JUBILEE BENEVOLENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 144, 20 June 1887, Page 8

JUBILEE BENEVOLENCE.

Food for the Needy.

Of all the forms adopted by people for commemorating the Queen's Jubilee non e commands higher praise and partakes more of the character of genuine philanthropy than the unostentatious movement initiated by Mr and Mrs Endean, of the Waitemata Hotel, for the distribution of food to poor and destitute of all classes. The distribution took place to-day, and those who saw the large crowd ot women and children with pinched and careworn faces, and in poor attire ac the scene of operations, or noted the gratified expression upon oheir features as they trudged away with well filled kit?, could not fail to applaud the bensficence ot the . donors, and reflect wi'.h satisfaction upon the good they were doing in the temporary relief of distress. The provisions were gathered in the shop in Palmerston Building, formerly occupied by J. T. Comp and Co , and they consisted of a bullock, presented by Mr J. Endean ; 2 sheep and 1 pig presented by HeJlaby Bros.; 1 sheep presented by J. Grey and Sons ; 100 loaves presented by Mr T. WcEwin ; 100 loaves, presented by a friend ; 2i cwb. of smoked fish, presented by Mr Frank Williams ; 700 orange?, presented by Captain Pankow, of the schooner Waiwcra; half a ton of potatoes, presented by Mr B, Daweon; a bag of potatoes, presented by Mr Endean; a sack of Uour and 501bs of plums and currants, presented by Mr Whitley ; and a sack of onions a and sack of carrots presented by the North New Zealand Farmers Cooperative Association. The windows were rendered conspicuous by large posters announcing "Free Jubilee Gifts for All" bub the crowd assembled outsido was the most prominent feature of all. At half-past 11 o'clock the distribution commenced, the distributers being Mr and Mrs Endean, Mr and Mrs Dawc-on, Mr Frank Williams, Mr H. J. Ellis, Mr Quint, Mr G. W. King, Mr Hancock, and Mr Arthur Barnes. The modus operandi was very simple, and quite in keeping with the broad and unsectarian character of the whole affair. Mr Endean admitted the people in groups of half a dozen or go, and each applicant having stated the number of mouths in his or her family was passed hehind the counter to receive an adequate allowance of fish, meat, vegetables, and oranges, no names being asked. The above require ments supplied the people filed out into the rear of Mr Dawson's shop and as they passed through ib on their way to the street they received their- allow anco of loaves. There was a great deal of squeezing and struggling of course to get near the door of admittance, but that seemed to be unavoidable, at any rate the crowd was comparatively patient and singularly good-tempered and no disorderly conduct being manifested. For two full hours the stream of indigence and distress continued to How in at one door and to flow away with lighter spirit at the other and for two hours busy hands were cheerfully engaged ""in filling gawiny hit* and bags with the assurance of ono day's Kib stantial "enjoyment at any rate. No less than 187 applicants representing 854 human beings were sent away happy and contented. At half past one the supplies gave out and the hundred or so of eager faces still biding their time at the door, had to return empty handed to their homes. This was the only drawback to the occurrence. Let thoio who would enjoy the luxury of doing good repeat the experiment we have just sketched. It is more productive- of solid enjoyment than tons of sputtering crackers, and bril liant but short-lived rockets. Mrs Endean acknowledges with many thanks the receipt of cash contributions from several friends who may rest assured that their money was wisely expended. The RevJ C. M. Nelson and Mrs Nelson were present during part of the time tbe distribution of food wa3 going on. .