PATRIOTIC WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1916, Page 5

PATRIOTIC WORK.

CHRISTMAS (JIFTS FOR SCLDIEF.Sj Rollani! Hall was a scene of grea^*P» tivitv yesterday afternoon, when tliei Christmas gifts for Toranaki soldiers were exhibited. AH through the afternoon there was an incessant stream of sightseers and eager purchasers, and at times the hall was uncomfortably crowd, ed. Though .Mesdames Hugh Baily and T). K. Jlorrison had the valuable assist" ance of other ladies in collecting the gifts, to the ladies named is due the major portion of the credit, and they have every reason to feel proud of the results of their labor of love. A magnificent collection was displayed, and it was hut another example of tile thought* fulness and generosity of North Taranaki folk where our soldier boys are con* cerned. The liall liad been nicely decorated, and on entering it the first stall on the left was for flowers, soap and perfume. V'nder a panoply of tree ferns and arum lilies a magnificent assortment of lovely flowers was tastefully displayed, dqiotjj perfumes and delicate soaps nestling in between bunches and baskets and vases ol sweet-smelling blooms. The stall was a really beautiful one, and it seemed almost a desecration to have to deprive it of any of its beauty. But it ■was not for show purposes only, and such aplen-1 did Imsiness resulted that before Bix o'clock it presented ''cry dilapidated appearance. Misses Radford, Leatham, Kirkby and Matthews were in charge of this stall, and they were assisted oy a number of little ilnwer-girls, who dartedi hither and thither selling buttonholes. Further on to the left was the piece de resistance, the display of gifts, and it evoked a buzz of admiration and gratification. There were dozens of mosti templing Christmas cakes (made from fe special recipe by various ladies) and piles of plurn puddings. Each cake and pudding bore the name of the maker, and several were accompanied by littlq messages. Then there were tins of 'bigcuits, great heaps of condensed milk, meat extract, ham and tongulj, cafe an iait. Totl'ce, caramels, chocolates, and sweets of all descriptions (even, to the Christmas stockings so beloved children) were in profusion. Toilet requisites, such as soap (washing and. shaving), tooth brushes, dental powder and paste, etc., were a-plenty, and 4 great pile of towels had not been forgot* ten. There were pencils, pens, rubbers, envelopes, note-hooks, note-paper, and writing pads in dozens, while pipes, tobacco and cigarettes were, of course, prominent. There are, by the way, ■2J,(N>i) cigarettes *j»d 20 lb of tobaccol in bond that are also included. Useful* looking pocket knives and packs of cards will be welcomed by the soldiers, but to enumerate the whole if the gift* would occupy too much space. '.Suifice to say, apparently not one thing that could possibly he of use and cheer to the boys in the trenches had been forgotten toy thq generous donors. In a quiet and prettily-decorated anteroom Misses Keitlia T.eatham, Winfield, Mcl'lclaml and Webster were kept busy all the afternoon dispensing _ice-creams and fruit salad. On the opposite side of the hall Mesdames Doekrill, Penn, .Uatthcws, Wilson, Addenbrooke, and Mi.is Smith presided over a produce stall and a .cake stall, which were laden with every conceivable article from farm, dairy, garden and kitchen. There were sucking pigs, hams, geese, fowls, meat pies, butter, fhee.-e, cream, hundreds of eggs, vegetables of all descriptions, herbs, baskets rihl sacks »f locally grown oranges and lemons, quantities of jams and pickles, saiucs, scone-, cakes, bread, and a plethora, of oilier good things. Splendid business was done ;'.>y the ladies ini charge anil their assistants. Two donations to the stall that may be mentioned were a box of butter from the Inglewood factory, and a disc of tinned ipeatj and a sack of ox-tails from the Waitara Freezing Works. Saloa of slices of soldier,-,' Christmas cake at this stall realised .02 lis (id.

The stage was used as a tea-room, and lii'i'u. Mrs. Orbel!, Hisses 0. Mackay, Sf. Corkill, R. Whitton, Ooldwater, E. I?aiU\v, mid B. Matthews were the cliief waitresses. Delicious tea and cakes and scones were obtainable at a moderate figure, and the tea-room was largely; patronised. At a corner of the stage was the orchestra, under Jlrs. Woods, and that lady and her assistants rendered soma delightful selections during the afternoon. Wcighf-guessing for a goose resulted in Mesdnmes Hawkins and B. Bellringer guessing the exact weight, 71b 10oz., and in Hie draw-off Mrs. Bellringer was successful. Miss U. Lindstrom, a scholar nt the Convent, guessed one more than the exact number (13!)) of threepennybits in a bottle, and won the prize, a beautifully-iced cake. "Joyce'' was- the name of a sitting hen, and Mrs. W. Paul correctly guessed it. The takings for the afternoon wero 2s li)d. but there may be n few more shillings to come. That ainouni was nuwlc up as follows:—Door, £S 14s li.l; flowers, £(i Is 2d; ice cream, etc., ,Ci: produce and cake stall, £3O 13s 2d;, afternoon tea, £4 12a Gd.

Mesdamos Hugh Bailey and MorrfsoS acknowledge with thanks donations to their fund for Christmas parcels for tho boys at the front us follows; Mrs. Colson 3s, A Trieud 2s (id, A Soldier's Sister iis, llrs. L. Maneliard '2s Bd, Mrs. W. •Duncan 2s (id, Mto Rawson 2s, Mrs, Doekrill 10s. Anon 10s f lC™. Bedford ss, .Mrs. Hasluck as, Mr. 0. Wells 6s, Mrs. Muilbcy !)s (id, Mrs. Colson and Mrs. E. Bundle (Bell Block), Mcsdames Frost, l'ntt, A. Smith, f.icjitwark, Hart, Swanwick"'and Kidd (all of Oniata), produce;; Mr. .7. S. Connett, two loaf cheese; Mrs. J. Hawkins, ham; Wellington Farmers' M?at Co., one ease extract of 'beef; also to Mrs. Kidd (Oniata), JJr. Smith (Urei liiii motor). Mr. Asher, Mr. Scott, Mr. Wes. Hooker, and Mr. Lye, for services rendered. The lion, secretary (Mr. F. \V. G. M<m Lend) of the Comforts Week Committed visited Waitara on Wednesday, and! found that the residents there are taking up the project with enthusiasm. Ai-> lfinnciiients have already been made for the Maoris to give n ;;rnnd entertainment in the Coronation Hall on the Friday evening of Carnival Week, and oilier support is promised, Mr. T. Buchanan is chairman of the committee. Mrs. Burgess acknowledges a cheque for ,t75 from the shareholders of the Xgacre Co-operative Dairy Company, for Cliristiim- comforts for the soldiers. Also donations of £l l'Os Od (through Mrs. Barak, head teacher) from the Warea school children, and £1 from Mr. H. H, l'eters, Kaimiro. It was Mr. Carter, »ot Mr. Cocker, who donated a gramophone lo*. B Com. any, 17th v ";'