The Famine in India.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 176, 28 January 1897, Page 2

The Famine in India.

, , _ , , Q _ APPEALING TO NEW ZEALAND FOR FUNDS. (Per Preas Association.) Sydney, This Day. Calcutta, January 27. It is reported that great distress exists at Bijampur, the capital of the Bombay district, and the resources of the authorities are taxed to the utmost to meet the necessity of the people. Beuter's Telegram Company received a cable from the Chief Justice of Bengal, chairman of the Indian Belief Fund Committee urgently appealing for the organisation of an Australian fund immediately. Wellington, This Day. At the request of Sir F. W. McLean, Chief Justice of Bengal and chairman of the Famine Belief Committee, the following appeal is being circulated through Router's Agency, which is acting gratiously in the matter, to the Governors of the Australasian Colonies and Mayors of the principal towns. The message is also franked by the New Zealand Telegraph Department to large numbers 1 of Mayors in the colony : — " Calcutta 27— The Central Committee of the Indian Famine Fund whose headquarters are at Calcutta earnestly solicit your cordial co-operation in taking steps towards the alleviation of the existing distress. There is the highest possible scope for private benevolence outside the system of State Belief which has already been established. The area of the famine stricken provinces and the number of persons affected, are enormous. The distress is repidly increasing and we feel sure the unavoidable privations from which millions of indus. trious poor s.re now suffering will arouse profound sympathy amongst all classes of all nation 3. The Committee, therefore, make an urgent appeai to you to organise an Indian Famine Belief Fund and will be deeply grateful for contributions which will be publicly acknow. ledged.