THE HUTT FIRE RELIEVING SUFFERERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 77, 1 April 1914, Page 8

THE HUTT FIRE RELIEVING SUFFERERS

MOVE BY UPPER HUTT TOWNSPEOPLE JBOARD OF TRUSTEES TO BE SET UP. Although only short notice bad "Oeen given to residents, the Upper Hutt Town Hall was well ( filled last evening, 1 on trie occasion of a public meeting called for tho purpose of appointing a board of trustees to administer funds that have been contributed, and are to be contributed, in aid of those who in any way have suffered by the recent disaster. In explaining the objects of the meeting, Mr. R. H. Webb (chairman of the local Town Board), who presided, alluded to the dreadful catastrophe that had saddened the hearts of all. It behoved the townspeople, he remarked, to endeavour to ' assist the persons who had suffered. Some of those lost, he continued, had left relatives who were in very necessitous circumstances. _ For that reason he had called the meeting. The first duty of the proposed board of trustees Would be to attend to the wants of those who were in immediate need. The board suggested would be able to see that sufficient provision was made for the sufferers. In the event of a surplus resulting, Mr. Webb thought that . it would be a .very good thing if they established a perpetual memorial, the money to be used at any time when ' necessity arose. Some people,' he said, wanted a monument erected, and, this was desirable, he would suggest that the proposal outlined be adopt- j cd. The surplus should be left to trustees to establish a perpetual memorial, which would be a permanent fund from now till as long as the Upper Hutt existed. ' Mr- A, J, M' Curdy stated that he had received a donation of £5 5s from Mr. 'A. M. Samuel', who had opened a subscription list ab Lower Hutt on behalf," of the Upper Hutt Independent. To-day he had received £100 from that gentleman. (Applause.) Mr. M'Curdy endorsed all Mr. Webb had said. Mr. F. W. Kemp also supported the proposal, remarking that it had been at the back of his mind for some time , that/ they should have a permanent benevolent fund. He had known of several cases where he would have applied to such a fund had it been in existence. After some discussion regarding the manner in which the funds should be administered, Mr, C. H. Izard arose and expressed his disapproval of discussing how they were going to administer the money. Just now they should think of the present, not the future. Eventually Mr. Webb submitted the following motion:— "That this public meeting of the townspeople of Upper Hutt appoint a board of trustees to administer all funds contributed for the relief of those who have suffered by the disaster of 29th March, and that the following gentlemen, be appointed trustees': The clergymen of the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Presbyterian communions, a trustee appointed by the trustees of the Gospel Hall, the medical practitioner and chairman of the Town Board, all such gentlemen to hold the positions while lesident in the district." Mr. P. Robertson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Ml', Webb announced that kind messages of sympathy had been received from all parts of the Dominion. At the conclusion of the meeting the sum of £78 3s 6d was either contributed or promised in the room ; £14" of this was subscribed by the Maymorn employees.,