THE INDIAN FAMINE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 809, 19 October 1877, Page 2

THE INDIAN FAMINE.

, A public meeting convened by and presided over by his worship the Mayor was , held in the Library Hall, on Wednesday t evening last. The Chairman explained that he had received in the first instance a telegram from the Mayor of Dunedin, inviting his cooperation in the movement for raising I funds ; aftonvards, he had received a circular and subscrip ion lists. Tbe circular j he would read, as follows Dunedin, October 10th, 1877. , Dear Sir,—You will doubtless have observed that a movement has been made, not > only >n the Home Country, but in the e Colonies, to send relief to the millions c, sufferin'.' from famine (owing to tbe failure . of rain) in Southern India. By the latest news to hand we learn that some thirty > million people arc living in the famine area, and that of these it is almost certain three . millions will perish. The pestilence which follows famine is bkoly to prove scarcely less destructive. A telegram, dated August 0 31st (the latest to hand), says the famine lias passed all control. No calamity so C, widespread and destructive has happened during this century. The facts are described as bcart-ronding. ’* The Dunedin Committee (who are them- ” selves undertaking ahouse-tohouse canvass e of the city), in the hope that you may he a'lic to assist iu obtaining contributions towards tbe relief , of the Sufferers, forward 1 you herewith a Subscription List. s It is especially desired, in view of the a urgency of the case, that contributions in money (or artioles for sale) should be made promptly ; and it is absolutely necessary ' that the list be completed and returned to ' the Mayor of Dunedin by the 14th of a November, when it is intended to close tbe a Relief Account. Wo remain (on behalf of the Committee), Your Obedient Servants, Thomas Roskbv, ) c . „ Ales. Blake, | Hou - Secß ' He considered a public meeting con'd lietter 31 deal with tbe question, and accordingly' had e convened the present one. He did not r think it necessary to speak at any length on the subject, as all were through the news s papers, which, so far as he knew, was the 1 only source of information, as well acqnainted with the subject as lie was. He regret- ’ ted to see so few present, but thought per--1 baps the few could lay down some plan of action as well as if there were more. ' The Rev Mr Dowc moved—That this meeting Dai ns with sorrow and alarm that " nearly twenty millions of our fellow subjects, Christian and Heathen alike, arc suf- ' fering in Southern India from starvation; that the area of famine is extending, and J that tlie existing means of relief are wholly inadequate to the relief of the sufferers.” The Rev Gentleman feelingly spoke on the " very terrible state of affairs in India, reminding the meeting that the sufferers wete I ° not only human beings as ourselves, but had *■ a din ct claim on our sympathies from llio 1 fact of having, in times gone by been fit in ’ and staunch allies, also from being part of one nation with ns in recognising the rule ” of one sovereign Queen Victoria Empress of India. The people of Clyde had the credit s of being liberal, he had plenty of evidence of that since bis sojourn with them, and he trusted in this case they would maintain e their reputation. He would remind them “ He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the 1 Lord." Mr Clark had pleasure in seconding tie proposition, which was put and carried. Mr Fache said, the paucity of the altendj ance was anything hut creditable, and was a blot on the fair name of Clyde that would ~ require a deal cf erasing ; tbe question was oae worthy of sympathy if of nothing more substantial, and he really thought there should have been a larger attendance, He a fid it was an invariable custom where there was, ns it were, a national sub-cription for a charitable purpose, for all towns outof the common purse to make a donation, by such a proceeding everyone gave their t mite He woti’d propose— That this meeting, through tho Mayor (the present Chairman) q respectfully request tho Town Council to a '■ donate a sum towards tho fund for U»o re-

lief of the sufferers hy the famine in India. M r Joss seconded. Mr Auckland said he objected to the motion, feeling assused the request if made would not bo favorably answered. The Council had quite enough to do to meet every legitimate demand against it, from his seat in the Council he would oppose it. Other gentlemen did not know if it came within the power of the Council to vote money fm any such a purpose. 'Die motion was put and lost, the mover and seconder alone voting for it. Proposed by the l!ov. Mr Dewe, seconded by Mr Bock—That a committee he appointed to collect subscriptions, such committee to consist of the Chairman and Mcssis Joss, Beck, and Fache.—Carried. A subscription list was now laid on'ti e table and five gentlemen put down their names for LI each. The meeting then broke up.