IRISH FAMINE COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1856, 4 February 1880, Page 3

IRISH FAMINE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Irish Famine Committee was held yesterday afternoon. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Pratt, McDougall, Hughes, Malloy, Hebden, Hobday, Booth, Mulligan, Mosley, the Rev. Father Ginaty, and Mr Mitohell, hon_. sec. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Rev. Mr Flavell, stating that, owing to the limited number of his congregation, and tho fact that many had already given, the churchwardens were unable to comply with tho request for a special offertory on behalf of the fund. Mr J. O'Oallaghan wrote, stating that he had met with good prospects in the country districts, on behalf of the fund. Tho Mayor stated that he had th<vt day forwarded £6OO to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. He had received small subscriptions amounting in all to about £25 and had just received from the churchwardens of St. John's Church £2O, as the result of the collection at that churoh. Professor HHghes said, with reference to the operatio benefit performance on Monday, that he would be able to give the first instalment of the prooeeds in a few days. In answer to a question from Mr Pratt, Professor Hughes stated that he hoped to get about £SO by the end of the week. On the motion of Mr McDougall, it was resolved to forward the sum of £lO to Mr O'Oallaghan for necessary expenses. The hon. seoretary reported that the result of the box collections amounted to £7 8s lOd. Mr Pratt remarked that the day was unfavorable to the collection, but suggested that a similar effort should be made next Saturday. Mr Hebden reported that the committee appointed to deal with the benefit performances had met with considerable success. The theatre was considered suitable for the shadow pantomine, and arrangements were being made for the dramatio entertainment, it being considered advisable to hold it on Thursday week. He also said it had been suggested to have a sports gathering some Saturday afternoon, which might meet the views of those who wished to see a fete held. It was resolved to hold the performance in the Theatre Royal on the date recommended by the committee. Mr Mitchell suggested, with regard to holding a fete, that it might be further considered between that and next meeting, if the meeting thought it desirable. Mr Pratt said he had good reason to believe that so far as the working men were concerned, the action of the committee was approved, several having expressed to him that opinion, adding that they would sooner give a day's wages than lose the time and incur the consequent additional expense at the present time. The subject was then allowed to drop. The committee adjourned till Tuesday next, at four o'clock. PT/BLIO MEETING AT AMBEKLBT. A very influential meeting of sympathisers with the Irish distress was held in the Amberley Town Hall. Mr Courage was voted to the chair, and explained to the meeting the objects for which it was called. He then introduced Mr Jasper O'Oallaghan, who he said had been deputed by the central committee in Christchurch to convene that and similar meetings in the country districts. Mr O'Oallaghan said he came there as a delegate from the Christchurch committee to explain the matter, and to enlist their sympathies in the good cause. He much regretted that such short notice had been given of the meeting, as he was assured that if the thing had been more generally known there would have bean a very great number present. As it was he felt very proud to find in this busy season of the year that so many had made an effort to be there. He considered it was right to call the first country meeting at that place, as he had received so many promises and letters of encouragement from the settlers in the district. He would be glad to see a local committee formed that night, and he would leave it to the committee to do as they thought best, either to subscribe money or contribute produce. He had expressed an opinion in Christchurch at their meeting that produce would be most suitable, but the meeting had resolved otherwise, and perhaps very potent arguments could be urged on the other band, particularly one, viz, that a considerable delay might ocour in the transmission. But he would leave it entirely in the hands of the oommittee, if such was formed, to say whether the contributions of grain, &c, should be forwarded to him in town and stored there for shipment, or as to whether it should be sold in town and the proceeds sent home immediately it was realised. Of course their resolve would be subjected to the approval of the central committee. In answer to Mr Greig, Mr O'Oallaghan said he should be most happy to pay the freight to town on all produce given, and would also find free storage for the same, several large merchants having generously placed their stores at his service for tbe purpose. He could ship any quantity of grain to an Irish port at London freights, or ho could got oats converted into meal at 6d per bushel in town, and any number of bushels in a very short time. Ho said many persons had asked him to explain the cause of this disastrous famine, but he could only tell them that Irishmen were always poor, because the peasantry as a class never have a chance to become rioh. Their earnings were very poor. A man earning but £l2 per year was considered to be getting good pay, even if he had to maintain a family, and some of them were blest with a goodly number of children. They were also, he must confess, a rather improvident race, if their earnings would allow of of the remark, and living as they did, from hand to mouth, if their potato crops failed, or if the season was too wet to procure peat, they were completely done, as their me.ns of subsistence were then out off. But it was a positive fact that they were now starving, and if prompt help was not given, such a calamity as that of 1844 might occur, when he had seen men, womea, and children lying by the road Bide dying of starvation. He did not think that the distress would last so long as upon the last o.c ision, but help was now very urgently required to stem the disaster. Every man in Ireland nov had to pay onequirter or one-fifth of his inoome to the poor rates, and their next harvest would not be till August. Mr Coleman said he remembered the year '44, and the dire distress then raging. He thought that speedy relief was very urgently needed, and if they sold the stuff in Ohristohurch the relief would be moro immediate. We have an overflowing harvest this year, ard plenty of beef and mutton. We had only now to oome forward and humanely do our duty in a decisive manner. Mr Douglas thought it would be better to sell the grain in Amberley and send the cash to the Christchurch committee; but the local committee could arrange this when formed. Mr Greig thought it was better to take a little more time, and Bend the produce, as he thought the money would only go to buy a very inferior article, especially as the money now being sent from America and other partß would surely alleviate the immediate necessities. Mr Reginald Footor quite agreed with Mr Gicig, "ats heing just now very chc?.p. Mr E. Eisor said perhaps it would be better to send a telegram to some of the authorities in Ireland for advice in the matter, lv3 to which would be most acceptable, grain or cash. Mr P. McGrath said he had already made a start, ar.d his men had contributed £sl 10s almost unsolicited. Ho would do all he could to assist bny suffering humanity, with out regard to nationality or religion. Mr McPherson moved, Mr Smyth seconded, and it was carried —"That the following form the commiiteo: Messrs Courage, Coleman, Cameron, Vaughan, McNaught, Hriatow, Foster, Benn, Greig, McPherson, Gaynor, E. Ensor, C. Ensor, Woodhouse, Bell, P. McGrath, H. McLean, with power to add." A subscription list was then handed round, and about £3O collected in the room. Mr Courage was appointed the treasurer. After a vote of thanks to Mr O'Callaghan and the chairman, the meeting adjourned, and a committee meeting waß then held, to nvike the preliminary arrangements for canTassing, &o.

HEATHOOTE RACIiNG OLUB. A meeting of the above club was held on Monday evening at the Heathcote Arms Hotel. Mr F. Pavitt occupied the chair. An offer was received fr«»m Mr Fenton to lease the ground required by the club for a course for six years at a rental of £lO per annum, on condition that the club would give him the sole right of selling liquors at the race meetings for the sum of £ls per annum. After discussing the offer, it was unanimously resolved that the terms offered could not be entertaired. Tne meeting was then adjourned to Tuesday, 24th inst, at the He-ithcote Library, to consider an offer which had been made of other sites.