IRISH RELIEF FUND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 55, 31 January 1880, Page 3

IRISH RELIEF FUND.

A meeting to further the Irish Relief Fund was held at the Borough Council offices on Thursday afternoon. There was a very limited attendance, and ibo Mayor of Ashbxn-ton presided, who, in opening the meeting, said that it must be known to all that large sums had beeix subscribed to the Irish fund in all parts of the colonies, though Ashbm-toxx was perhaps late ixx thojftjdd, it was not yet too late for the locol to take xneasures to raise subscriptions to relieve the distress. The Council had been blamed in tho columns of the “ Mail ” for not having taken action in the matter, but ho thought that Mr. Ivess had taken proceedings in respect to the relief not at all warranted by custom in the circumstances. He (the speaker) received a coxxnxnmication from Mx-. Cunningham in reference to the matter. Mx*. Bullock said he had suggested at the last xxieeting of the Council that subscription lists should be left at the Banks, &c., and he thought that such course should be pursued. So far a shipping oats to Ireland was concerned, should the farmers feel inclined to give grain as a subscription he would recommend that an advertisement put in the local papers requesting sympathisers among the farmers to forward anything they desired to give to some of the local firms, and that the clerk of the Council write to the principal fanners in the district with this object in view. He would move—“ That the Mayor be appointed Treasurer for the Irish Distress Relief Fund. ” Mi-. Weymouth Roberts seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Rudolf Friedlander suggested that subscription lists be sent round to the various stores and business places. He considered that as very few wex-e present it would be unfair to ask of those present to take the burden on their shoulders. Mr. Wilkie offered his services in the matter, as he was travelling constantly over the district. The offer was accepted with thanks. .Mr. Bullock then suggest ed the appointment of a town canvasser, also that the Road Boards be applied to, to use their influence in the matter. A subscription list was then opened. Mr. Weymouth Roberts suggested the addition of more names to the Committee, and named Messrs. F. P. O’Reilly, C. Braddell, H. J. Weeks, 0. Dixon, Joshua Tucker, Joseph Ivess, B. Hughes, J. Yv rallace, W. A. Brown, Hugh Cullen, James Brown, J. Stanley Bruce, R. Little, P. Tisch, Hood, Jas. Scott, Mr. C. P. Cox, and others willing. Mr. Bullock proposed that Mr. S. E. Poyntz be requested to canvas the town for subscriptions. This was seconded by Mr. R. Friedlander, axxd carried.