The Hawkea' Bay Relief Fund.

Manawatu Herald, 10 February 1898, Page 2

The Hawkea' Bay Relief Fund.

«* - At a meeting of the fiawke's B*ay' Flood Relief Fund on Monday the Jtf report and balance-sheet was adopted. The subscriptions amounted to £17,085 23 Ba, and of this lum £7223 11s 2d was expended in making provision for th% widows and children, and £8870 109 in affording relief to flooded-out settlers. In the report it was stated :— « The number of applications sent in for help represented 464 cases, setting down > their total loaa at £85,606 8s 65, the number of sufferers being 1949 men, women and children. Thii is exclusive of a number of oases where serious losses were' sustained by settlers who neither solicited nor would accept assistance from the funds. In some of these instances great credit is due, as they are exemplifications of self-reliance, besides showing a spirit of generosity, actuated as these settlers were by a desire to sea their neighbours, less able to cope with their mis'ortunea, deriving the fellest possible help. As might be expected, a number of applicants were prematurely importunate and clamorous for a share of the funds, but the executive, after providing stores and rendering other necessary assistance during the winter months, decided to defer the distribution of cash."