To the Editor of the Nelson Fxaminer.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 318, 6 November 1860, Page 2

To the Editor of the Nelson Fxaminer.

Sir—Your'notice of the liberal contributions of clothing money, and various stores for the relief of my fellow Taranaki sufferers, is but a very sorry ac 7 knowledgeinent of the generous) sympathy shown by the benevolent public in this and a neighboring colony. . „ Your statement v that no real necessity for it existed, is not only ungrateful, but it haß a tendency to cause rather unpleasant reflections to be cherished towards, those who thankfully avail themselves of the opportunity now offered to provide for the wants of their families, which at home were honorably sup orted by their own industry. Nay, it reflects on the whole body of those for whose immediate relief so much has been done. ■ ■ 1 cannot think you really maan all that your words seem to convey. Your statement places the recipients in a very unenviable situation, as no honest man or woman would take what was not actualy

required. . , You may not know what it Is to clothe, find shoes, And provide food, &c, for a large family. I do; and I can assure you that to many this aid has been very opportune; and I am quite sure that a feeling of the deepest gratitude is entertained by every Taranaki exile for this timely assistance. I have no reason or wish to question the fact that "the immediate wants of all are for the present Bupplied by Government." Tnis I know, that bare and scanty is our lot, driven away as we were with but little more than our clothes upon our backs. We have had to procure furniture (and many other things not how to be named) in the best way we could—too often at the expense of the craving >yants o5 nature. I doubt, if an exchange of situation took place with those who so complacently declare that we " are all j well provided for,," whether they would not gladly avail themselves of the kind assistance 60 cheerfully rendered to our sorrowing hearts, in our present state of exile from the land that has become endered to us idl by the fond recollections of our homes, associations, and friends, which by the present unhappy war, are now but as the flitting shadows of a dream. _ ; I have written this in compliance with the wishes of many of my Taranaki brethern, and some few respectable persons in Nelson. I trust an opportunity will be afforded ere long for all the Taranaki exiles, in a much more suitable manner than this brief note, gratefully to acknowledge tha benevolence of those who, after seeing your remarks, may think that they have acted unwisely, and that they would have done better to have followed the adage so often used by the selfish and the covetous, " True charity begins at home.'" ■ lam, &c, , ■ ; THOMAS GILBERT, ' .;■'•■ . -A Taranaki Exile. Dadson's Valley, Suburban North, > I October 30,1860,