Australian Floods.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7071, 17 February 1893, Page 2

Australian Floods.

BELIEF COMMITTEE FOE TIM ABU. A public meeting convened by the Mayor was held in the Council Chambers last evening, to consider means of affording relief to the distressed people of Queensland. His Worship the Mayor presided, and there were about twenty persons present. The Mayor formally opened the meeting by reading the advertisement, and the tele* gram from the Hon, Mr Reeves, on which the Borough Council on, Monday night requested him to call a mooting. Tt was not p necessary for him to enlarge on the merits of the case. They all understood how deserving the case must be when a number of colonists, who by years of industry and hard work got a little property together, lost it all in a few hours. He bad sent another telegram to Mr Reeves, but had not yet received a reply, stating that a public meeting was being held here to night, and asking whether be coaid state that aid was still required, and the probable amount that would be wanted, and earnest efforts would he made to raise a proportionate amount in this district His Worship then read two letters he had received. One from the clergy ' of the Sacred Heart (Fathers Hurlin and Tubman) enclosed a_cbeque for two guineas. The other, from Mr John Ballantyne, enclosed a cheque for twenty guineas, with an apology for hia absence. He was glad to see that his Worship had called a meeting of oitisens, and he trusted that much practical sympathy would be manifested by the people of Timaru and district with the suffering in Queensland. (Applause.) His Worship mentioned that Mr Wade told him he could not attend the meeting, but expressed bis sympathy with its object and told him to put down hia name for a guinea. His Worship then road some resolutions ho bad drafted to further the business. The first expressed the opinion that steps bo taken to afford relief to the distressed people of Queensland This was moved by Messrs Priest and Hole and carried. Mr Hall-Jones, moved the second resolution—“ That a committee be appointed to carry out the decision of this meeting, empowering them to canvass the town and district for subscriptions in aid of the sufferers by the recent disastrous floods in Queensland, and also that subscription lists be ;

left at each of the banks in Timaru ” Such a disaster as they bad ail read of in the papers should stir the hearts of all. Auckland bed already made a good start, sending £350 the previous day, and those in Timaru should do al! they could. He thought that whatever collect ions were made they should send a war no money, but send all in produce, wheat or flour. They were told that flour was wanted. The money they collected should bo spent in this colony in produce for them, and help of any kind should be sent as quickly as possible, as early aid was worth double what came later. His Worship had added to the motion that ths Friendly Societies be asked to assist, as organisations ; there would be a difficulty in that, as the societies only meet fortnightly. He suggested that he'p should be sent in produce, as it was not to be supposed that they were asked to provide money for the re erection of buildings, but to relieve oases of absolute want

Mr Hole seconded tbe motion, and said the least sympathetic of people must feel sympathy for those who were ruined by the disaster. Thanks were due to the Govern meat for the assistance they had offered in saving reductions for expenses. Mr B. T. Rhodes had told him he could notbs present, but he would be glad to give any help in his power. He (Mr Hole) was sure Timaru would not be behind hand in this good work. Mr W. Evans said they should accept donations in cash as well as in kind, and if farmers liked to send half a ton of potatoes or a few bags of wheat, of course they would bo glad to take it, and the thanks of the comma nity wore duo to the Union Company also for offering to take 300 tons free of freight in the Hauroto. As soon as they heard of this the three millers met that morning and decided to send a ton of flour a piece. ( Applause) That was a al»rt for the subscription lists, £9 each for the three mills ; and that would not prevent individual members of the eompani’S from giving more. There had no doubt been a frightful catastrophe, and every humane heart should feel it. We did not know the moment a great calamity might overwhelm ourso’ves ; the sufferers were cousins of ours, people of the same race, and ho hoped tbe committee would succeed in getting a lot of money. The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Chisholm mjvod and Mr Evans seconded : That the committee consist of Messrs Donald Mac ean, B B Taylor, M Jonas, W Priest, J Granger, 0 Bowker. S F Smithson, T Howley, T Hartey, B H Lough (at Council Chamber*), W Evans, W HalJones, and His Worship the Mayor, and the several bank managers, with power to add to their number; also as representatives of those localities, the Mayor of Waimate, the chairmen of the Temukaand Geraldine Town Boards, Mr Morris at Pleasant Point, and Mr Gall at Fairlie Creek, and Mr Wederell at St. Andrews. Mr ChisLolm said he did not agree with Mr Hall Jones that they should send contributions in produce only. That would not meet the case. 3hey must remember that the distressed people had lost their houses and furniture. No doubt there would bo a good committee over there; they should send all they could in money and trust that it w mid be well distributed. They should remember that while the people were suffering there, we were having a bountiful harvest; the claim for help could not have coma upon usjal a more fitting time, and he hoped the farmers of the district would respond liberally. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor stated that Tomuka, and he believed Waimate, were making independent efforts. The motion was then carried. Mr B. B. Taylor moved, and Mr Hole seconded—" That His Worship the Mayor be elected treasurer, and Mr Lough secretary ; that all moneys collected be .paid into the Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, to tho ‘Queensland floods relief fund’j that all payments be made by cheque authorised by the managing committee, to be signed by the treasurer and secretary."- Carried, Mr Hole moved, and Mr Bush seconded, and it was resolved —“ That the secretary obtain printed subscription forma for the members of committee; the beading to request their return by, eay, the 28th inst. Mr Evans suggested that some one should bo appointed to receive donations in kind, and being requested to do bo himself, he consented to receive them. He recommended that such gifts should be sent away by first available boat after receipt. Also that the mayor should advertise that he (Mr Evans) would receive .such donations, and send them by every boat going that way. Mr B, Orwm suggested a concert, but the meeting was of opinion that a canvass would be THore useful.

Mr Targu’e suggested that the aid of the churches should be enlisted, and he moved, Mr 0. Green seconded, and it was carried, that the ministers of the various denominations be asked to make special collections on behalf ef the fund. Mr Chisholm remarked that he saw a representative of the press present, and he would like to give him a hint that , the press could help the committee a good deal, especially among the farmers. The committee agreed to meet this morning-, and get lo work at once. They began at once by “ adding to their number,” Mr T. Thomson's name being added to the ounce it lee.

The question of “ cash or kind" being raised again Mr Evans said ha would accept anything. A subscription list was started, and with the cheques above mentioned, and other donations paid or promised, £37 4s was made up, besides the £27 donation of the mills, or £64 4s in all. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the me-tiog. During the meeting the Mayor stated that he had received a letter from the Garrison Baud; suggesting the names of sis gentlemen to act as collectors at the band’s open-air concert next Sunday, viz-, Messrs Priest, Stuart, Jonas, Rhodes, and himself.