SHORTLAND FIRE RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 250, 27 July 1872, Page 3

SHORTLAND FIRE RELIEF FUND COMMITTEE.

A MEETING of the Fire Relief Fund Committee was held last evening at Butt’s Hotel.* Present:—Messrs J. E. Macdonald (iu the chair), Cox, Stewart, Lloyd, Garrett, Gibbons,- Driver, Burgess, Lipsey, Williams, - Nolao, Heron, Crick, Butt, Young,:and Mill. The minutes of the previous meeting were read aud confirmed. The following lists were handed in : Messrs Lipsey and Williams, £45 5s ; W. Davies, £lO ; W. Huron, £4 9s ; Cox and Garrett, £2l ; Stewart, £6 Is ; Power, £1 12s Gd ; Martinson, £1 4s Gd ; Gibbons and Nolan, £2.6 ; previously collected, £l2 2s ; total, £l2B 4s. The above amount represents cash actually received, but more mouey is promised, and the lists are open until the Ist. August. Of the above ainouut £l2 have been expended, leaving caoh in band £11645.

Two letters of considerable length were read, one from Mrs Harrison and one from Mr Evans, in which mutual recriminations were indulged in. * The Chairman said he had glanced over these letters, which, would take at least half an hour to read, and therefore, unless the committee desired to hear them, he would not read them, but if they were to believe what each said of the other they must haye some queer people to deal with. The Committee did not desire to hear the letters, which were then laid on the table. The following letter from the Mayor of Auckland was read : “ City Council of Auckland, July 21st, 1872. Sir, — I have received your circular and list, and have intimated through the press that I shall be glad to receive subscriptions ; at the same time I would intimate that it is desirable the public should know the actual loss and position of the sufferers (pecuniarily). I should advise you to make-these matters as public as possible through the press. Unfortunately just now we are in the dullest month here and difficult to get subscriptions of any sort. I however trust vour appeal will be responded to.—l am, &e., P. A. PmLirs, Mayor. Mr J. C. Young, Shortland. Mr Lloyd moved that tlie committee proceed to strike off the list the names of such persons as they consider are not in need of assistance out of-llie funds at the disposal of the committee. Mr Williams seconded the motion. Mr Burgess moved that the committee proceed to ' deal with the cases, which they consider most urgent, by distiibution of a proportion of the funds, leaving the other cases for future consideration. Mr Cox seconded the amendment. The amendment was put and lost, and the original motion was then put and carried. : • The committee then proceeded to deal with the names.

It was ultimately decided to disburse £lB6 for goods destroyed, and £219 for buildings, making in all £405. Twentyfive per cent, is to be paid at once from the funds in hand.