COPPER TRAIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 242, 1 July 1918, Page 10

COPPER TRAIL

WKLLTNGTON SEVEN -Afrr.KS BEHIND. In the contest between provinces for (he goou of the Red Cross Auckland still holds the leading place, having advanced twelve, miles during last week, while YVoilinglon, under the spur of being overtaken, greatly improved ils pace, piling up no fewer than ten miles of toppers. The relative positions this morning are: Auckland at Hucklnnd, 33 miles; Wellington, .one mile short of Pneknkariki, ,26 miles. 'Wellington requires ,£!!20 lo reach the seaside resort, and the trail, workers have had so many evidences of splendid since the task was commenced that they would not be surprised to find that someone wilh a keen desire lo .see' Wellington in ils proper place as Ihe leading city of New Zealand will provide the means to cover that empty.mile.

So far the bull; of the trail-lnying has been done By the patriotic people of Wellington, but the outside towns are now showing active interest, and the effect on the trail should be noticed iii the. course of a week or 1 two. The effort is a big one, and has tfi bo carefuliy organissi to get enough impetus (o last the long 't'istanra. lira. Wilford's visit to Palmerslon North on behalf of the trail resulted in a good meeting of people who mean business, tho Mayor (Mr. Nash) and Mayoress being , among , those who heartily took up their part of thn Auck-land-Wellington challenge. At Feilding a meeling convened by Mr. A. St. Ongley, the Mayor, gave the trail another push ahead, ami Mrs. Wilford reports hopefully on the prospects in this district.' Several residents of Hnwera liavo written expressing their willincnMs to put the flourishing Taranaki town on tho trail,'and Mrs. Wilford will no doubt interview them while in the district.

Tributes of the most interesting sort, continue lo come into the little white chalet at Government BniHings. There was a reference recently to a desire to' find the local centenarians so ns to interest them in the idea of putting down a penny for each, year of )ife. In one of the red .collecting boxes during the week there was found 7s. Gd. x roin a gentleman who is almost a centenarian, it welcome half-crown came all the way from Melbourne, where interest is being taken in the trail idea. Y.M.C.A. coupons worth 7s.| Cd. were sent in with a' note demonstrating, quite without that intention, how smnll is the sneri'ice of money compared with uther sacrifices in the war. "These were sent by mo to a brave l)oy in France, who, T regret to say, was killed in action a few days before the arrival of letter," explained the covering note. Soldiers' mothers continue to show practical interest in the trail, for they realise perhaps better than others what the lied Crow means to our brave defenders. One mother, in forwarding pennies equal to her boy's age, and an addition marking (he date of his Wrlhday, jjavo this tribute' to l?ed Cross effort': "He- has been five months in hosnitul .'n France, and is now in the firing-line again, but he cannot forget how well thn nurses looked after him there; and wilh gratiludc I send my few ponce to help the good cause." And it is the ijood cause which stimulates the trail workers: and they also plead guilly to a pardonable desire lo snake Wellington and ils neighbouring provinces feel proud of themselves when the fiiinl destination of the long trail is reached. The following donations have been received to .June 28 in aid of the copper trail:- ( . . £. s. d. Jlr. and Mrs. A. Fi. Pearce HO 0 0 I'etMiu Committee (4th inelalmcnt ... : 53 1S 4 " C. and A. Odlin, Ltd ... 15 15 0 E. Short, lending 10 0. 0 A. ]). Crawford 10 0 0 Mr. and Mrs. .1. Bhuidell ... 10 0 0 . "Anon" I" « 0 Miss Marks (cake) '7 15 I l'etone Committee {llril instalment), M (is. Cd.; Students' Training College, W. V. Short, Ltd., J'!. 1 , . V,. Swaiuson, Feilding, each .£3; Gear Company's employees (2nd instalment), JM 7s. Bd.j Gear Company's employees (3rd instalment, ,£1 12s. Bd.; Chilian House School (3rd instalment),- XI. IGs. 75.; I'etono West School, M 155.. Gsd.; Mis* Babcr's School, .El Bs. Cd.; Mrs. Isaac, Mrs Kollestou, "Sol," Mrs. Barber, Dr. floes, each £1; Tawa Flat School, 155.; Ellie Pearce, Staff Chief Engineer'n Typing Eoom, each -10s; Government Printing Office Stall' (4th instalment) , , 7s. Id.; Hessio Paynter, Cs.; "Ono of the Boys," Hntt, 55.; Warren and Selwyn Toogood, 3s. Tho abov3 list doe 3 not include money sent direct to the Her Cross treasurer, Mr. Joseph Joseph, and acknowledged iii him,