The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 44, 20 February 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1877.

The three or four Motueka residents who were present at the Provincial Hall last night will be able to earry back to their fellowsettlers an account of the meeting and assure them' of the deep sympathy felt for them by the citizens of Nelson. We were glad to see those gentlemen there, for although the newpaper reports contain the substance of what was said they cannot con vej a correct impression of the deep and kindly feeling that pervaded.the meeting and proved its inostpleasing and gratifying characteristic. There was none of that ephemeral enthusiasm which expends itself in blatant talk and boisterous approbation, but the conduct of those present was such aa to give the idea that they were as-

sembled for a practical purpose, thatthey were in sober earnest; and were\ determined to ' x do all that lay in their power to relieve the distress of which such pitiable tales reach us from ' Motueka — not . from the sufferers themselves, who bear their losses manfully and. without complaint, but' from others who ■ have witnessed the terrible ..ravaged i of. the floods. If we may take the tone of the meeting as representing the general feeling of the outside public there can be little doubt that a considerable amount will be raised for the alleviation of the distress of those upon whom the calamity has fallen most heavily, aud this, with the sympathy that was so freely displayed last night, will, we trust, have the effect of setting many in good heart again and encouraging them to enter upon their labors once more with vigor and determination. In conversing with those who have visited the scene of wreck and ruin, we have learned that to many who were barely able to escape with their lives and were unable to save any of their goods and chattels, and consequently have nothing but.. what they wore at the time, cast off clothing would be very accept? able as doing away with the necessity of purchasing clothes for a time. Should any of our readers be able and disposed to assist in this direction we shall be happy to receive any parcels at the Mail office, and to despatch them to Motueka by every opportunity that offers. ;