New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1914, Page 6

New Zealand

BELGIAN CONSULATE,

Wellington, i 3-12-14, New Zealand

.; BELGIUM RELIEF FUND.

;,Siiv-r-For general information may I trespass on your space to say thac the following amounts have boon cabled to the Belgian Minister in London through this ' Consulage:- . ' '''''..£ September' 24th" \.. ' 41*0 October 13th ~.. 1900 . „ 24th ... 1400 November sth ... 1300 . 21st .'.. 1300 l December Bth ... 1000 17th .... 1700 23rd ... 2d2Q

£15.000

And as Christmas seems a suitable tyud to again express the Nation's deep gratitude for the sympathetic and-helpful aid sd generously given both through, this office and other

channels within my Consular district. Writing on the 31st October., acknowledging the amounts received from this Consulate at that time H.

E. Count de Lalaing, the Belgian Minister "in Eojidon, says:—"Once again I,have to ask you to convey to,, all kind contributors my sincere thanks for their continued evidence of sympathy with my suffering countrymen. I can assure you that Belgium will never forget the help she

has received from all parts of the world in this hour of trial, and which

has done so much to alleviate her distress." '.

Personally I desire to especially

recognise the self-sacrifice of'those

young people who, commencing with the happy inspiration 1 of Father Tom,

promptly abandoned.'their time-hon-ored fun on Gfuy l Fawke's Day, and instead collected some hundreds of pounds, arid 'sin£e thenj hoys and

girls have given up their picnics, en.

tortainments, arid" school prize money (in this case: denying themselves the

reward of the year's work) to add,

land" they have very substantially • addecl to th'o fund in aid of distressed Belgians. Such conduct should ever he remembered, and I shall have pleasure in suggesting to the proper ■ authority that this special feature of the goodwill and generosity of young New Zealanders he brought under the notlte of H.M. the Queen, who is now,in England; , I havo the honor to be, Your obedient Servant, C. J. JOHNSTON, • Consul Genpval.