PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

PRIME-MINISTER'S LIST

Further contributions rcccived by the Prime Minister are:— " £ s. d. Wairoa War Fund Committee, Wairoa (sixth instalment) 140 0 0 Wairoa War Fund Committee, • Wairoa (seventh instalment) 90 0 0 • (Proceeds of local "gymkhana.") DISTRESS RELIEF POOR OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND AND BELGIUM FUND. v " £ s. d. Previously acknowledged... 37,516 11 11 Constable Longbottom, Wereroa, per secretary, Leyin Branch of Fuiid 10 0 R. A- Rolstori, Oliau,' per secretary Levin Branch of Fund-.......................'........ 2 0 0 N.Z. Golf Association ........ 5 5 0 Sale of bicycle, per Mrs. J. J. Luke ;.... 3 0 0 •The Magpies' Penny Appeal, Saturday matinee and evening 5 16 10. £37,533 13 9 FOURTH INSTALMENT £16,800. TOTAL CASH REMITTANCES, £66,000. Hia Esctelletey' the Governor, the Earl of Liverpool;- as patron of the Poor of Great Britain and Ireland and Belgium Relief Fund, reports that he yesterday transmitted by cablegram to the High Commissioner in London, the sum of £16,800 as a ■ fourth contribution, from the fund. The amount has been provided by the various branches of tho fund in the Canterbury, Marlborough, Taranald, Hawke's Bay, and Wellington Provincial districts, and also includes the sums of money sent to the, Treasury for British and . Belgian relief. -The special'instructions of each committee and the wishes of those giving donations for a special purpose have alf been strictly observed, and the sum will be apportioned as follows: — . For tho Poor of Great Britain and Ireland to bo handed to the executive of .the Prince of . Wales's Fund for administration; £3,661 3s. 4d. , For' Belgian relief, to be given to the proper Belgian-authorities for distribution; £13,138, 16s.- Bd. The 'total cash contributions now transmitted in connection with the fund amount t0'£66,000. Very valuable shipments of frozen meat' are also being sent forward ,as opportunity offers, and the contributions of clothing have been of a most generous character.

REFUGEES FROM BELGIUM

•TEN REACH AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, February, 22. : Ten refugees from Belgium are among the crew of the Shaw. Savill and Company's steamer : Matatua, which _ar-riyed'-.yesterday .morning. It is, believed" they. are the first from that afflicted, country ,to reach New Zealand. When the: refugees joined tlie ship, stated the navigating officer' of the Matatua yesterday, their condition was pitiable, as theyhad only the clothes they stood in. Some, were ■■ present at: the fali of Naraur and Brussels, and .the recital by them, of l German, atrocities ■ wa i • simply hor-r rible. One of the deck boys,-who passed through- the '.siege of -Antwerp, relates in quaint .'English his first experience during. the, bombardment of that city bj Zeppelins. "Eet'vas like ze carnival; everybody get ,ont of bet in der tail shirt, and I 'rush about der street like dey vas mad,. looking for shelter." After the' fall of Antwerp, and during -house-to-house-looting, this boy, along with his father and mother, was taken prisoner. His 1 sister was shot .before his eyes, the brave "Belgialn girl preferring d,eath' ,to; dishonour He was made to carry the German flag ahead of the troops .during their march through the city, but, night coming on; he managed to escape : ,during l the confusion and darkness, and after many adventures finally , reached'-: Hollandj where- he was , sent to England along with many _others, finding-ill England refuge and wolcom©..