THE PENGUIN WRECK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 839, 10 June 1910, Page 2

THE PENGUIN WRECK.

$. RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE. SETTLING UP ACCOUNTS. A general fettling up of accounts was ,'tho feature of tho business transacted by' the Executive Committee of the Penguin Relief Fund at its meeting yesterday. There were present at the mcotiiig, which was held at tho Town Hall: Mr. Martin Kennedy (in the chair), a;id M-:ssrs. J.-.mos Moore, W. A. Kennedy. A. E. I'earcp, Alexander Turnbull, Bert Koylc, Walter Bliindell, and J. R. Palmer. I ' \ An Account of Its Stewardship. The SMli-conimittee submitted a report of the administration of this fund, covering tho period from March 1, Ml), ?s follows :- "Thn committee has to report that sinci) its appointment on March 1, 180!), tho sum of £1875 17s. Bd. lias beun subscribed to the fund. This, subsidised by tho Government to the extent of .£IOOO, brought the total receipts up to .£2875 17s. Bd. The sum of £Si IBs. 9d. was lodged in the bank for convenience in aid of tho Stewardesses' ilemoriol Fund; the Union Steam Ship Company cxclmngtd cheques in the sum of .£lO 12s. lid., and these amounts, together with a sundry balance of ss. cash in hand, due to a discount, makes a total of .£2971 13a. lid., as shown by the balance-sheet herewith presented. Fifty-nine Cases Assisted. "Your committee has assisted 59 cases in all, and, in doing so, has very carefully inquired into the merits of each Tho inquiries made have involved much time uhd consideration, and entailed a very largo amount of correspondence, both in the Dominion and in the Old Country, with the polko authorities and relatives of those deceased. Prompt assistance was given at tho earliest possible stage to those members of .the crew of tho ill-fated vessel who were saved, .and who, having lost all their belongings, wore sorely stranded, and were rtnablo to resume work until supplied with an outfit to enable them to do so. The Union Steam Ship Company, as opportunities arose, found positions for these survivors, who were assisted by the committee as their needs required until their return to duty. Of the 5!) cases, 48 may be considered closed, unless' any special circumstances arise later which warrant their being reopened. Nine cases may possibly require some further attention. Two only at tho moment are regularly receiving assistance from the fund. The others will bo dealt with as further demands are iiiude and investigation appears to warrant. , Prospective Liabilities. "As far as can be gauged, tho liabilities'for the ensuing twelve months will not exceed .£2OO. The list attached to the balance-sheet shows tho full disbursements made, and on ivhoso • account, to May 2G, 1910, and totals .61255 11s. Gd., sundry . expenses i!l7, paid out on account of Stewardesses' Fund Jißt ISs. 9d., exchange cheque of ,£lO 12s. Gd. The balances aro .£ISOO fixed deposits, and .ClO3 11s., cash in hand, making up the total of 13s. lid., as previously stated. Your committeo has alsn to report that tho hon. secretary, upon request, issued lists to i : a number of persons who desired to be officially authorised 'to collect money to place headstones over the Braves of fho senmen who wero drowned. The total sum collected was ,£52 Gs. (id., and this sum was duly expended in the direction named, under the supervision of the hon. .'■.ecretary. Your committed desires to record its obligation to tho polico ' authorities, and to the Mayors and Town Clerks of various centres for tho generous assistance at all times freely given.". The , chairman commented in. congratulatory terms upon the report, which was Unanimously adopted. Disposal of the Remainder. Mr.-Pearce, referring to tho.balance of the funds, asked whether it was proposed, as suggested in the report, to keep the balance intact till the various claims had. been definitely settled. Mr. W. A. Kennedy soid that it was really difficult to gauge the possibilities regarding finality of claims, and although it'was unlikely that any further claims I for large amounts wonld be made, prudence suggested that it was inadvisable to dispose of the balance at present. Further claims might bo made. In the meantime, it might be competent lo arrive at some idea as to how the surplus funds might be allocated. This suggestion met with the approval of the meeting. On the subject of tho fixed deposits, which expired in July next, the chairman stated that the- interest from these would meet all urgent eases. It was resolved, on tho motion of Mr. Pearce, seconded by Mr. Blundoll, to loavo the matter in tho hands of the Sub-committee to arrange as it thought fit. Against a Future Calamity. Mr. W. A. Kennedy referred to tho suggestion that had been made that the whole of the surplus might be sot apart us the nucleus oi an emergency fund to meet disbursements called tor by any future calamity in AVcllington. 'ihero was another point. When the relief fund was, established, the Shipwreck Relief Society had donated .£2OO. It might be well to' consider whether the society should not receive some recognition from the fund. ■ Mr. Palmer relerred to the fact that there was at present in the Savings Bank a small surplus, amounting to iii 9, from the San l-'runcisco Earthquake Fund. Mr. James Moore considered that the allocation of the surplus should be related to shipping. Otherwise there might be some criticism oifcruci ae to tho methods of allocation. Mr. Pearce agreed. In the ease of the Dticq, he was not aware whether all were provided for. Mr. Moore explained that in that ease they were insured. • The chairman remarked that there was no doubt the fund should remain intact for the present. It would be a graceful act, however, to refund the 4200 donated by the Shipwreck Relief Society. Mr. W. A. Kennedy: And probably supplement it. Mr. Moore (who is honorary secretary of the society) romnrked that their funds were not very flush lit present. There had been fewer steamer concerts on the intercolonial trips latterly. The mbeting agreed that the £200 should bo refunded to the society later on, and that tho deposits upon maturing should be reinvested. An-Appreciation. Mr. W. A. Kennedy said that tho meeting should not conclude without Bonie expression of the high appreciation which was felt by the committee towards Mr. J. R. Palmer, in connection with ihnt gentleman's honorary sec-i-etary of the fund. With modesty, Mr. Palmer had asked that the following paragraph should bo excluded from the report of the sub-committee:—, "The committee desire to say that the heartiest thanks of the committed and of the contributors to tho fund lire due to Mr. Palmer, the hon. secretary, for his indefatigable exertions in connection with the work of ascertaining by correspondence, and by personal interviews, the facts of each case dealt with, for the care and tact displayed by him in distributing the relief authorised by the committee, and for the attention which ho has given to the varied and extensive iorrospondjn.ee involved." Only those connected with the administration of the fund, said Mr. Kennedy, could realise tho enormous amount of work which had been, done by Mr. Palmer. Members heartily concurred, and resolutions of thanks to Mr. Palmer and his assistants—the latter are to be later on rewarded for their labours—were adopted unanimously. A vote of thanks to the oub-coinuiittee concluded tho business, '