SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The fifth annual meeting of the Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand was held in the Town Hall buildings on tlip 11th ; picscnt— Mr Justice Williams (pr* nicnt, in the chair), Mrs Williams, Messrs J. F. Arnold, M.P. J. Loudon (Mayor of Dunedin), C. W. 8. Chamberlain. W.. Belcher, J. A. Park, \V. A. Moore, F. O. Bridgeman. and Captain Strang. Sir James Mills forwarded an apology for his absence.
The President, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said the i report showed that during the year £146 0s 7d had been disbursed to the fehipwreck crews of various vessels as against £50 for the previous year. Reference was also made in the report to the assistance rendered to the crew of the barque Dundonald, who were landed at the Bluff. In consequence of a local fund being raised at Imercargill and the Bluff, it was necessary to contribute only £32. It would be remembered that in connection with this vessel there was, unfortunateh , a charge made against tbe society that it had failed in ite duty in rendering assistance to the orew. That charge, however, was founded on a misapprehension, and was handsomely withdrawn. — 'Applause.) Some slight reflections were cast on the management of the society in other directions, but he hardly thought it was necessary to refer to them a 6, even if they had been well founded, they were of'a trivial nature The other amounts expended representing relief were paid to the crews of the ve«eJs mentioned in the report. It was satisfactory to know that the Harbour Boards of the colony had shown an interest in the society, and had contributed, together, a sum of £53 11s. It would be «con from the accounts that the working expenses of the society had been kept as low as possible: they were very small indeed. The total receipts for the vea-r from all sources amounted to £461. inclusive of the Government suhsidv of £200. The total sum now standing to the credit of the society on. fixed deposit was £196^ 4s 7d. It might be gathered from that that the society was in a very strong financial position. But it was impossible to 'ay what might hapnen at any moment. If there was a pphous shipwreck it mitrht very well happen that nparlv the whole of this sum would be absorbs-:!. It was therefore in tbe interests of the society that it should be maintained in as strong a financial position as possible ; and although there was no urgent ne^-esoitv for additional assistance from the nublic to the «ocietv. it was iust as woll thnt the p>iblio shr»ild not Hiink thM the {inanrep of the «o°i°tv wrr« f=i>?h fl^at it required no further assistance. It was
manifest that it would be very de-'inbie indeed if the sum which was at the creuit 'of the society could be considerably increased in amount, so that the society might be prepared' for all emergencies. The- , committee regretted — and he was sure the ' society would regret — the retirement of Mr Chamberlain.— (" Hear, hear."? Mr Chamberlain had always shown a great interest in the society. He was one of the Dunedin ' landmarks, and ''not only the society, but, he was 6ure, the general public was exceedingly sorry to lose him. He had taken, a deep interest in the work of the society and the executive hoped that he would consent to reappointmenL on the committee. (Applause.) ">*<• J. Loudon (Mayor) seconded th« motion The motion was agreed to. MB CHAMBERLAIN'S SEItVTCES. Mr F. O. Bridgeman said he thought some mention should ba made at this meeting of the services rendered by Mr C. "W Chamberlain to the society since its w ' oeption He would' like to move a vote of thanks to Mr Chamberlain for his services to the society since its formation. — (Ap-pla-use.) Mr J. A. Park, in seconding the motion, expressed the hope that. Mr Chamberlain would see his way clear to give some of his spare time to other public duties besides the affairs of the society. — (Applause.) The motion was carried with acclamation. In reply, Mr Chamberlain said this honour was entirely unexpected by him. He was extremely pleased with the kind references made by the president and the mover and seconder of the motion concerning what he Jiad done for-- the society. He was glad to find that he had been so useful, and if hecould Jje of any use to the society, in the future he would only be too glad to do .his utmost. for it. — (Applause.) THANKS TO TKK .MAYOR. On the motion of -Mr W. Belcher, seconded by Mr J. F. Arnold M.P., a vote of thanks was accorded the Mayor for the service he had done in inducing the City Council to accept at call the moneys of the society. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following central Executive Committee was elected for the ensuing year: — Patron, His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket Vice-patrons, Sir Joseph Ward, K.C.M.G.. Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the Hon. W. Hall-Jones; president. His Honour Mr Justice Williams; chairman, His Worship the Mayor of Dunedin ; vicechairman, Mr Wm. Sibbald, Collector of Customs; hon. solicitor, Mr J. H. Hoskin-g; hon. treasurer, Mr W. A. Moore ; h«n. auditor, Mr C. Russell Smith, F.1.A.N.Z.; Central Executive Committee — The officers of the Society and the Hon. J. A. Millar. J. F. Arnold, M.P., E. G. Allen, M.P., G. B. Bullock, T. W. • Whitson, J. A. Park, Geo. Fenwick, F. O. Bridgeman, Wm. Belcher, Captain Beaumont, and Captain Strang. j. It. was intimated that the President (Mr Justice Williams) held office for life. A vote-'bf thanks to the President for filling the chair closed the meeting. A. lady, writing of a recent trip to Rotorua, says: — "One of the most charming memories I have is of two Maori girls in a boat. Their gowns and 'kerchiefs wer» brilliant in the glow, and when one balanced herself on the prcw and .wielded he* rod with deft grace her skirts flying in ■the wind and her dark hair floating out under her silk 'kerchief it was a pictur* ne\er to be forgotten." *
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Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 18
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1,034SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 18
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