PATRIOTIC WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1916, Page 4

PATRIOTIC WORK.

Reminder is given of the dramatic and musical recital in the Good Templar Hall • this evening. A very choice programme, embracing Shakes'perian duologues, dramatic sketches in character, recitations, vocal and instrumental items, will be submitted, and in the capable hands of Mrs. Nathan, Misses Peart, O. ' Leatham and Beryl Hirst, Ee.v. A. H. Cohile, and Mr. MacDouald, its interpretation is sure to prove most successful. Not only the merits ot the programme and performers, but the object of the recital, should appeal to the public. The entertainment is being given in aid of the funds for No. I New Zealand Stationary Hospital, and on that score also the hnli should be crowded to the doors to-night. Mrs. Burgess thanks Miss Wilson, who donated the Hags, that were sold on Saturday, and Messrs F. \X. Sandford and Ahier for mounting them. , The Mayoress has also to acknowledge the gift of a Morris chair, from the Fitzroy schoolchildren, for the Soldiers' Club. This happy little gift for the institution should be an inspiration to other schools to follow suit.

The Mayoress is in receipt of 30s collected among the scholars of the Mimi School (Waitoitoi), with instructions that one pound shall be devoted to the fund to provide Christmas cheer for soldiers who are fighting at the front, the other Mis to be added to the Belgian Children Fund.

That the school-children of Taranaki are f.ealous patriots and sympathisers with the boys at the front goes without saying, and the Mayoress of New Plymouth informs ,us of another instance. A schoolboy, Hector Rolfe, writes to her, enclosing £3 lis (Id, whifrh, he says, 'lias been collected among the children in order to provide something nice for Ch"i -tmas for the soldiers who are fight-

i'lip sale of flowers on Saturday, condusted by the Mayoress and her ,*coworkers, was in aid of the Nurses' Christmas Comforts Fund, and a splendid response was made bv the public, a total of £2O Is Sd resulting. Of this sum, however, the sale of flags (small Union Jacks), which were vended by youthful and persistent sellers, brought in £4 15s, tml donations amounted to £-2. The supply of flowers was an excellent one, reflecting highly upon tho generosity of garden owners, but tho morning's sample stock proved insufficient, and in the afternoon tho Morshead Nursery Company again lent down a magnificent collection. Ur t P. MeEwen, Carrington Road, also contributed a fine collection of pot plants, and tho.-.e found ready sale. The lady workers at the depot were Mesdames, Kurgess, (libson and White, Misses Sole, (irant and Fabian, while in charge of tho patriotic flower cart were Misses Warren, F. Winheld, and K. Lenthnm, Tho Mayoress also desires to thank Mr. J. fiibson for a very generous supply of flowers, and Miss Ramson, Messrs. J\. Cock, and P. White for violets.

For the Belgian Fund, the Misses Warren, on Saturday, conducted n sale ol' violets, the ladies hnvi'ig secured a profusion of these lovely harbingers ot Spring from generous donors. Violets wore the popular flowers during the morning, and the energetic ealeslad'c* bv their persuasiveness ouickly disposed of their stock, the fund benefiting' by six guineas.

Although Saturday was a comparativelv "off" day at the Red Cross Mar ■n that no special district effort wa made, the Ladies' Committee had a vcrj busy time. Many gifts of dairy, farm and garden produce were forwarded and there was a plentitude of purchaser? throughout the day. The takings amounted to £2O 5s sd, and this sum must, under the circumstances, be'considered eminently satisfactory. Helpiiig tile ladies in charge by selling flowers, etc., were Misses filadvs Jones, Eileen Bond/Doris Bond, H. Cook, Bessie and Olive Sole, Huia and Ada Brokenshire, E. Avery, Soackman »nd Beaton, Masters McXeill. McDiarmid. Ly.-.ons, and ''A Soldier's Sister." The ladies in charge of the Bed Crosi Mart will be very grateful'for gifts of jam, pickles, chutney, etc. On these and other home-made products there i 3 always "a run," and the committee cannot have too bountiful a supply ca<H week. Xext Saturday it is hoped to run two or three guessing competitions in connection with the mart.

.Mr. Oliver ITohy, on Saturday, generously donated a fine' draught horse, '•Bob." to be disposed for the Bed Cross Fund, and Mr. J. E. Hill promptly arranged with Mr. C. Fairbrother for "Bob's" sale at the yards on Thursday next. The animal is staunch and sound —a large sum being refused for him a few weeks ago by his owner—and th« fund should he substantially added to by. Mr. Hnbv's generous gift. Mesdames Hugh Baily and Morrison acknowledge with thanks contributions In their fund for Christmas parcels for the hivs nt the front, as follow: F. E. Morris' ,C2 2s, Mrs. Fantham £l, P. .1. Webb ins, Mr. Corbett 13s, Mrs. R. H. (ioorgi' r>s, Nancy Forbes Is, lali Forbes Is, Leslie Kirkhy, sucking pig; H. Hftri vcv, shin of beef.