Once the campaign had been decided on — about 18 days ago — many willing hands got to work to gather in the goods, and the call was answered almost as soon as made. Gifts of all kinds simply poured in, and were conveyed to the Brydone Hall. Early on Saturday morning 50,000 bags were ranged in the hall, waiting to be claimed by the purchaser of a shilling ticket, the number on the ticket corresponding with the number on the bag. The rush by the people commenced at half-past 8 in the morning, and right through the day crowds stood at the Crawford Street entrance, awaiting their turn to be admitted to present their tickets. Policemen guarded the doorway, and only allowed a certain number in at a time, and after securing their bags the people went out of the hall at the opposite side — at the doors in Vogel Street. By mid-day the whole of the 50,000 tickets had been sold, with the exception of a few hundred which had been retained for the pierrots to dispose of during the procession. By evening £2410 had been taken over by the officers of the National Bank — the first time over £2000 has been handled by the officers in one day as a result of patriotic movements — and there is still some money to come in. It is expected that the gross receipts will reach about £2500. The expenses will not be heavy, and consequently well over £2000 should be available for the association.
Stray dog nuisance
A representative of this paper was informed on Saturday by a shopkeeper in George Street, whom he noticed at his shop door with a piece of stout cord in his hand, that he was on the lookout for stray dogs, as he had been informed by the corporation’s inspector that dogs, with or without collars, had no right in the street, and as they were a perpetual nuisance, especially to shopkeepers, he was determined to do his best to secure as many as possible in order that they might be conveyed to the lethal chamber.
Lash recommended
A matter of extreme social importance was referred to by Mr Harris in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night (says the Wellington Post). At every Supreme Court session, he said, representations were made by the Grand Jury that the power of the judges in dealing with offences against women and girls should be increased. His proposal was a liberal application of the lash, and he urged that the law should be altered to that effect.
Keep Right campaign
The General Committee of the City Council reports, for consideration at next meeting of the council on Wednesday, that with a view to more effectively regulating pedestrian traffic in the main streets, instructions have been given to erect a number of "Keep to the Right" notices at regular intervals in George and Princes streets, between Frederick and Stafford streets. The failure of a considerable section of the public to observe the regulations for foot passengers to "Keep to the Right" is the cause of considerable dislocation of traffic, more particularly in the centre of the city, and it is hoped that the erection of notices will help to improve matters. — ODT, 23.7.1917.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
