DISTRESS RELIEF FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2275, 8 October 1914, Page 6

DISTRESS RELIEF FUND

POOR OF BRITAIN, IRELAND, AND BELGIUM.The Wellington Committee of the Poor of Groat Britain and Ireland and Belgium Distress Relief Fund acknowledges receipt of the following:— . ■ £ e. d. Amount already acknowledged : 579 10 4 Mrs. Emily Dean (per The Dominion) 2 2 0 Miss Christine Edie, Martinborough 1 10 "A New Zealauder" 1 10 0 The National Cash Register , Co. of Australasia, Ltd. 5 0 0 G. J. Page, Island Bay 0.10 0 F. R. Russell 2 2 0 "A Friend" 110 Petone Baptist Church, Petone 2.2 0 • ' £594 18 4 MAYOR'S WAR DISTRESS FUND. £ e. d. Amount previously acknowledged 217 16 11 Newtown Congregational Church :.... 4 0 9 Sale of balance of goods left ■ over from concert arranged by Miss Flora Shaw ....'.. 2 0 0 "H.D.8." '...'. 10 0 217717 8 PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN'S HELP. "A largely attended meeting (convened by-Dr. Gibb) of women connected with the Presbyterian Church of Wellington and suburbs was held in St. John's Hall on Tuesday afternoon to consider what steps should be taken to assist the fund for the relief of the poor in Britain and Belgium by contributions of food, clothing, etc. Dr. Gibb informed the ladies that the women of the Dunedin churches had thought it well that their contribution should go from the church as such, and should be sent to representative Presbyterians for distribution at Home and in Belgium. They had asked him to communicate with the conveners of the Colonial Committees of the Home churches and he had agreed to do so. It seemed, however, a pity to risk overlapping and to incur unnecessary expense in forwarding commodities, and he proposed to consult the chairman of the Citizens' Relief Fund Committee tc see whether contributions made by the Presbyterian Church might not be sent Home per medium of the Citizens' Committee and ear-marked for the destination desired by the donors. The meeting heartily concurred in. the proposal and steps wil! be immediatejy taken in the various congregations in and around Wellington to make contribution. Dr. Gibb ■ has since consulted the chairman of the Citizens' Committee (Mr. 0. P. Skerrett) and matters will probably be> arranged in the way indicated to the meeting.

Several unusual incidents marked the voyage of the A. and.A. liner Indralema, which arrived at Auckland on Monday, from New York, states •bhe Auckland "Star." The ran down the Atlantic was. uneventful tintil tbo steamer was off Ascension Island on August 10, when it was found that the chief. steward, A. W. Janowa, had disappeared overboard the previous night. Janowa had been in good health and spirits, and how he came to be lost is unknown, as no one saw the accident. At Capo Town the Indralema had a shot fired across her bows by the fort, and was ordered to dismantle her wireless while in port. After leaving she was chased by a British destroyer, whdch allowed her to proceed after her papers were examined. At Melbourne some six Germans among the crew were arrested by the authorities, and replaced by Britishers. Apart from these incidents, and some delay in Australian ports, the Indralema suffered no inconvenience from a state of war. On tho voyage from the Cape to Melbourne, however, considerable damage was done on deck by a. south-west gale, which flattened the starboard rails, and smashed the boat skids and cabin doors on that side of the ship. The damage was repaired at Melbourne.

Belgium has more famous battlefields to tho square mile-than any other European country. For three centuries all tho contending armies marched and counter-marched across the country. Somo of tho proudest battle honours borno on the colours of our finest regiments were won on Belgian soil. For example:—Waterloo, Quatro Bras, Ramillies, Oudcnarde, Foiitenoy, Lauden,