A WELCOME GIFT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2469, 24 May 1915, Page 8

A WELCOME GIFT

SUBSCRIBERS TO TOBACCO FUND HEARTILY THANKED A month or two after the outbreak of the war we were able to announce that Messrs. W. D. and H. 0. Wills ha 4 made an offer to supply Three Castle cigarettes and Capstan, tobacco to our troops, at the front, on generous terms. Arrangements wore made by which the firm in question agreed to supply the cigarettes at approximately 2d. per packet, and the tobacco mL er oz '.' .^ e^ to the troops. Ihe only condition was that tho money for the .supply of tho tobacco and cigarettes should be raised hy public subscription. This generous offer resulted in donations being sent to us which enabled a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco to be sent to the troops. Subscribers will bo gratified to now learn how thoroughly their gifts were appreciated by the men who have be'havea so splendidly at the Dardanelles. We have reoeived numerous letters of thanks from .the men themselves, and also some from their friends. General Godley writes as follows:— Headquarters, New Zealand and Australian Division. Zeitoun, Cairo, March 20, 1915. Sir,—l nave to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of eleven cases of tobacco, which were generously provided out of tho fund established through the medium of your journal. The tobacco was carefully and evenly distributed amongst the members of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Force, w J ho greatly appreciated the gift, which came very opportunely. Yours faithfully, ALEX. GODLEY, Major-General. Commanding New Zealand and Australian Division. The Dominion Newspaper, Weljinwton, New Zealand. A typical letter from a trooper reads as follows:— "Please thank subscribers who sent along cigarettes arid tobacco. Ihey were a welcome New Year's fiiffc. Wo all appreciate the kindness which prompted the thought for us and wo did enjoy tho cigarettes." ° Hoio, again, is a letter we have received from a relative of one of our soldiers:— _ Hastings, May 5, 1915. lo the Proprietors, The Dominion, Wellington. Dear Sirs,—Having received from fSJ'pfc by the last mail a letter from my brother, 4th Otago Regiment, in which lie mentions how pleased the members of tho Expeditionary Force are to receive your gift of tobacco, I am writing to thank you on his bohalf, and also on my own for your kindness and forethought. Your gift is much appreciated by the men, and I can assure you that you have helped them a, great deal to accomplish, their work of helping to defend our Empiro. Again thanking you,—l am, etc. Morfe than ever now is there reason why we should strive to let the men who represent us in tho aghting line see that wo are keenly appreciative of their efforts and anxious to add in whatever way we can any little comforts than may be welcome to them. ISo more generally appreciated gift than tobacco and cigarettes can be sent. An old soldier, who signs himself "Irish Trooper," writes. from Lower Hutt:— suggest to all smokers of New Zealand to deprive them- : selves of a week's tobacco and cigarettes, or even half a week, and give the amount of same to our soldiers, who are having a hard time* as I have had experi* ' ? African v\ar. How we enjoyed a smoke! 1 am a very heavy smoker, and am sending tho amount of my week's tobacco towards tho fund. It will surprise you the amount if every smoker gives his share. n

Our correspondent forwards ss. which represents 200 cigarettes and Son. of tobacco for our men at the iront. Everv half-crown contributed to tho Fund means 100 cigarettes and 4oz. of tobacco for distribution amongst our men; and wliat is equally important, each package will contain a printed slip, stating that it is a gift presented by the people of New Zealand. This is a fund in which all can share, and feel that their contribution, however small, is going to bring some measure of pleal sure to men who are laying down their lives for us overseas. "CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA" Haseagni's richly dramatic opera 'Cavallieria Eusticana" (Rustic Chivalry) is to bo sung by the Roval Wellington Choral Society at the Town Hall on .Tuesday week, June 1. The soloists engaged are: Soprano, Miss Elsy Treweelc, the Australian operatic prima donna, who has been engaged to sing the same work in Adelaide next monthMrs. C. G. Alcorn is to sing tho mezzo part, while, Mrs. Rosewarne, of Napier, will take the contralto solos; Mr. Frank Charlton is to sing the part of Alfio. Owing to tho illness of Mr. Herbert Bloy, arrangements have been completed for Mr. Maughan Barnett, of Auckland, to conduct the opera. The box plan opens at the Bristol at 9 a.m. to-morrow (Tuesday). An orchestral practice will be held at St. John's at 8 o'clock to-night.