MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9387, 10 April 1896, Page 5

MEETING OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS. )

BRUNNERTON, April 9.

A large meeting of the Central Managing Committee of the Brunner Relief Fund was held yesterday. Mr Ward, the Mayor of Brunnerton, was appointed salaried Secretary. The National Bank of New Zealand was appointed bankers, and all donations are to be paid into that Bank to the credit of the Central Committee. It was decided than for the present a weekly allowance of 12s for each widow and 4s per week for each child under 16 years of age should be paid. Regarding trustees, the majority favoured the Public Trustee, bub the Executive are to consider whether they will not administer free and report to tbe next general meeting. The Committee request that donations be forwarded to the credit of the Central Committee, which has its headquarters at Brunner.

The Brunner News contends that the present Relief Committee has no power to j make or appoint a Secretary other tban I temporary, and that great care is required in the placing of the fund. It points out that the money acquired is national, and that no individual or individuals should be I allowed to obtain a benefit for bis services. A private Bill shonld be passed early next session, and a monthly allowance should be administered through the Public Trustee free of commission. Already £500 has been spent in giving the necessary relief and providing clothing for the bereaved. At the meeting yesterday a telegram was read from Mr Seddon stating that he gave no authority to purchase immediate necessaries for the bereaved ones at the expense of the Government. The Rev. R. Stewart said he waa present at the time the Premier made the statement and gave the order. Several members complained of the Premier's action, and Mr Petri*, Editor of the Qrtvmouth Star, moved t ». « bill of the !

expenses should be forwarded to the Premier, aud that he should be asked to pay the amouut.

NELSON, April 9. At a meeting of the Bruuner Relief Committee the Treasurer reported that, with £76 collected by the Corporation, and being handed to the General Committee, the sum now in hand ia £612, while about £100 has gone from the diasriot through other channels. He added that if all New Zealand contribut*. on ths same scael the fund will reach about £40,000. It was resolved —"That as there is sufficient for pressing needs at Brunuerton the Nelaou fund be retained till satisfactory arrangements are made for administering in some national way the whole amouut collected." More will be received here. AUCKLAND, April S. The Mayor ot Wellington has telegraphed to the Mayor of Auckland for news as to a concerted plan of action by the various mayors re the Brunuerton relief funds, with the view of husbanding the fuud in the interest of the beneficiaries;. The Mayor of Auckland will submit a proposal to a Committee meetiug. Up to date nearly £200 has been collected. The Auckland Hibernian Society voted £10, aud the Auckland aud Ponsouby lodges of Druids £5.

The Sydenham Borough Council has decided to grant the use of Sydenham Park free of charge to any Society or Club promoting amusements in aid of the Bruuner Keliet Fund. The fortnightly meeting of the Loyal Volunteer Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M. U., was hold in the Sydenham Gospel Mission Hall on Wednesday, wheu io was decided that the liodge take part in the Church parade to be held on April 19th in aid of the Brunnag Relief Fuud. The following paragraph appears ia the Advocate:— "Tne heart of New Zealand has responded promptly and nobly to the cry of the widow aud the orphan that rose round the mouth ot" the fatal Bruuner mine. Iv a hundred riiffarent ways funds have been raised, and there has beeu a most thorough rummage for the orphan's shilling. The liberality of many of the contributions has been astonishing, and a large total will no doubt be realised. A very touching feature of the movement was the gifts of children iv Christchurch. The PkbS9 appealed to children to send their toys anil books to comfort the bereaved children, and tbe littie treasures liturally teemed iv, many of them being accompanied by touehiug notes of child sympathy." This morning at ten o'clock the very unique and extensive collection of Maori curios, weapons, &c, bolouging to Mr D. Bowman, !%ud brought recently from the North I-jland by him, will be ou view at the Chamber of Commerce. Hall, A.M. P. Buildings, in aid of the fund. A small charge will be made for admission, the whole proceeds being given to tho fund. The whole collection his been very artistically arranged, aud some idea of its size may be gathered from the fact that the walls of the large hall are completely covered. There are all kinds of curios, &c., but amongst tbe more rare may be noted the Taiaha, or spears used by war parties and generally carried by the chiefs or leaders. These include a whaleboue taiaha, Hit 7in long, formerly owned by Ritngipuahoaha, of Urenui, aud much prized by the Ngatiawa tribe; weapon taken at Te Ngatu-o-te-mauu, at the death of Major Yon Tempsky, and since recognised by Ngatiruanui tribe, who have offered a big price for it, richly carved and | ornamented ; a very old taiaha, obtained [ from the late W. Halso, Esq.; a wooden taiaha, very large, formerly owned by Hone Wetere Te Rereuga, who is said to have killed the Rev. J. Whiteley, at Pukearuhe. The meres and axes are not only unique but numerous, as also are. the heitiki and numerous other articles, which will no doubt be examined with curiosity, as nothing like the collection has ever been seen here. The exhibition will be open in the evenings.

At the meeting of No. 1 L.0.L., Linwood. on Tuesday eveuing, ib was decided to get up a concert, to be held at an early date, in aid of the distressed at Brunnerbon.