PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 252, 24 October 1877, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

la compliance with a notification issued by His Worship the Mayor a meeting was held at the Provincial Hall last night to consider what staps should be takeu to inaugurate a subscription list for the Indian Famine Relief Fund. The Mayor, who wa3 in the chair, said that acting upon a telegram received from fhe Mayor of Wellington he had called this ■Meeting. He would read a circular received from Dunedin, which was as follows: Dunedin, October 10th, 1877. Dear Sir,— You will doubtless liara observed that a movement has been made, not only in the Home Country, but in the Colonies, to send relief to the millions suffering from famine (owing to the failure of rain) in Southern India. By the latest news to hand we learn that some thirty million people are living in the famine area, and that of these it is almost certain three million will perish. The pesti'ence which follows famine is likely to prove scarcely less destructive. A telegram, dated August 31st, (the latest to hand), says the famine ha 3 passed all control. No calamity so widespread and destructive has happened during this century. The facts are described as heartaendiug. The Dunedin Committee (tvho are themselves undertakingahouse-to-house canvass of the city), desire to bring the subject under your notice, in the hope that you may be able to raise a contribution in your district towards the relief of the sufferers. It is suggested that it you can begin the movement by calling a pubiic meeting, you may be able to excite more general interest therein. We remain (on behalf of the Committee), Your Obedient Servants, Thomas RosEur, ) „ Alex. Blake, ) Hoa> Secretaries. Until rery lately he had no idea of the full extent of the calamity which had fallen upon our fellow subjects iv India, but now that he knew more of it he had no ;hesitation in asking the public to come forward and assist This had been a most eventful year, full of troubles to the human race, who in various parts of the world had been suffering from pestilence, war, famine, earthquakes, and floods. Even in this little : district we had been called upon to aid those who had suffered from floods aud shipwreck. There had been great calls on our powers to alleviate suffering, but still he thought it better that the people of Nelson [should be afforded the opportunity of rendering assistaance, and therefore he had called them together to consider what steps they should take to relieve their fellow subjects, who were perishing by millions. Florence Nightingale in writiug to the Lord Mayor of Loudon, luid said that English people could form no conception of the horrors of a famine, and this was the second year that it had prevailed iv India. He hoped that gentlemen would come forward and make suggestions, and most fervently did he say, God bless the efforts we are about to make. The Bishop of Nelson said that probably over modesty had hitherto prevented the people of Nelson from making any move in this direction, as they might fairly argue that this being a matter of millions their small contributious would be scarcely worth sending, but they should look deeper and remember that the need was so great that not even the smallest sum could be dispensed with Some might say that they could do but little, and were half ashamed to offer their five shillings, but supposing that they knew that that five shilliugs might save a life, would they not at once send it forth to do its work of mercy. It was difficult to realise the fearful amount of suffering that existed. To be told that half a milliou had actually died up to last July, and that two and a half millions were entirely dependent upon charity for food enough to keep body I and soul together was to be informed of what it was almost beyond our powers to comprehend, and yet this was the case. We who professed to be Christians would, he felt sure need no argument to urge us on to help our fellow creatures and fellow subjects who were in such dire distress. He had much pleasure in proposing the following resolution:—" That this meeting is of opinion that an opportunity should be given to the people of Nelson aud its neighborhood to take their share in sending relief to the sufferers by famine in India." The Yen. Archdeacon Butt seconded he resolution. It was hardly necessary that he

should say anything on a matter that must; commend itself to all. Those who were suffering were not our neighbors fay position but they were of the same flesh and blood as ourselves, and their troubles rauat touch us all deeply. The descriptions he had heard from eye-witnesses of the fearful calamity were so heartrending that he felt he should not be doing his duty to himself, to those around him, and to his God, if he did not do all m his power to assist and to induce others to do so also. The Key. J. Leighton moved—" That his Worship the Mayor be requested to associate with himself a committee to carry out the former resolution. Such committee :o consist of his Lordship the Bishop of Nelson the Rev. Father Garin, Mr Atkinson, Mr Curtis, Father Mahoney, Rev. J. Beckenham Messrs Gray, Shephard, W. 11. Jones, J Scott, Everett, J. 11. Hooper and H. V. Gully with power to add to their number " We could not think of such a subject as this without our feelings being stirred. For his part he should be wanting in gratitude for many kindnesses received from the natives of India i£ he did not do all in his power to assist, and to move others to do so To fully appreciate the horrors of a famine in India it must be remembered that at the beat of times the natives were at a point only just above starvation, their wages being about threepence per day only, so that when the crop of rice aud dal failed their state of destitution was almost iudescribable. Most of his hearers would remember what excitement there was at the time of the wreck of the Queen Bee when it was known that there was one man wandering about Durville's Island in a state of starvation, but here there were millions of our fellow-creatures suffering the pangs of hunger. Nearly ten times the population of New Zealand were actually dying inch by inch. Such a state of things as this could not fail to enlist the sympathies of all who gave the matter a mouieut's thought. Mr Price said that in the absence of the Rev. Mr Harper he had been asked to state that the members of the VVesleyan Church sympathised deeply with the movement, and were prepared to offer their co-operation. IVoin across the waste of waters there came a wail of distress, and he for one was glad that we had been asked to assist. There was a grandeur that was most impressive in the efforts that were being made to aid our suffering fellow-subjects. The first citizen of the empire had flashed an appeal for assistance to all the ends of the earth, and in every comer of the British dominions the people were meeting to respond to that appeal, and he had no doubt that Nelson would not be behind hand iv making her offering. The Rev Father Garin said that although a Frenchman he wished to express his sympathy with his fellow men in another part of the British Empire. Only that morning he had been appealed to for aid for the third time by a woman who with her children had no bread to eat, and he had said to himself Can I see her in want of food and not assist her? What then must be his feelings with regard to the millions who were suffering from the same caase? Twice already this year had they been asked to unloose their purse strings in the cause of charity, but although this was the third time he felt sure that the iuvitation would be liberally responded to, tfiat the past would be forgotten, aud that they would see what they could do once more. They might ask, What is the use of a shilling or two when the calamity is of so gigantic a nature? But they should remember that the aggregate of many shillings made a large sum, and that the aggregate of innumerable small drops made the immensity of the ocean. He would ask them to remember the words of Christ:— " Come ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kiugdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you give me to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you covered mo. But, Lord, wben did we see thee huugry and fed' thee, thirsty and gave thee drink, aud when did we ace thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and covered thee? And the King' answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren you did it to me." Let not then the distance which separated them from the sufferers be an obstacle to their charity. Let them act as though with their own eyes they saw the wretchedness and misery that prevailed in the famine stricke a districts of India. The Rev J. Beckenham thought that while we as British citizens were ready to assist we should also ask, Will the aid we render be efficient? Have not the Government of ludia the means at their disposal for affording the required aid? Will anything that 13 m our power to give do more* than merely express our sympithy? Would it not be as though we offered a man having £1000 a year sixpence to pay for a cab to the Port? We should express our sympathy no doubt, but when there was so much poverty in our midst-— an instance of which had been cited by Father Garia- should not that appeal to us as forcibly as a prayer for assistance from abroad? He would suggest the advisability of limiting the subscription to half-a-crown which would not impoverish us. Small mites' would prove our sympathy without robbing those at our doors. The Rev. Father Garin was sorry to bo compelled to differ from the last speaker. He did not think the citizens of Nelson were much impoverished by their contributions to the charitable purposes of the last year aud if they were all to use their best efforts' now they would not feel it much hereafter. He did not think it necessary to place a limit on people's geuerosity, but would say, Let all give accordiug to their means. Mr Price thought that Mr Beckenham must hare a crank on this particular subject, although none doubted his own generosity. Every shilling that might be subscribed would be of value. Mr Atkinson said that Mr Beckenham's address had filled him with shame. He was not a man of many words, but he meaut what he said, and he repeated that it filled him with shame to hear one who he believed was a minister of a Christian Church coming there and eudeavoring to dump the ardor of the meeting. He could not say how deeply he regretted to hear one who should be a good Samaritan saying to those who were willing to render assistance to the natives of India who were in such unspeakable distress, "Now take care you don't spend your money on such matters when there are people around you who may be in want." Mr Beckeuham feared that he must have been misunderstood, as he had merely asked the question whether the .aid that we mi«-ht render iv Nelson would really be serviceable. Far be it from him to damp the ardor of the meeting. He would be the last man in the world to attempt to stifle any movement made for so charitable a purpose. 1 i Mr Blundell stated that he was in a position to answer Mr Beckeuham's question, haviu<»recently had the opportunity of perusing the latest Indian papers, wherein it was stated that while the Government were straining every nerve to alleviate the distress in India, it could not supply relief in every case, and therefore private charity would be most acceptable. The Resolution was then'put, and carried unanimously. The Chairman said that before the meeting broke up he desired to express his thanks to i Mr Bright for having given up the Hall for the eveniug. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, and the Committee arranged to meet this evening at 7 o'clock.