WESTLAND GIFTS FOR THE FRONT.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1917, Page 4

WESTLAND GIFTS FOR THE FRONT.

Work of the Overseas Appreciated The Home mails continue to bring very hearty -Acknowledgements from the ra n hi front for the g‘Ls sent :r m "hi* district through tha Oversett* organ**?'!£»>• Hose is i» ir.tiet ra ceivtd by the Pi trident of (bo Overseas Club from an old friend tsergt Hut.;h L.klst ’, M.M : —- Somewhere iu France, March Ist, 1917 Again I have to write to you—-this time to acknowledge receipt of four splendid parcels from Harrod & Co's of London. These were eeDt to yom order, as President of the Overseas Club, and wete really splendid parcels, and most welcome additions to our none t'-o full laide"*. I have bad visits from iFiank Gonn and Frauk Stapleton since I received the goods, and they have each sampled content*. These marks of goodwill are very welcome and we ate all very grateful to all the donors. We hare read with interest all about the Soldiers’ Club in Hokitika and wish it. every aaciees. It is fire to know lhat our less fortunate oomrades are being bs well taken care of.

The Dews of the forced German retreat on part of this front, is of great interest to a", as the gains in the reoent advance made his position untenable. We take this as a good angury and await the coming offensive with every confidence. While holding the line our boys are continually raiding the Hnn trenches, just to show we are still hrre and able and willing to beat him any time. He has tried occasionally to raid our lines with disastrous results to himself. Very rarely has an enemy set foot in the New Zealand lines, and those who did get in left in a great hurry. The artillery is pretty hot lately at times, and it is very reassuring to

bear our guns roaiing. - Our fellows have stood the winter very well indeed. The cold was very severe —fire buckets full of water freezing solid inside the billets ! We are a very cheerful crowd in spite of these trifle?. The ground, of c00r39. wa9 hard as stone, but eovV that the thaw hae set in the mud is just beyond words.

You may be surprised to kuow that Xtnas gifts are only now coming to hand. We had plenty at Xraai and these are very welcome just dow. All the Coast boys are keeping very fit and well, end join me on Sunday. Warm regards and cheero to all Coast friends. We era hoping soon to pack our kits for tha last time here, bat in the meantime ate 11 carrying on,” knowing ihjit/we must win out soon. Yours sincarely, / Hugh Linklatsr. P.S.—Two of my parcels contained oards from the Staff jrd Euobre Party, the two others had no guide as to senders. Please thank them all for me.

Further Acknowledgments.

The Rosa Patriotic Committee continues to receive acknowledgments of gifts sent forward to West Coast soldiers towards the end of last year. The following is one of the latest replies for parcels sent through the Overseas Club:—

“ Franoe, March 2. Many thanks for box of foodstuffs. It is most aooeptable and is being kept until our next turn in the trencher. (Sighed) S. E. K. Marshall, Lieut., 13tb Coy.” In November last the pupils of Woodstock School organised an entertainment for comforts for the RimuWoodstock soldiers on active service. The money was sent through the Overseas Club, and by Itust week’s mail acknowledgments began to come to hand from the men, stating the gifts had been received, saying how welcome they were, and writing of ths exceloent and appropriate quality of the goods.

Another example of the careful organisation of the Overseas Club in the matter of distribution, was the receipt by a donor of a parcel, of a card stating the soldier for whom the gift was intended had returned to New Zealand, and that the contents of the paro9l had been distributed among the soldier’s late comrades. The next remittance to London on acoonnt of the Overseas Club will be mads at the end of this week.