The Globe. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1566, 25 February 1879, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1879.

As a community we have, on more than one occasion, vaunted our charity and readiness to help in cases of distress. These traits, however, have not displayed themselves in connection with the recent disaster at Kaitangata. With one noble exception, that of the Springfield Colliery Company, the great and wealthy provincial district of Canterbury has, like the Levite of old, " passed by on the other side." Offers of help for the distressed are coming in from all parts of the colony, nay more, from outside it, yet the capital of a district bordering upon that in which the accident has occurred makes no sign. It is interesting to compare the apathy on the present occasion on the part of our chief men with the efforts made by those gentlemen who exerted themselves in the matter of the Glasgow Bank sufferers. A public meeting was then called, and although the attendance was meagre in the oxtremo, those present made up by the fervour of their appeals for the paucity of their numbers. Eloquent pictures were drawn of the sudden fall from wealth to poverty, and at once it was resolved to ask for general help. Let us contrast this with what has taken place in connection with the Kaitangata disaster. At the recent meeting of the City Council the Mayor said he bad received a letter from a lady who was going to give a concert in aid of the sufferers, and he hoped that all the Councillors would attend. What noble self-sacrifice ! What wonderful sympathy with the widows and orphans, whose homes have been rendered desolate and whoso broadwinners have been unexpectedly taken from them. No need, when such warmhearted sympathy is shown by the civic

rulers, for outside help. When this noble and generous determination is telegraphed to Dunodin, the sufferers will bo enabled to comfort themselves that there will bo no fear of want. Wo hope that the City Council will not allow their light to bo hidden under a bushel, but that such a spontaneous act of. charity on their parts will bo blazoned forth, so that other municipal bodies may look up with awo and reverence to the sympathetic, charitable, and large-hearted Council of Christclmrch. Seriously speaking, wo earnestly hope that this matter will not be allowed to rest here. Although the presence of the civic conclave on the occasion of a concert will no doubt swell the receipts, that will not snfiice. Wo want to show our sympathy practically and at once. All around us other districts are sending their contributions. Do not lot us bo left behind. As the Mayor does not seem to think it necessary to act on his own responsibility, lot the citizens call upon him to convene a public meeting at once to devise means for the relief of thoso so heavily bereaved. It is true there is no letter from a Lord Provost to add dignity and importance to the matter, but thero are the cries of women and children suddenly deprived of their husbands and fathers. Let us therefore sot our shoulders to the wheel and ondoavor to redeem in some way the blot which the proceedings of the City Council has put upon our reputation as a charitable people, remembering that he gives twice who gives quickly.