WHATAWHATA. THE IRISH RELIEF FUND.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1200, 6 March 1880, Page 2

WHATAWHATA. THE IRISH RELIEF FUND.

PUBLIC MEETING. According to advertisement as per Waikato Times, a public meeting was held at Whatawhata on Saturday evening for the purpose of taking steps to raise subscriptions in aid of the Irish Famine Fund. Owing to the short notice given of the : meeting and the mail not arriving here on Saturdays until after 4 o'clock p.m., those at a distance had not an opportunity to hear of the above taking place. However, at 7 o'clock a good many began to make their appearance. About this time L. B. Harris Esq. Chairman of the Newcastle District Board, who called the meeting, rode into the township, after i travelling a distance of 20 miles to be present at the meeting and assist otherwise in forwarding the object in view. All present then adjourned to a large room in Mr Kellow's Hotel, when on the motion of Mr Corboy, Mr Hams was voted to the chair. The Chairman addressed the meetng at considerable length and said he felt much gratified to see how well the Whatawhata people turned out on this occasion. He pointed out in a vivid manner the distress and misery that now exists in many parts of Ireland, and how incumbent it was on all who could afford to give a little to do so, and relieve a people now suffering from the effects of a severe famine, and to show how urgent was the demand, he referred to the benevolent and generous manner the people of New Zealand, Canada, and other dountries responded. The Chairman concluded by an eloquent appeal to the meeting to subscribe what they could in order to assist in relieving a people in such deep distress who, he said, are themselves remarkable for a generosity unsurpassed in any other country. Mr Corboy said he had a resolution to lay before the meeting, he thought that on account of the short notice given of the meeting the best plan would be to open a a subscription list at once to give all present an opportunity of subscribing, and appoint a Committee to canvass the district. He then proposed that Mr Harris, Mr Kellow, Mr Bailey, Mr Iwerson, and and the mover be appointed a Committee to canvas the district for subscriptions. The resolution was seconded by Mr Dawson, and earned unanimously. A subscription list was then laid on the table, when every man in the room came forward and subscribed. A warm vote of thanks to the Chairman finished the business of the evening. [ — A Correspondent.]