THE MOTUEKA FLOODS.

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

THE MOTUEKA FLOODS.

PUBLIC MEETING. In accordance with advertisement a public meeting was held at the Provincial Hall last night, when, on the motion of Mr Curtis, the chair was taken by His Worship the Mayor, who said that he should have called the meeting at an earlier date but for the fact that the Hall wag occupied. The recent floods in the Motuaka district had proved, as they all knew, most disastrous, and had rendered many houicleis. On reading the report* in the newspapers he had placed himself in communication with Mr Hursthouse. The telegrams that had passed between them had already been published, and he would now read a letter he received from that gentleman:— " E. Everett, Esq., Mayor of Nelaon. " Sir— l desire to thank you for tho triegram you sent me regarding the damage, &c, done by the. late flood, and to inform you at greater length of the actual state which many of the settlers are now in. You kindly asked in your message whether pecuniary assistance would be accepted if offered. I think and feel quite sure that though many of the sufferers can hardly come- under the care of Mr Shallcrass as being destitute, yet there are many that would thankfully accept some assistance if offered by their fellow-colonists. One can quite understand the difference between receiving Government aid in the shape of food and taking what has been offered in the true spirit of charity by those who have not suffered in our great calamity. There are many more families than I mentioned in the telegram that have lost all or almost all they had. We are trying to raise a subscription for their relief, but I fear we shall not be very successful, as almost all the people in the district are heavy losers in some way. I have called a public meeting here for Tuesday evening to try and find out what are the best means to use for the relief of those who have lost their all. It will be very uphill work for many of us, the flowec of manhood in many cases having passed never again to return. I am trying to induce the Government to make some provision in- the shape of grants of land, but I have not very high hopes of success. The people seem stunned, and hardly realize their position yet. The Pangatotara Valley for miles is a complete mass of ruina, and it would be complete madness to try amd restore it to what it was a month ago; in many places the land is gone, in others so cut up by the water as to be useless for cultivation, whilst over the whole is deposited thousands of tons of gravel and sand, and orer this thousands and tons of thousands of cords of timber. Whilst iu the Brooklyn V«lley a worse state of things, if possible, is to be found; also in the Orinoco, Ngatimoti, *nd Dovedale an immense amount of damage has been done by land-slips, &c. It would take more time than you can spare to read, and more than I have to write a full and true account of the sufferings, hardships, and loss in the Motueka- district. Suffice it to say, that though there are few who would like to take rations, as being destitute, there are many to whom assistance offered in a kindly spirit by the good people of Nelson and other districts would be most acceptable. Again thanking you for your kindness in thinking of us in our trouble, I remain, dear Sir, yours truly, Richmond Huksthouse. Motueka, Feb. 16, 1877. He had brought the matter before the City Council, who had unanimously voted £50, but on looking over the Act again he had come to the conclusion that they had no power to devote the Borough funds to such a purpose. He would now call upon Mr Curtis to move the first resolution. Mr Curtis said that on hearing of the calamity that had befallen the people of Motueka he had despatched Mr Shallcrass,' who was authorised to provide such Government aid as might be absolutely and immediately necessary, for he held it to be one of the first duties of Government to promptly assist those who were without food or shelter. The substance of his report had been published, and it showed that the newspaper reports, so far from being exaggerated, failed to give a full idea of the extent of the disaster. In some cases individuals had lost everything they possessed, even to their very land, which had been washed away. To attempt to reinstate them was out of the question. All they could do was to afford them partial relief, and with this view he hoped all who could .would help. Let nobody be ashamed to put down his name for fira shillings or half-a-crown because that above it was for £1 or £5, but let all' subscribe according to, their means. He quite agreed

with tlje Mayor that the City .Council could not derate any of their, fund3 to auch a purrpose, and he was one! of a body Which was ; placed in a; similar position with regard to another f Uriel, namely', that raised for the relief of the Taranaki : refugees, which could j not be: touched exteepti by Act of Parliament. J With regard to this, f^d^there was some misapprehension, as eafy a ?ery small portion of it had been raised in Nelson, by far the greater part having been subscribed in Melbourne, Dunedin, and elsewhere, therefore Nelson's claim upon it was all the less. He hoped that the appeal that was now to be made, to the public would be j unanimously responded to. ; His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson moved —"That this meeting hereby expresses its sincere sympathy with the inhabitants of the Motueka, Riwaka, and neighboring valleys, in the destruotire calamity that has overtaken many of them in the complete, demolition of their homes and lands, whereby in many instances the result of many years labor has been swept away in a few hours, and their future prospects wholly reversed." Ho thought there was something in stating by way of preamble that they were fully aware of the nature of- the calamity they proposed to relieve, as by showing that they fully realised the position of the sufferers they enhanced the value of the assistance they gave. People often wondered why! such disasters were permitted to take place^ This was not an easy question to answer, but he believed that one good re»ult of calamatie's of this description jaa that they called* forth the beat feelings of the heart in the effort to afford relief, the act of dping^so not only being beneficial to those who received but, to those who gave. He hoped that whatever was done w6uld be done in such a way that the recipients might feel that they qtill retained that independence V which was bo pleasing a characteristic of ,-the colonists \>f New Zealand. He happened to kno*r the valley« thafc had been destroyed by the^f oods, and that they were inhabited by diligent, peMerering, and w«H-conducted settlers, whose, efforts in promoting education and advancing their social and moral as well as their material wtlfara enhanced their claim upon us. Mere distress in itself always, had a claim, but when those in trouble had proved themselves worthy when in prosperity that claim wag clinched. He had often heard . of the willingness of the people of Nelson to relieve distress before he came out- here. Since his arrival he had seen it in numerous instances, and he felt perfectly sure that' the present call would be liberally responded to. The Rev. Father Garin seconded the resolution. He was glad to have this opportunity of showing his gratitude, and making some return for the liberality shown in assisting his countrymen who suffered by the inundations in France. The; settlers of Motueka were an energetic hard working body of men, who were unfortunately placed in a sjmilar position, and he was happy to be able to help them. . . The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Sha»p, M.H.R.J regretted that the necessity had arisen for proposing such a resolution as that, which he held in his hand, at the same time they could not help such disasters occurring, and when they did it was the duty of the more, fortunate to help. It was 'a delicate matter to offer pecuniary assistance to people of so independent a spirit, as that possessed by the New Zealand colonists, but the losses were so serious that' unless sueh assistance was freely given, and a3 freely accepted, he did not see how ttie diffi- ; culty was to be met. He proposed—"That a Relief Committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz., The Bishop of Nelson, Rev A. M. Garin, the Mayor; Messrs O. Curtis, A.. J. Richmond, L. Broad, A. R. Oliver, Parker, Macmahon, Tarrant, Hursthouse, R. Pattie, ! and A. Drummopd, be appointed to raise subscriptions to assist the sufferers by the ; late floods in the Motueka and adjoining districts, and five members of such committee to form a quorum. . The committee to have power to make such enquiries as they may think necessary and arrangements for the distribution of all moneys received by them. The committee to hare power to add to their number." The Rev J. Beckenham seconded the resolution. He hoped no time would be lost in raising subscriptions, and suggested that the members of the Comuittee should make a' h >use to house canvas3. He thought it would be encouraging to them to know how strong was the feeling in favor of affording relief, as had within his own knowledge been instanced by a storekeeper in JNelson, from whom a settler in Motueka Valley had recently purchased land. On hearing how greai was the misfortune that had befallen him, the storekeeper generously refunded £60 of the purchase money, and had promised to keep his wife and in provisions for twelve months. Whatever was to be done he thought should be done quickly. Mr Shephard called to mind the course adopted by the Provincial Council when a . similar calamity occurred to the residents in Westport. Without recognising any claiins for compensation they provided the sufferers with new sites for their houses. He thought tha Coumittee should move 1 the Government to make free grants of land to those whose properties had been destroyed. They were bard-working, experienced settlers, who had cost us nothing to introduce into the country, and it would be to our advantage as well as their own to keep them here. The Bishop of. Melanesia said that when Mr Curtis was speaking about the Taranaki Relief Fund the idea had occurred to him that that money might be turned to account, not by way of gift but of loan. It might ba lent at a very low rate of interest,, or even without any, and from his knowledge of his countrymen— New Zealauders— he felt sure; they would not fail to repay it. He remembered reading a judgment delivered by Mr Jusiice Brett who, in passing sentence upon a woman, who, driven to madness by the illtreatment of a drunken husband, had turned upon hiin and accidentally killed him, said!" — " I h.ve the power to discharge you, first binding you over to appear to receive senterce if called upon, but -I feel sure that neither I, nor any one else, will ever so call upon you." So with this fund. If it were turned to account as he suggested he. felt sure that it would never be called for, and he' thought even if there were such a possibility a suffcient number of persons could be found to guarantee its return. He for one would take his share of the responsibility. Mr Curtis said that he would see the small remnant of the trustees now in Nelsou, and ascertain if they coujd by any means act upon the suggestion of the Bishop of Melanesia. With regard to Mr Shephard's pro- '" posal, he might say that it had already been under the consideration of the Government, and since he came into the room he had recfived a telegram from the Premier saying that if anything could be done it should be. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Judge Broad had not come with the intention of speaking, but to express by his * presence his sympathy with" the sufferers at Motueka, but an idea had occurred to him that he thought might be mentioned, namely that the clergy be requested to set apart a special Sunday for collections for the purpose. He thought many who did not care to ' put their names down for small sums would gladly seize such an opportunity for contributing, while those who had subscribed would not begrudge an extra shilling or two.* He would move—" That the clergy be /requested to se'j apart a Sunday on which,, a > special collection will be made for the Mofaeka Relief Fund.*' , .'...' :

Mr Pickering seconded the resolution^and thoughts, suggestion made to him by the Biahdpfot Melanesia that /children be enlisted in-the wjark, and provided with cards small sums, a good one. ; ■/. ■ The resolution wais, carried unanimously. ;: ; T;he ? jJishopr of , Nelson thought It ; very v aj^fr?abl§;that impossible ftahduld^ be known' what extent of damage' done it was within their power to relieve. They could not reinstate the settlers on their lands, but there were certain pressing needs which should be known. He suggested that the Committee should report upon these xvt, a week. . '*■ \ Mr Shephard thought it might be well to ' make such enquiries, but not to delay raising subscriptions until tho report was received. "They should strike- while the iron was hot: The Bishop of Nelson did not altogether . sympathise with the suggestion. He had a better opinion of the people of Nelson than to believe that they required to be carried away in a moment of enthusiasm. Mr Shephard said that the Bishop of Nel--1 son did not entertaiu a higher opinion of the people of Nelson than he did,.but enthusiasm was a great force in the world, and they make use of it on the present oceasion. A vote of thanks was then .passed to the on -..the motion i of Mr Sharp, seconded by Mr ■ At J. Richmond. The Committee then met, wlten the [names K)f.. Messrs C. Hunter Brown and Pickering added to it. Mr H. Gully was appointed Secretary, and = Mr Oliver Treasurer. -~ An offer by the representatives of the Press to do the necessary advertising and printing free of cost was thankfully accepted. Mr 'Macmahon gave a lamentable account of the damage .done, and suggested that the ComJmifctae should visit the district. The following" are the subscriptions al-readj;-received:-rßishop of . Nelson, £10; ..Southern Star Lodge,; 735, E.C.,- £10; Rev Father Garin, £2; J. Jervis, £5; Rev, J. C. Andrew, £5; Father Mahoney, ; £1; A. R. Oliver, £5; Hon Major Richmond, £5; Rev s Beckenham, £'l; Bishop of Melanesia, £4; ■MrsGfraeser, £5; Wharton and Hayter, ; £5; A, SI; Atkinson, £5; Dr Renwick, £5; Wm. Maffey, £1 ; C. Harling, £1 ; Everett 8r03., £5; Sharp and Pickering, £5; Sharp & Co., £5; D. Clarkson, £2 2s; John Nalder, 10/6; JT.\CoSher, £5- -Hooper and Dodsori, £10; Mr aud.Mrs Bethell, £5. - "-: