GENEROUS AID THROUGH WELLINGTON CONSUL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2341, 24 December 1914, Page 6

GENEROUS AID THROUGH WELLINGTON CONSUL.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—For general information may I trespass on your space to say that the following amounts have been cabled tothe Belgian Minister in London through tins consulate:— £ September 24 ;..... 4 180 October 13 I'OOO October 24 1400 November 6 ; l'3oo November 21 I^soo Decembers 1000 December 17 l'7oO December 23 2^920 £15,000 And as Christmas seems a suitable time, to again express the nation's deep gratitude for the sympathetic and helpful aid so generously given both through this office and other channels within my consular district.

Writing on October 31 acknowledging the amounts received from this consulate at that-time, H. E. Count de Lalauig, the Belgian Minister in London, 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 Bolgium will nevor forget the help she has received from all parts of the world in this hour of trial."

Personally, I desire to especially recognise tiio self-sacrifice of those young people who, commencing with the happy inspiration of Uncle Tom, promptly abandoned their time-honoured fun on Guy Fawkes Day and instead collected some hundred of pounds, and since then boys and girls have given up their picnics, entertainments, and school prize-money (in this case denying themselves the reward of the year's work) to add, and,they have very sub--statially added to the fund in aid of distressed Belgians. Such conduct should ever be remembered, and I shall have great .pleasure in suggesting to the proper .authority that this special feature of- the goodwill and generosity of young New Zealanders be brought under tho notice of Her Majesty the Queen, who is now in England.—l am, etc., C. J. JOHNSTON, Consul-General. Belgian Consulate, Wellington.,