Lord Aberdeen's Generosity.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 286, 4 December 1886, Page 4

Lord Aberdeen's Generosity.

In the report on the relief of distress work undertaken in the West of Ireland in May last by Mr Tuke, at the request of the late Government, very saddening stories of pinching poverty are recorded, Tfc9 Achill, Boffin, and Shark Islanders were found in a terrible state of destitution. But difficult as it was to. copp with the emergency, alike aa regards seed, potatoes, and food supply, it was trifling compared with tho problem which stared Mr Tuke in the face when he visited the villages and hamlets on tho rugged coa«ts of Mayo and Galway. Supplies were needed " almost at a moment's notice," but in his extremity (Mr Tuke says in his report) tK I was most generously helped by the Lord-Lieutenant (Lord Aberdeen), whj privately gave me a guarantee for so considerable a sum that I was enabled to commence the work at once and arrange in part for the supply of the necessary seed." Mr Tuke also bears testimony in a concluding paragraph to the assistance and marked kindness invariably extended to him by his Excellency, and by Mr Morlev and Sir Robert Hamilton. As to the relief work accomplished, Mr Tulce states that in the islands of Achill, Boffin, and Shark 1,177 families were provided: with seed, amounting in'the'whole to 450 tons, at a cost of £1,640. The number of families assisted on the mainland and islands exceeded 6,000, and the amount expended was about £5,000. Towards the expenditure tho public contributed £5,200.