BLAZING THE TRAIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 219, 5 June 1918, Page 7

BLAZING THE TRAIL

RED CROSS COPPER TRACK

WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND

Very novel and attractive is the newest form of helping to win the war by ■ seeing thnt tho British Red Cross organisation—on tho efforts of which tho lives of hundreds of thousands of our nun may depend—is amply supplied with everything that is needful for its work of mercy. Thanks nro duo from tho relatives of every man in tho field oi in camp for tho inventive minds which thought of connecting Auckland with Wellington by, a traok of pennies—a copper trail, '.the distanco along tho ra;fway metals is -126 miles, and tho am unit that will have to bo subscribed to cover Ihe distanco is .£93,657 10s. That Honour is not to bo monopolised by Wd lington. It is the result of a challenge to Auckland as to which shall iass the half-way lino first, and a challengo wh : *h' tho northern city, in a fine sporting Miirit, eagerly accepted. Indeed, such are the reports of the activity being displayed in tho northern city district that the Wellington originators of tho scheme, Mcsdames T. M. Wilford and A. 'E. Pearce, with their lady helpers, showed not a little nervous trepidation as to Iho manner in'which people of tho Wellington district (whiclii includes T°ranaki, Hawko's Bay, and Wairoa County, and, of course, Wairarapa, Mun'awatu, Rangitikei, Wanganui, nnd the Waiamrino are going to Tally to their aid. Without ostentation the Red Cross copper trail was started yesterday morning from the little white pavilion which has been crected within the stone lc.-rb that separates tho side-walk on Lambton Quay from the lawn plot of tho grounds of "Parliamentary Buildings. There is 110 mistaking the spot. If in doubt look out for tlie Red Cross flag which Hies from a lofty pole beside the pavilion, and, if, perohance, it is after office hours, a stout red box has been erected flush with the footpath for the receipt of any moneys the ■ generously-disposed mav feel inclined to give., Tho opening, if it was done without show, was none tho less auspicious. A letter had been received from the children of tlio Normal School asking tp be allowed the hohour of laying down coppers to cover the first 43 yards {£!>). but when at 9.30 a.m. yesterday the committee reached the starting point, with a full intention of acceding to th« children's generous offer, they found thnt Iwo soldiers had laid tho first yard on the step of the pavilion. That was the actual start. To keep faith with th« children, it was decided that their pennies should be used (actually) to enframe tho plot of lawn on which tho pavilion stood, and all day yesterday people, coming suddenly upon the "copper finish " to tho concrete kerb, could be witnessed expressing surprise and interest in tho. good .work so effectively launched. But that was not all, Th« children were allowed the privilege of hoisting the sacred Red Cross flag—tho n.vmbol of help, comfort and life—for tho first time—the Hag that is not to be lowered until the copper , trail 'between Wellington' and Auckland is complete. Then an offer was received from Colonel nnd Mrs. W. 11. S. Moorhouso to lay the Irail in copper along tlie first half-mile; and after that <1 mother, who said slin would like to givo pennies to tho height of her soldier son (now in France) called at tho pavilion. Her son was Gft. tall, sho 6aid, and at 10 pennies to the foot her account camo to 55., which she most willingly and cheerfully paid. Dnring the day two little girls came down with their money boxes and added tho contents to tho trail, which has already made its way into the suburbs, and to-day probably will be traversing tho Onslow boronali en route to the north.

This lied Cross copper trail .is 'not to lie a long-spun-out business. ,Tho Red Cross Society committees in .overy cenao in tlie southern half oE the Korlh Island li.ive been communicated with, and their urgent and nctivo co-operation ij sought not only to help the Red Cross, but to uphold tlio honour of Wellington in the engrossing competition with AUck'ainl now under way. The following.is .tho copy of.a c.ircularletter which lias lieen sent out by tho organisers to eacli committee of the Red Cross Society in the district:—. "Wellington Copper Trail- Ohalleu;;<> to Auckland. "In order to help the British Rcl Cross Our Day appeal, wo have evolved a scheme which we hope will jneet with support-and approval-froir all. Wo wish to interest young and old, rich and poolalike, and, with their help, to complex ly line our rail through to Auckland with pennies; No sum is too small, and the pennies tiat are "iven ro lust as surely to lining t'ae way • as lar.;ur sums.

"One suggestion wo slionld liko to make is that each Red Cross eub-ceiif.ie Rhoukl ask the children, through <ie fchool teachers, to give one penny pir week. This means ihat each child who gives ten pennies lines a foot of the. way, two shillings and sixpence one yard, ami so on.

"Wo leave each centre to raise money in the way it thinks best, but suggest that all sections should bo drawn i«to the fight, so as to make the in.-erest as widespread as possible. A spirit of competition, properly fostered, shos.ld be the moans of raising large sums. AYe suggest that a Citizens' Committae slionld be set ujjn each sub-centro for'tho pur-

poso of tho 'Our Day' appeal, nnd it should be as representative «.t' all societies and associations as possible, headed, of couwe, by tho local Ited Cross committee.

"In order that tho progress of tho trail ma.v bo ascertained each week, it will bo necessary that returns should 1)0 posted every Friday of all monjys which have been collected or promised, 30 liiat tho progress of tne trail may be recorded on the map weekly, thereby showing the relative positions, as between the Auckland and thni Wellington district. "In-conclusion, we earnestly hopo that you will' tako tho 6chemo up, and help to bring it to ft successful issue. "Wo enclose copies of tho ihallenge and a. map of tho division of the N Kill Island on a population basis made by tho Government Statistician.—Y-mrs faithfully, (Signed) "GEORGIA WILTORD. "VICA PEARCE." Mr. Oscar G. Kcmbor Box fZ-f) has offered to net as ficcretnrv and Air. A. E. Pearce (cure Levin and Co., Wellington) is the treasurer of Hie Trail Fund.