THE DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 22, 26 January 1880, Page 2

THE DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

To the Editor op the < Evening MaiiT.' Sir— On U perusal of the recent Home papers it is really saddening to read of the fearful distress and famine which ia ! at present existing throughout the whole of Ireland through the failure of the potato crop, and it is anticipated that in some counties, more particularly the western and southern, the famine will be as horrible and as inevitable as that of the recent famine in India. Unfortunately the only resource which the sufferers have is to apply to the Poor Law, but alas! this is far too little to meet the requirements of so terrible a scourge. My object in taking up the cause of the distressed is to point out to the people of Nelson that in all the large towns of this and the other ;colonies the matter has been made a subject of great thought, and large sums have been remitted to alleviate the sufferings of those afflicted. Would it not be wise that a public meeting should be convened at an early date by bia Worship the Mayor 9o that some measures may be taken, in order to enable the inhabitants of thia City to contribute their quota (as they did so generously towards the late Indian" famine fund) to the fund which is being so extensively augmented in almost all parts of the world. lam glad to state that at St. Mary'a Church yesterday the Rev. Pastor announced his intention of having a special collection for the fund on Sunday Ist February. Yours, &c, Charitt.