THE QUEEN BEE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5113, 13 August 1877, Page 3

THE QUEEN BEE.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW, ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Now that such” a sad calamity as the wreck of the Queen Bee r hasoocurred on pur coasts, will you kindly allow me, through the medium of your columns, to offer a suggestion to the public.” ' ' ' ' About five years ago I left London by a passenger ship for Port Chalmers. When about a, week round the Cape we met with -a continuation of terrific weather, which resulted in’the ship losing all her-masts and boats, her saloon ' and deck-houses, and the passengers having to he taken off by another ship to Sydney. , Wp landed, there strangers among strangers, H-withbut riioney,' without friends, without clothes, except such as the sailors ,had kindly pressed on us. Full accounts of our eventful voyage and hair-breadth escapes appeared in the "columns, of th Sydney, Morning Heraldy hut did the public come to our assistance? No. I called; on one of the under-secretaries for the purpose ! of ascertaining " whether the Government, would assist us ; but, although much condolence, was expressed with me for all I must have suffered, the only answer I could get. was that “the Government had no funds at their-disposal, and, even if they had, they could hot deyqte them to such a purpose without the; vote. of Parliament,”’ (which by the' way was not in session.) In jconclusion, I trust that New Zealand will not follow, in this at least, the example of the sister colony,; but will on this occasion maintain her well-earned reputation for freely responding to the calls of distress. I hope that the public will substantially assist, by contributions both in money and clothes, those who-have lost their all by the wreck of the" Queen Bee on the Spit at Nelson.—l am, &c. ’ i , - , Naceragus.