MR. AND MRS. OATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2633, 2 December 1915, Page 3

MR. AND MRS. OATES

THE FRIENDS 01' NEW ZEALAND BOYS. The following extract from a letter written by a Wellington soldier from Cairo will be read with interest:— '.I will give you a description of my present surroundings just to let you see how we spend most of our evenings. Time, 8.15 p.m., Y.M.C.A. tent; the tables are filled with men to their utmost, some writing letters, others reading, and Mrs. Oates,'one of the finest old ladies I have met is at the piano, playing familiar hymns and old tunes that wo all knew as kiddies, and occasionally slio will sing, and she has a hig. fino voice for her age; and then "Old Dad," as everybody is pleased to call him, is amongst the chaps, and knows all their names, and is a good' old sport, and is ready to do anything in his power for anyone of them. They, from theix ; own personal funds, find anything required by the troops, and always have tie word of advice, which 16 a great thing for us, and I feel sure they have been instrumental in keeping a very large portion of tho boys up to the mark, and have helped t'nera in every way to keep clean and strong against tho awful vices that are so terribly prevalent here: so, old chap, we have a little refresher and reminder of those far away. The fellows simply worship Mr. an-1 Mrs. Oates for their efforts to help them.

All the infantry and batteries are away at Alexandria embarking, and only the Mounted Brigade remains in camp, and last night Mrs. Oates had some hot coffee for the boys leaving camp, and some of us were here giving a hand, nutl the poor old _ lady seemed so sorry as each one ran ill to say goodbye, and the poor old soul would wipe a few tears away, and really the true-hearted devotion of them both was one of the finest revelations of kind and tender nature I liave ever witnessed, and I know you will appreciate the efforts of these two old people. They came out from Scotland especially to carry on Y.M.C.A. work amongst the New Zealand 1 boys, as have travelled throughout New Zealand,, and they were very devoted to the people, and, as they say, they thought it would bo a good way to return the hospitality tiny received while >fhere, and I have 110 hesitation in saying that if the people in New Zealand knew of the individual work they arc doing, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers would thank both from the depths of their hearts. They deserve it.