the local Red Cross Society, garbed in the striking dress of their order, and providing a demonstration of the various first-aid methods of dressing wounds. Their appearance was the signal for a spirited outburst of applause, and when this had subsided Mr Bono congratulated the ladies on the manner in which they had put their instruction into practical effect. He stated that the district should be proud to possess such a capable band of ambulance workers, as these were an undoubted asset to any community.—(Applause.) The Mayor (Mr A. F. Quclch) then made a few remarks, bearing on the special prominence that Rod Cross work was receiving at the present time, and referred to the •groat collections that wore now being taken up as the result of an appeal made by. the King and Queen. Later on that eyening an appeal would be made to those present, and ho hoped that Mosgicl would do .ts share.—(Applause.) The Rod Cross Society had grown to such an extent that it was difficult to grasp its magnitude, and as Now Zealand was helping forward this great movement money was needed from one and all to give it the support which it deserved. —(Applause.) From one of their own number, Sergeant-major Tustain—(Applause)—they bad received some account of the splendid work that was being done in the New Zealand Hospital at Port Said, which was staffed very largely by New Zealand doctors and nurses, and also by some Canadian sisters.—(Applause.) This hospital, in common with many others, was in an overcrowded condition, and as a great deal of support was needed to maintain its equipment, ho hoped their response would be generous.—(Applause.) Mr Bono then explained the scope of the work undertaken by the Red Cross Society, and showed what a valuable and noble part it was playing in the present conflict. Fie dealt briefly with the history of the society, which ho traced back to the Knights of St. John, who had their rise in the days of the Crusaders, and then -went on to show how at the outbreak of the present war the Reel Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Association, and the St. Andrew Association had all united their forces in the great cause they all had at heart, and were now working under the title of the British Red Cross. Fie stated that in the first seven months of the war £90,000 worth of material, and over £40,000 in money had been sent to the' Mediterranean, and was there being used to lighten the sufferings of our soldiers.— (Applause.) It might be interesting to them to know that the New Zealand hospital ship Maheno had moved in eight days over 5000 wounded men from the beaches of Gallipoli to the various base hospitals.—(Applause.) In conclusion, Mr Bone appealed to those present to help the work forward, and reminded them that their contributions were going to succour some of the men who were bravely trying to keep the flag flying.—(Applause.) A very pleasing musical programme was submitted during the evening, .songs being contributed by Misses Gawn and Mills, and Messrs Wills and Donald, while a piano solo was rendered by Miss Walls. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr Bone, the singers for the evening, and all those who had assisted concluded the meeting. COLLECTION IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, October 21. Collections were taken up in the streets to-day for the Red Cross Fund. The Mayor received two cheques for £IOO each, and the street receipts amounted to £492 7s 4d. It is expected that £BOO will be raised. CARNIVAL AT WAIMATE. WAIMATE. October 25. A carnival in aid of the Rod Cross and Belgian Fund in Waimate was held to-day, when nearly 1000 people joined in. All the tradesmen, sports clubs, and many visitors took part. The carnival was hold in Victoria Park, and large crowds came to Waimato from other parts, and a most successful function was held. The takings at the gate and the side shows amounted to £3OO. COLLECTION AT OAMARU. OAMARU, October 25. On Saturday a Red Cross collection taken in the streets realised £224, with several lists outstanding.