END OF COPPER TRAIL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 6

END OF COPPER TRAIL

TOTAL TO DATE, .£220,698. The now famous Copper Trail, which was initiated by ilesdames T. 11. Wilford and E. Pearce to assist in tho raising of funds in connection with tho 'Our Day" -appeal for. Eed Cross funds, came to an end yesterday. The achievement has been a notable one. It is only four months ago or so since the challenge was issued in the Town Hall by tho Hon. T. M. Wilford to AuekVid to lay a trail in coppers the length of the railway track. Tho fact that Auckland finished her job some weeks ago, and that Wellington got a little more than half way, does not matter a scrap. The main thing is that the medium for raising the money was a good one, and infinite credit is duo to the promoters and tlie workers at both ends for the splendid results achieved. Theso were announced by Sir Joseph Ward at the Copper Trail pavilion on Lambton Quay at 2.15 p.m. yesterday, when the Trail was ended. After thanking the ladies for the earnest and steadfast work they had accomplished for the Red Cross and tho public for its generous response, Sir Joseph announced ' that the amount raised by the Copper' Trail effort in the. Wellington district was .£08,128 (irrespective of moneys collected by the Wellington "Our Day" Citizens' .Committee and the Red Cross Shop). Of that amount Wellington city and suburban area subscribed ,£BIO7 19a. 4kl. Tho following are the totals for special efforts in Wellington:—

The suburbs of Wellington were responsible for tlie-raisinj of £Yttl 4s. IOJd. The total for Wellington city rtnd suburban area, suburbs, and special efforts makes the local contribution to the Trail fund .£11,395 Us. 2jd. The following are the district (military) totals:— £ Otajo and Southland 32,960 Canterbury 31,890 Auckland ...! 93,720 Wellington 68,128 Grand total .E22G.G98 Sir Joseph Ward said that it was hoped that the grand total would reach a quarter of a million before the final wash-up.

The generosity of small givers at thp Lambton Quay chalet and at Courtenay Place yielded .£1952 55., of which sum -CGOB lie. was collected at Courtenay Place (whero-the funds were controlled by Mrs. Arthur Geddis). Sir Joseph Ward thought Wellington anil the Government should Iμ proud of and thankful to the ladies who hud blazed 'the "Copper Trail," and he called for three hearty cheers for them, which were given with great vigour.

Then, in the freezing rain, Mr. A. E. Malrin sqjd the chalet and appurtenances. The signboard wn* sold to Mr. Stanley Harc'ourt for ,£1 155.; the penny sign to Sir Joseph Ward for ill 55.; the chalet to Mr. G. E. Hunter for .£3O, and a jewel ease (made of polished oak from tin? timbers of the battleship Queen Mary, sunk at the Battle of Jutland) was bought by Mr. Stanley Harcourt for ■£G, after Sir Joseph Ward had started it at £b. The sale yielded tho sum of £M.

. *s s. d. "Dressing the Soldier" .8,... 125 i GJ Midland Hotel raid 301 0 G Jumble Sale 350 0 0 Violet Day 93118 « "Kewpio" pony raffle 250 .0 0 "Joan the Woman" picture .. 88 7 0 Total £2,016 10 0J