Public Meeting.

Manawatu Herald, 21 February 1893, Page 2

Public Meeting.

A public meeting was held in the Pnblic Hall last night to consider the steps to be taken to afford relief to the sufferers by the Brisbane floods.

His Worship the Mayor (G. Nye, Esq.,) took the chair. He opened the meeting by reading the telegram received from the Government, " A telegram just received from the Premier of Queensland, stating that owing to recent floods great destitu tidn prevails and much help will be required. In event of your receiving contributions, Government will arrange that those given in goods will be conveyed free by rail to neavest port and will also settle for freight to Brisbane. Money contributions may be sent through the Colonial Secretary.

On veceiving telegram he was in Wellington or else the meeting would have been called earlier. At a committee meeting held on Friday it was decided to hold a meeting to night. All present had read of the terrible disaster at Brisbane and the papers of today announced further floods there. The Council had decided to canvass the district for funds so that help might be sent as soon as possible. Small contributions will be accepted but he hoped all would contribute to the best of their ability.

Mr Williams would propose that all those in the Hall be made a committee. He would, had the meeting been larger, have had much pleasure in stating what his experiences had been.

' Mr McMillan said he would move, That in the opinion of this meeting it is advisable that a fund for the relief of sufferers by the Brisbane floods be opened and that the Mayor be requested to act as treasurer and he be empowered to remit from time to time subscriptions received to the Colonial Secretary for transmission to Brisbane.

Mr Wilson seconded the resolution.

On being put to the meeting,

Mr Williams proposed as an amendment, That the meeting form itself into a committee to canvas the district.

Mr Gibson thought the Banks would send the money direct without sending to the Colonial Secretary.

Mr Wilson hoped nothing would be said or done to stop an active canvas. The poor people were now suffering and the sooner help was sent the better.

Mr T, Westwood seconded Mr Williams' amendment.

Mr Border thought time was the essence of the matter.

Mr Williams withdrew his amendment.

The resolution was then carried. Mr Wilson moved that a subscription list be now opened.

Mr Bramley seconded.

Mr Williams proposed, and Mr Austin seconded, That a committee be formed, to canvass for subscriptions, of the members of the Borough Council and T. Wilson, A. E. T, Nixon, T. Steele, W. Bramley, E. Osborne, T. Westwood, P. Hennessy, J. Stansell, R. Cawston, and H. Border.

The following subscriptions have been received:— R Austin and McMillan, Rhodes & Co, £5 5s each ; J. Tos, M 5 ;..G. Nye and A. E.-T. Nixon, £8 8s ; Henry Border, £2 2s ; T. Wilson, E. S. Thynne, W, Ri-amley and P. Hennessy, £1 Is each ; J. McPherson and James Dudson, £1 each ; A Friend, T. F. Gibson, , T.. Westw.ood, . and E. t'sborne, 10s 6d each ; T. P. Williams, R. Gray, J. Ahem, and A. Webb, 10s each ; J. Hiekford, 6s 6d ; W. Rand, ss.