SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2509, 12 October 1915, Page 3

SOLDIERS' APPRECIATION

OF GIFTS FROM WELLINGTON,

The honorary secretary (Mrs. A. Crawford) of tho M-ayoross's Committoe of the Countess of Liverpool Fund, lias received the following graceful acknowledgment from two of our Maori soldiers at the Dardanelles for gifts which had been rccei.-ed by tliem through the Town Hall Committee. It runs as _ follows"Dardanelles.—The two inhabitants of a certain dug-out in the Maori Contingent lines wish to convey their appreciation to you of the presents which they have 'received. Nothing could! have been more thoughtful on your part or more useful to us. Kia ora. —H. Vainoliu (Capt.)." The communication was written in lead pencil on ono of the committee's cards, which are usually forwarded with the parcels that are sent, one side of it bearing the words "From the Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee, AVellington Branch," and to this the Maori soldier had merely added, "Wellington, New Zealand,"- and posted it just as it was, guiltless of an envelope, owing to the force of circumstances. Save for the addition of the stamp, "Passed by the Censor," and the ordinary military stamp, the card arrived in good order. To look at the beautifully-formed handwriting no one would ever think it was written in a dug-out or a trench. Another letter which was received by Mrs. Crawford in acknowledgment of fjifts received from the committee was from Captain Shera, officer commanding the field troop of the New Zealand Engineers. The ivritor says:—"l wish to thank your committee on behalf of my officers and myself for your kind ana thoughtful gifts of socks, handkerchiefs and 6oap. They will be very useful indeed. The men each received a parcel from you some time ago, and I wrote you accordingly. I would like to mention for your information that we are not permitted to have white handkerchiefs in our possession on service. Again thanking you for your thoughtfulness." , .