IRISH DISTRESS COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1854, 31 January 1880, Page 3

IRISH DISTRESS COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the general committee took place at the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon. Present —H s Worship the Mayor, Rev. Father Ginaty, Messrs Ayers, Gapes, Pratt, Hughes, Lambert, Hebden, Cherrill, Ring, McDougall, Beatty, and Mr Mitchell, hon. sec.

The minutes of the previous meeting, as well as those of a sub-committee meeting, were read and confirmed. The Chairman announced that since last meeting ha had received a large number of subscriptions, and had paid into the .Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the fund £368 Bs, and since then he had received £2 7s, The amount stated did not include the amount collected by Father Ginaty. Mr Pratt suggested the advisability of losing no time in sending the money home. The Chairman said a cablfgratn might be sent at once as to the collection being made, and the money could be forwarded by the next outgoing mail. Mr Hebdon—Would those in authority be in a position to operate on the strength of the cablegram ? The Chairman supposed the money could be drawn through the Bank, and he should take care not to advise a sum larger than that collected.

Mr Hebden asked whether, by adding Father Ginaty’s collection to that obtained from other sources, they would not have a sum large enough to send away by the mail about to leave New Zealand.

The Bbv. Father Ginaty said he was prepared at any time to hand over what he had collected. At the same time he should like to see a substantial amount realised before the money was sent home, for the credit of the city, which he thought ought to be taken into consideration. If they only sent away £SOO, their contributions would not seem equal to many petty places in the colony. _ He also expressed regret that the sub-committee had decided against the holding of a fete, as he believed small sums would by that means be obtained which would not otherwise find their way to the fund. In conclusion, the rev. gentleman stated that he was also expressing the opinions of his colleagues in the matter, and explained that Bishop Bed wood was detained elsewhere, otherwise he would have been present. Mr Hebden presumed that the fete question was quite open for discussion, the subcommittee only having been instructed to report upon the matter. The Chairman noticed that the members of the sub-committee were absent, and suggested that it would be unfair to discuss the question in their absence, as they no doubt had good reasons to offer for deciding as they had done.

At this stage a letter was read from Mr Perceval, who expressed his sympathy with the movement, and regretting _ that, bush ess engagements prevented his being present at the meeting. Communications were received from the Very Ber. the Dean of Christchurch and the Bev. E. C. Anderson, acknowledging receipt of letters from the hon. secretary to the committee in reference to collections. _ The discussion was then continued as to holding the money till next mail. Mr Pratt failed to see the advantage of delay, while the money if sent would be put

to some use, and would not interfere with the collection of further sums. He supported the chairman’s suggestion to remit what money they had and send the remainder afterwards. He concluded by proposing a resolution to that effect.

The motion was seconded by Mr MaoDougall. Mr O’Callaghan moved as an amendment—- “ That in the opinion of this committee, it is desirable that all contributions in money ehould be converted into produce and for the purpose of paying freight to England (or Ireland direct, if possible), and that a subcommittee be appointed, consisting of his Worship the Mayor, Messrs McDougall, King, Pratt, and the mover, to carry out tho amendment.” In speaking to the amendment, he expressed the opinion that the course proposed by the motion of Mr Pratt would militate against the success of the movement, both as to the money realised and the contributions of produce. He then reiterated what he had said at a former meeting of the committee as to the advantage of sending produce instead of money to the people so circumstanced, adding that be had been a witness to the good results attending each a mode of distributing relief. Mr King seconded the amendment. The only argument against it was the delay that would occur, but this had no weight for him, seeing that Christchurch was not the only city in New Zealand sending relief, and Melbourne, Sydney, and other places were sending money, so that they did not anticipate that any want would be experienced. The course suggested in the amendment would act beneficially in two ways - the grain would be better appreciated by the suffering people in Ireland, and a benefit would be felt here by the money remaining in the colony. Father Qinaty suggested the advisability of asking the opinion of the Lord Mayor of Dublin on the subject. Mr Lambert spoke in favor of the amendment.

The Chairman informed the meeting, in relation to the matter, that he had a conversation with the manager of the Now Zealand Shipping Company (Mr Pratt being present), in which he told that gentleman of the proposal made to purchase grain and send it to Ireland. Mr Coster was of opinion that it would be a most foolish thing, in view of the scarcity of ships and the enormous freight at present ruling. He spoke very decidedly, and gave his opinion that the grain would not be worth the freight when it arrived at its destination. He (the chairman) looked upon this expression of opinion, coming from such a source, as unselfish and unprejudiced, and as to Mr O’Oallsghan’s remarks about the famine of 1847 they did not apply, as the food with which the people were supplied was on the spot, and bad not to be carried 16,G00 miles. Mr Pratt endorsed what the last speaker had said in reference to the conversation with Mr Coster. He (Mr Pratt) would also point out that there was no scarcity of food at home—it was pouring in from America and all sources, and could easily be obtained for money. Mr Oherrill deprecated delay. Mr Hebden would go further than some gentlemen present, and advocate selling the oats hero and sending home the money derived therefrom.

Mr Beatty said a want of fuel entered into the question, owing to the wet weather, which deprived the people of peat, and money would be useful to buy firing. Mr Ayers thought the great distance between this colony and Britain was a strong argument against sending produce. Mr O’Oallaghan said the objection as to freight would not hold. He was authorised to say that he could find freight for all the produce they liked to send. Also, he had made inquiries as to converting the oats into meal. This could be done for 6d per bushel, and 100 tons could be put through the mill in ten weeks. Mr Pratt pointed out that the fatal argument of delay again presented itself in the last suggestion. After some further discussion, The amendment of Mr O’Callaghan was put to the meeting and lost, only three voting for it, namely, Messrs O’Oallaghan, Lambert and Ring. Mr Hughes then moved another amendment, to the effect that the Lord Mayor of Dublin bo communicated with as to the advisability of seuding money or grain. Seconded by the Rev. Father Ginaty. Mr Ayers pointed out that the Lord Mayor of Dublin might find it difficult to answer that question on its merits, not being aware of all the circumstances of the case. The Chairman was also of opinion that some further information must be conveyed to make the message intelligible—such, for instance, as the cost of freight at present ruling. Father Ginaty said the Lord Mayer of Dublin was a man of great experience, scholarly attainments, and business habits, and there would not be much fear of his committing an error of judgment. A conversation ensued as to the price of cable messages. Mr Hobden held the opinion that the committee ought to decide for themselves, being in possession of all the facts necessary to guide them. He also remarked upon the utter absurdity of the waste of time which would be incurred by tho last proposal, in the face of the fact that the distressed people were standing in need of assistance. Some discussion ensued as to the comparative worth of wheat in this -colony and at home. The amendment proposed by Professor Hughes was put to the meeting and negatived. Mr Pott’s resolution was then put, “ That a sum not less than £SOO be forwarded by cablegram to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, on Monday, as a first instalment of the fund.” An explanation was made as to the reasons held by the committee for recommending that no fete should be hold. With regard to the Shadow Pantomime, Mr Cherrill said he had secured the cooperation of Professor Bickerton, and had no doubt it would prove a success. Mr Beatty, on behalf of Mr We. Hoskins, offered the use of the Theatre Royal, gratis, for the pantomime, and added that the lime light and the services of the orchestra would also be given free. The above offer was accepted with thanks. A sub commit tee was then appointed to carry out the general arrangements for tho entertainment. Mr Beatty reported what had been done by the committee appointed in relation to the projected dramatic entertainment at the Theatre Royal on behalf of the fund. The report was of a most satisfactory character. After dealing with some other matters of a routine character the committee adjourned till Tuesday next.