NURSE MAUDE'S "DAY."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1357, 19 June 1918, Page 4

NURSE MAUDE'S "DAY."

IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY. THE BUILDING FUND APPEAL. To-day the Christchurch public are once more doing honour to Nurse Maude and her magnificent and long-sustained work in the cause of humanity. There are few who do not wear the badge that means they have given the oft-quoted "bit" in' order that her work may expand aud flourish —the badge that so appropriately takes the form of a picture of Nurse Maude. An excellent and well-reproduced picture, it may lie added, and a decoration that every citizen should be proud to wear to-day. The effort, which has been launched for the purpose of giving the Nurse Maude District Nursing Association new and adequate premises, lias been \sell worked up by an enthusiastic committee, to which Mr G. L. Donaldson acted as organiser. The Ladies' Committee was headed by Miss Rose Tabait, and all concerned threw themselves into the work with the whole-hearted devotion that Nurse Maude inspires. From the Chamber of Commerce, the headquarters, a stream of collectors radiated at an early hour this morning, pervad-. ing the city with their boxes and badges, and gathering in coins of all values with vim and determination. Pressed into the service was a four-footed collector, an ebony canine who answered to the name of "Pat." Basket in mouth, Pat trotted busily about amongst the crowd, pausing for coins to be dropped into the aperture, and listening to the metallic clink which follo'.ved with every appearance of satisfaction. The "Lyttelton Times" collectors had a stand near the Cathedral, decorated with Nurse Maude's photograph, and an active band of collectors "worked" the immediate vicinity, including the tram stops. They were most enterprising and enthusiastic, and soon had a sheaf of notes pinned up at their "stand," besides weighty collectingboxes.

A pathetic little picture was made by the bedridden child (a patient of Nurse Maude), who collected under the charge of her relative. A wheeled bed, gaily decorated, bore her, and iu her person she typified something of the work which Nurse Maude has so nobly done amongst the sick ami suffering.

But the feature of all others that attracted public, attention was the "coin photograph." A life-si/.e picture, done in coloured chalks by Mr Richard Wallwork, was displayed iu front of the Cathedral, ami was in charge of Miss Eose Tabart, Mrs Beauchanip Lane, Mrs J. S. Thompson, and Miss Mary Tabart. The idea was to cover it with coins, and at quite an early hour in the forenoon it bore a goodly sprinkling of coins. A coronet of gold encircled her head —sovereigns, rare enough to behold now. Sovereigns represented the eyes, and there was gold in each hand. "And, indeed, she's worth her weight in it," said someone, who, in passing, stopped to add a coin. A wounded soldier, limping by, furtively cast half-a-crowu on the picture. "Oh, you must have a badge," said one of the ladies in charge, as she hastened after him. "Oh, it doesn't matter," he said, quite embarrassed at having been caught. But she insisted. "The s-oldiers —they are always so generous," she remarked as she returned to her post. "We never ask them for a donation, but they always give—they, who have already given so much!" As the day progressed, the coins were added to by a pile of notes, and another of cheques, and a frame of copper encircled it, gold and silver only appearing on the actual picture. The "coin photograph" idea promises to be a very lucrative one. The picture depicts Nurse Maude in the well-known nursing uniform—blue dress and white apron, and little close fitting bonnet, just as she. goes about her work.

The collectors' funds are also being augmented by stalls in the Square. Mrs W. B. Fox and helpers were in charge of an amply-provided produce stall, while Mrs M. Rich and Mrs George Bennett presided over a cake stall. Mrs Beaded and Mrs Cholmondeley had charge of a flower stall. An attractive stall for the sale of home-made sweets was managed by Mrs H. G. Hunt. The sweets were all made by the same lady, and comprised an enticing collection, a huge gollywog, also made by her, being likewise disposed of in aid of the fund. It is Mrs Runt's jdan to do sewing for people who need, it, and with the money thus acquired she makes sweets, which she sells in aid of whatever fund she happens to be helping. A number of theatrical artists, by the courtesy of the Fullers' management, gave an entertainment in the Square between 12 and 1, in support of the "coin photograph," whose covering they materially helped.

The box collections for the first shift amounted to over £250, a record for any collection, outside of patriotic appeals, for Christchureh. Nurse -Maude herself drove about the streets in her car, accompanied by a little girl who, dressed in nurse's uniform, sang an "appeal song," which had an excellent financial result. During tho morning many of the workrooms of business houses were visited in this way.

The collectors were early in action at the Addington Saleyards this morning, and before noon there were few coat lapels which did not carry a badge. A rag doll, got up to represent a Highland warrior, was auctioned by Mr Wni. Matson, of Matson and (io., and, being offered and re-offered, was the means of swelling the fund by £l3 1/3.