THE GLASGOW BANK RELIEF FUND.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1615, 24 April 1879, Page 2

THE GL ASGOW BANK RE LI EF FUND.

His Worship the Mayor has kindly furnished us with a copy of the letter forwarded by him to the Lord Provost of Glasgow re the above fund : Caristchurch, New Zealand, April 25th, 1879. The Honorable fhe Lord Provost of Glasgow. My Lord —I have the honor to inform you that in compliance with your circular letter of ti e 9th November last, re IheCbyof Glasgow Bank Relief Fund, I called a public meeting of the citizens of Christchurch, and a committee was appointed to collect subscriptions in aid of the fund, but 1 regret to say their efforts were ouiy p .rtiaily successful However it will be necessary to explain that the committee had scarcely commenced their work when a dreadful calamity oceiured in the adjoining province of < tago (I refer to the Kaitangata colliery explosion) whereby some hundred or more persons, chiefly widows and orphans were rendered comparatively destitute. To is sad local disaster* naturally overshadowed as it were the one at a distance and the active sympathies of the people were enlisted to relieve those near at home. This, coupled with the fa t that, in consequence of along dr night, we have had, perhaps, one of the worst harvests ever experienced in Canterbury which has caused a corresponding depression in trade, these circumst mces combined have made it difficult to obtain so large a sum for the city of Glasgow sufferers as would have otherv.ise been forthcoming. However, lot me assure your Lordship that it is from no want of sympathy on the pal t of the citizens of Christchurch, but a natural feeling prevailed that our first duty was to relieve the destitute and fatherless at our own doors. I enclose herewith Bank draft for the sum of ,£lO7 16s 7s, being the nett proceeds after some small necessary expenses. I have the honor to be, Your Lordskip’s most obedient servant, C. T. lOK, Mayor of Christchurch,