GOLD AND SILVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 11

GOLD AND SILVER

WOMEN SACRIFICE MANY LOVELY TRINKETS

PARTY IN AID OF MAYORESS'S FUND

At the beginning of the Great War a lady who was doing some sewing pricked her *inger because the silver thimble she was wearing was worn out She decided the thimble would have to be discai'ded and then it occurred to her that there must be many thousands of discarded old silver thimbles in Britain and that their aggregate value must be considerable. At her instigation a silver thimble fund for war purposes was started. Queen Alexandra became its patroness and during the war £60,000 was collected. This fund has been started again in England and also in Australia, and a short time ago Miss Winifred Quinton, of Wellington, suggested to the Mayor of Wellington that a similar, fund might

be started here. Her suggestion was taken up with enthusiasm and it was decided to establish a fund* entitled the Mayoress's Gold and Silver Fund.

Miss Quinton set the ball rolling by inviting a large number of friends to an afternoon reception in the Sydney Street Schoolroom on Saturday. There were about 100 people present and each one brought along some gold or silver trinket which was received at the door and placed on one of the display tables. MORE THAN "TRINKETS." The response to Miss Quinton's appeal was quite amazing. Many of the articles brought were of far greater value than the word "trinket" implies, and included in the collection were solid silver cigarette cases, vases, ornaments, bracelets, and many other treasures too numerous to mention. The Mayoress, Mrs. T. C. A. Hislop, , attended the reception and she spoke of the sacrifice the donors had made in parting with these gifts. Country Mends had sent f> large collection of articles and there had also been gifts of cheques. Mrs. Hislop said that the final result of the drive should be more than satisfactory. All the articles were to be kept under lock and key by the City Treasurer. The articles would be handed in to him in individual parcels with a list showing the names of the donors, and a list of acknowledgments would be published later. The articles would be disposed of to their best advantage and the: money was to be used for anything that might crop up through the Mayoress's Pafriotic Committee. Mrs. Hislop stated that Mrs. S. Tihgey, who had also sponsored the idea of the fund, had already held a party at her home which had resulted in the sum of £7 10s as well as many articles of value for the fund. "UP TO ALL WOMEN." Miss Quinton, who told how the idea of the fund had originated, said ~ that a wonderful start had been made with the drive and it was now up to all .the women of New Zealand to carry Thanks to all who helped with the party were extended by Mrs. Sprott. She specially' mentioned the Misses iSeely (2) and Miss L. Anderson, who played incidental, music; Miss Christine Ormiston, who sang accompanied at ithe piano by Miss E. K. Ballinger; Mrs. Tingey, who gave elocutionary 1 items; Mrs. E. T. Bevan and Miss Bevan, of Carter ton, who arranged the i lovely ilowers which decorated the hall; Mrs. F. J. Carter and Miss F. E. Ballinger, who had undertaken the work ,of receiving and marking the gifts; Mrs. John Orr, who with the j help of a number of friends, super-* i vised the serving of tea; Mr. and Mrs. J V. Williams, caretakers of the hall, who had given their services throughout the day. ' Both Mrs. Hislop and Mrs Sprott spoke of the wonderful work Miss Quinton had done in organising the party. +■+•„„ After tea there was a competition; and a sale of flowers and cakes to further augment the fund.