Empire Defense League.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 97, 14 August 1914, Page 8

Empire Defense League.

STRATFORD DOINGS. General Committee.—Subscriptions now total £7OO. The Stratford auctioneers hold a gift auction of stock on Saturday week, free of all charges. Gifts of any kind of stock thankfully accepted. The proceeds will go to the fund without any deductions. Ladies Guilds.—The utmost enthusiasm prevails, the 20 odd guilds vying with each other in turning out quantities of work. Many individuals are taking work home. The High School girls are hard at tho housewife industry. Some sewing is being done by the inmates of the female ward at the Pub-" lie Hospital. The depot staff is kept busy, taking in and listing the various articles. Mr W. P. Marke has placed his motor-car and his own services at the ladies’ disposal in the way of transport. Contribution Committee—The Stratford Dairy Factory Co. proposes to set aside a proportion of the output each mouth as its assistance to the cause. The children attending the State school have been contributing their mites, it being impressed upon them that it must he their own money, not begged from their parents. About £l3 is already in hand as v the school’s contribution.

Great preparations are being made for Mrs Carbery’s War Tea on Monday next. Competitions of the most novel are being introduced, and the special services of Madame Tuturo, a foreteller of the hidden' future and a lightning reader of the dim and misty past, merely from a glance at one’s palm, will be in attendance. M. Poincare, President of the French Republic, will be specially represented. Persons who have either tickets, or cash in connection with last night’s patriotic social will please hand in as quickly as possible to the secretary, Mr Stanley. SOCIAL AT TOWN HALL. A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING. The social in aid of the War Fund held at the Town Hall last night was a decided success. There were a large number present, and the fund should benefit materially. The floor was ,in first-class order, being, in fact, perhaps a little too fast. In view of the object of the social proceedings were opened with the National Anthem. The member for the district and the Mayor were present, and the visiting Wairarapa footballers were the guests of the committee. The stage was very tastefully decorated. During the evening songs were given by Mesdam.es Robinson and Massey, Miss Fieldes, and Messrs A. L. Jones, A. J. Hill, N. F. Dunlop, and W. J. Meredith, and Mr W. H. Hawkins gave a recitation. The duties of M.C. were carried out by Messrs W. H. Bosley, H. W. Douglas and D. J. Malone. Mrs Bianchi (piano) and Mr A. Kelly (cornet) supplied the music for the dancing, an orchestra under Mr Rogers also assisting, A really splendid supper was provided by the ladies, and special credit is due to the band of ladies who rendered indefatigible service in the supper room. THE CARE OF ORPHANS'. Fololwing is an extract from a circular issued by Mr H. W. Lee, organising secretary for New Zealand for Dr. Barnardo’s Hornes, in connection with the war:— An appeal at the present time on beha!f_of Dr. Barnardo’s Homes may be regarded by a few as inopportune; the great majority, however, of New Zealanders will welcome an opportunity of helping the little ones whose fathers, at the call of duty, gave their lives for the Empire. Patriotism has many aspects, and it would be a reproach ii ours ended with the bearing of a share in the naval and military burdens, and refused to assist the orphaned children of our gallant sailors and soldiers. The claims for admission to Dr. Barnardo’s Homes will greatly increase in number and urgency. The funds, on the other hand, are likely to show an alarming falling-off, unless the sacred duty of caring for the children be pressed homo on every possible occasion. Dr. Barnardo’s Homes are a national work, firmly established in public confidence. They already shelter over 8,000 boys and girls (more than 1,000 of whom are crippled, sick, or in some other way afflicted), and for food alone £250 is needed daily. Subscriptions will be received by Mr P. H. Cox, Bank of Australasia, Christchurch, or by Mr Leo, 9 Fitzroy Road, Napier. I ewwaeEEMumia: wac;**®*