THE INDIAN FAMINE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5225, 17 November 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE INDIAN FAMINE.

.-j { T . A meeting of the Indian Famine Belief Fond Committee wae held yesterday afternoon tin- the City Council Chambers; present —His! Worship the Mayor, in tha chair, Mr John Ollivier, Councillors Pratt and Thompson, Sir J; Oraoroft Wilson, Messrs G. Gould, Mitchell, L. E. Nathan, 1 Matson, Hyam Davis, mid Mr Haskins, the Town Clerk., Mr OUivier, (he Treasurer (o' the Com* mittee, reported that he «quested Mr H. El Alport, as a professional Auditor, to examine the eash book and documents. That gentleman had kindly done so, and had snpplisd a certified balance-sheet, showing tho following results!— . *

1877. Nov 16. Total amount of subscriptions reoeived rad promised to date, £4919 2s 4d j by amount reoeived from Sir Oraorofli Wilson, in rupees, (a3r“£lOOf amoußt pail into Bank of NeW Zealand to date, £4784 6s lOd; amounts nncollected, £34 15* 6d: total, £4919 2* 4d. Mr Ollivier then proceeded to state that since the balance'sheet had been prepared, subsoriptionehadoontinned to acme in wonderfully, and he referred to a number ol the items on his lists in order to show how nobly even poor people had contributed, (here being instances in which much self-denial must have been exercised. Amid much cheering Mr Ollivier announced (he total results of the collections up to that moment, as follows: Amount actually received ...£1985 5 2 „ due 32 15 6 Total £SOIB 0 8 The following letter to be sent from his Worship the Mayor, to the Bight Honourable (he Lord Mayor of London, was then considered and approvedMy Lord,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from his Worship the Mayor of Wellington, N.Z, requesting, at your Lordship’s instigation, tho co-operation of the residents of the provincial district of Canterbury, N.Z., in the movement which is happily so universally recognised in aid of the unfortunate sufferers from famine in the Madras Presidency. I am happy to be enabled to inform yon that the appeal which I have made in (bis district has been most cordially responded to. Oar population numbers about 72,000 souls, and we have been enabled to remit direct to Madras tho earn of £ The Committee determined with the aesistanoo of the manager of the Christchurch branch of the Bank of New Zealand, to remit this sum direct by telegram to the Oriental Bank at Madras, to be placed at once at the, disposal of the relief fund, because this method of transmission to India would be more speedy than by a remittance to yonr lordship’s fund in London, and as it was felt the required relief was urgent. It is extremely gratifying to me to be able to report so satisfactory a result. It is an additional evidence (hat while severed by distance we are still mindful of all legitimate claims which we love to call “home,” may at any rad all times bring under onr notice. I am informed (hat at least a similar sum may probably be tha result of (be contributions from the remaining portions of tho Colony of New Zealand. The desire to aid in (hi* noble work Has been unanimous in (bis district, and demands from me. the most grateful acknowledgment, a feeling wbioh I am sore your Lorathlp will most heartily reciprocate.” A letter to be forwarded to bis Worship the Mayor of Wellington was also read arid approved. A hearty vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Ollivier for th* great servioes he hod rendered (he Committee. Mr Ollivier referred inlughly eompUmeqtary terms to (he moaner in which Mr Haskins, their honorary secretary,bod worked, and to the thorough co-operation displayed by him. He was sure (he Committee would place on record their appreciation of his service*. _ .

A vote of thanks to'Mr Haskins was unanimously carried. Bis Worship tha Mayor also bore testimony to the valuable aid given so freely by Mr Haskins, rad expressed his opinion that two better men oonld not havo been found than (he Oemmittee possessed In their Treasurer and Secretary. Messrs Ollivier and Haskins acknowledged the compliment paid to them. Messrs George Gould and John Ollivier were authorised to forward a farther remittance to India.

His Worship the Mayor briefly addressed the members, congratulating (hem npon (he splendid reemlt of their energy, and thanking them heartily for (heir co-operation. It was resolved that the Committee should meet again on Thursday, Nov 29, at 4 p so. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.