GLASGOW RELIEF FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

GLASGOW RELIEF FUND.

PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting, convened by his Worship the Major, was held last night in the Music Hall, Cathedral square. At the opening of the meeting exactly a score were present. After the advertisement calling the meeting had been road by the Town Clerk, His Worship read the circular which he had received from the Lord Provost of Glasgow, and in conformity with the request contained in which he had called the meeting. He sold that he had laid the letter before the City Council, the members of which had, with the exception of one, supported his desire to call a meeting. A similar course had been taken in Dunedin, and would no doubt be followed in the other principal cities of New Zealand. He differed from those who*held that the Glasgow Bank failure was not a national calamity. Hundreds, he might say thousands, have had their hard savings taken from (hem, and widows and elderly persons had found themselves suddenly reduced to poverty by the failure. Christchurch had a name for her benevolence. Aftenrhathad beendoneforlndia he was sure the people of Christchurch would not turn a deaf ear to the necessities of tbeir own flesh and blood. The smallness of the meeting was no discouragement to him, when he recollected that in the case of the Indian Famine Belief the first meeting was equally small He concluded by calling on Mr Harold Selwyn Smith to move the first resolution. (Applause.) Mr H. S. Smith had intended to be only a listener, and bad come simply to show his sympathy with the object of the meeting. He was therefore unprepared to draw such a harrowing picture of the distress caused by the Bank failure as might he drawn. He did not consider that the small attendance augured the non-success of the movement now commenced, but believed the people of Christchurch would contribute according to ■ their means. It was enough to know that great suffering was being endured by a very helpless class. He did not refer *) those, who had taken shares with a view-to but to those who had invested the savings of I their whole lives, and were in total dependence on the dividends accruing from such investments. He called upon those present to picture to themselves their friends who were retired officers, widows, orphans, maiden ladies, &c., suddenly deprived of their entire resources. He had beard it described as a local failure, which did not call for a national recognition. His experience told him that when a call came' from the Old Country it was cordially responded to, and ho would be much disappointed if the people of Christchurch and Canterbury did not contribute handsomely to the fund j.roj>osed to’ be raised. He referred to the subscriptions for the widows and orphans in the Crimean war, when in six months £IOO,OOO had been sent Home. Similarly in other cases large and creditable sums had been sent. In short, no appeal for a worthy object failed of being responded to fairly and liberally. Xn conclusion,, be would move, —“ That this meeting sympathises with the shareholders of the Glasgow Bank, in consequence of the sad calamity which has befallen them through the failure of that institution; and as many families are left without the means of subsistence, this meeting resolves that a fund shall be raised to assist in the relief of those who may be left in destitute circumstances, or in need of pecuniary help for their support.” He would ask those present, and those not present, for sympathy and aid, not for those who could help themselves, but for those who could not cope with the difficulties they found themselves forced to face. In a case like thin it wonld be found to bo far more blessed to give than to receive. A very large contribution was not expected from everyone, but the aggregate of small contributions would be something very handsome. He had been shown the list of contributions made in Glasgow, where, of course, the feeling was very strong, and had seen there ihat eight or ten sums of £3 00 each, a whole column of £IOOO subscriptions, and many more of £SOO and £IOO had been recorded. (Applause.) 3 The Eev O. Eraser seconded the resolution. He did not consider that the paucity of the attendance augured ill for the movement. Perhaps it might be taken as an indication of the confidence the people took in those who would conduct the meeting. Ho might say that no share of the contributions would be devoted to paying the liabilities of the Bank. The demand upon the shareholders was about £3OO per share. That meant min -to many. The immediate result to many of those who could fight their way was that they at once realised their position, and young men and women who had hitherto been independent took situations as clerks and governesses. Where people helped themselves in the manner they did in Glasgow, they deserved to he helped by others. The City of Glasgow contributions had reached £190,000. Half a million was required, and there was great hope that that sum would be realised by additional subscriptions. He never had known an appeal to the Colonies that was not responded to. At first it had been said that subscriptions would not be ] asked from working men, but the first sub-

scription received by the Lord Provost was one of 20s from a working man. (Applause.) In New Zealand they were all working men. He hoped it would be a long time before they forgot that they were a part of the same great nation, and that they were bound to share in Imperial subscriptions. Perhaps those who were absent thought it would be sufficient fqr them to subscribe without submitting to listen to speeches. (Applause.) Before putting the motion, the Chairman read letters of apology for absence, and sympathy : —From his Lordship the Primate, the Eev Mr Elmslie, Bev Mr Glasson, Eev Father Ginnaty, and Mr Hargreaves. The first and last enclosed cheques, the last for £5. The Chairman said he had received a cheque for £5 from his Honor Mr Justice Johnston. He bad also received verbal apologies for absence from the Bevs Thomas Plavell and H. C. M. Watson.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.

Dr Turnbull, who was called upon to propose the next resolution, said he would not detain the meeting after the eloquent speeches just made, but would content himself with moving—“ That a General Committee be appointed, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of collecting subscriptions, and to carry out the object of this meeting.” As had been stated that evening the small attendance was no indication of the small sympathy of the community, and he felt sure that, with the organisation which would be secured, a handsome subscription would bo raised. (Applause.) Mr B. Cass seconded the resolution. The Glasgow Bank failure was not an ordinary commercial one, but a national calamity. He was afraid that this would not be the only call that would soon be made._ He would be very glad to assist in getting in subscriptions. The Chairman suggested to Mr Cass that he should name all those present as members of the Committee. Their presence that night he took to be an indication of their sympathy with the movement. The following names were then taken: — The Eev 0. Fraser, Dr Turnbull, His Worship the Mayor, Messrs A. Duncan, John Anderson, J. A. Bird, John OUivier, B. Cass, H. 8. Smith, W, Pratt, the Bevs Ginnaty, Glasson, and Watson. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr John OUivier being caUed upon, moved the next resolution. He would confess that he was not very sanguine on the present occasion. It was always advisable that those who took up a cause like this should do so with heart and soul He had been asked to move—“ That the ministers and office-bearers of the various churches be asked to give a surplus, offering on Sunday, Feb. 15, for the Eurposo of this fund." He would like to ave seen the word “surplus” replaced by “ special.” What Mr H. 8. Smith had said was no doubt quite true, namely, that many had invested their all, and had had it swept away. It was enough to’ know that to have one’s sympathies enlisted. But there were always cases of local distress; and shortly there would be great distress in the Old Country , which would caU for relief at their hands. The speaker here referred to the calamity at

Waimate. la that case he had received but

one contribution of 275, and that arrived too late to be of use. He hoped that auoh apathy would not be shown now. (Applause.) Mr A. Duncan seconded the motion. He thought the clergy were best fitted for putting before the people the extent of the calamity. Ho did not wish to diminish the ordinary incomes of the churches, but that the surplus collections should bo applied to this charity. This was not an appeal for one section of the Old Country, the shareholders wore to be found in England and Ireland, as well ns Scotland. Liberality in this case would do good to Now Zealand in a commercial point of view, and would cement the union between the Colonies and the Mother

Country. (Applause.) Mr Ollivier asked Mr Duncan to explain what was meant by the “ surplus." Mr Duncan explained that it meant all over the average collection. Mr H. S. Smith moved as an amendment — “ That the word ‘ special ’ be substituted for ‘surplus.’ (Hear, hear.]) The Her C. Fraser desired to explain. The Chairman said it was desirable that the amendment should be seconded before it was discussed. Mr Bird seconded the amendment.

The Rev 0. Fraser explained that there might be some persons who would object to the subscription altogether; these either would keep away from Church, a most objectionable thing, or would not make their usual contribution to the Church.

Mr Ollivier referred to, the satisfactory results which had attended similar special collections in the case of the Indian Famine Fund. . A special emergency like this should cause ordinary rules to give way. Dr Turnbull suggested as a compromise that neither word should be used, so that each church might make the collection in its own way. (Hear, hear.) The suggestion was at once adopted, and the resolution with the word “ surplus” omitted was put and carried. He Rev 0. Fraser said he would like to see the whole collection given in each case, but would not dictate to any church in the matter. (Hear, hear.) Mr W. Pratt moved the next resolution, as follows : —“ That tho Mayor of Christchurch be requested to communicate with the Mayors of Lyttelton, Timaru, Kaiapoi, Akaroa, Sydenham, Bangiora, and Ashburton, together with the Chairmen of the several Councils in the Canterbury Provincial district, soliciting their co-operation in the collection of subscriptions to the general fund.” Mr John Anderson had' much pleasure in seconding the resolution, which was put, and carried unanimously, after the words “ various Road Boards ” had been substituted for the words “ several Counties,” on the motion of Dr Turnbull, seconded by Mr Ollivier.

Mr H. S. Smith moved, and Mr W. Pratt seconded—“ That Mr John Anderson and Mr Andrew Duncan be requested to act as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.” He motion was put and carried. unanimously. Mr EL'S. Smith moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his presidency and for having initiated the proceedings of the evening. The vote was given with acclamation. ‘ This concluded the business.