Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1904. THE COLLINGWOOD FIRE SYMPATHY WITH THE SUFFERERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 219, 9 November 1904, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1904 . THE COLLINGWOOD FIRE SYMPATHY WITH THE SUFFERERS.

THE hearts of the people of Nelson and of the whole colony must go out in sympathy with the residents of Collingwood in their hour of privation, suffering, and less caused by the fire which destroyed! the business portion of the township on Monday morning. Messages expressing that sympathy have already been, forwarded, together with questions whether help or relief ia needed. Rut we should not wait to ask lquestions, neither should we seek an answer which it might not be quite easy to give. Let the city establish a relief fund at once, and tender it. to our neighbours delicately and promptly as a mark of regard. So far as we can learn, Ihe Collingwood people are keeping a "stiff upper lip," and some of them declar-e that such a catastrophe, had as it is, does not leave them altogether broken up. Hut iK-yond doubt, the loss of such a. great deal of property— covering an amount far beyond the insurances — cannot be borne, even by a fairly-well-off community, without feeling Ih/> effects for years t o conie. Besides, apart altogether from partial indemnification from actual loss, the position at present in Collingwood must be of extreme inconvenience, a good deal of hardship, nnd privation, and complete dislocation of every-day life and industry. Hence, whatever aid is forwarded, whether in money or in kind should be sent promptly. It is clearly a case of "bis.dat q'ui cito flat." It will bo observed that a lady from Collingwood has already started collecting' neighbourly offerings, and if Ijpr efforts are supplemented by some speedily-arrang-ed collective. effort by the citizens oi Nelson, a e'ood deed, ant a irnmlly action, would be performed and neighbourly sympathy shown in a ptneticul manner. • • • • Towards a»y relief fund that may started we would suggest thai a. first step might be taken by the Committee formed at the Patriotic meet-in j; the other evening, when a sum of money was raised towards the sunVrers by the. Kussian outrage on the Dogger Bank. On that Occasion about £8 5s was subscrib- : in the room, and collection li.-ts have been on view a t various business places The general feeling. however, is thnfr a subscription towards tli.? Hull fishermen is not needed from Nelson at least inasmuch as tho strong feeling of f:\-m---|-athy and national .sentiment aroused by the outrage, and the amount JJiiKsia can afford to ,>» v will be inotv than sufneient i ol - nil reuiurements, Consequently, as it will cost a good proportion" oi thl> sum collected to lotward an amount bv cable it in KURwysted that a meeting of c,, rt f. scn-hors , be called by the Chair.n; ! n ot the Patriotic Committee, and th' Binoun t inhund in devoted' towards the eßtablishment of a Colliiiir-' wood Firo -Relief Fund. Manv wto ?n?ho°f fa f " doClJnxld lo «^>«riK' to the lund m question would "-ladtho .irieuds nnd neighbours at ColInwrwood. and thus, at Wst a. fair proportion of the ultimate sum to wm.iri T" SmiU(ld , to would be secured as a nucleus. jfi the citizens of Nelson move in M,o matter as suggost.-d, the Colling-! voo-rl rosKientn mig.ht Ik- askcil to iorm another commit te,, whowou rail! Nolson iuid co-ojiPral* M v. n< ,. 9» « * Finally, in deplorino- the cii-n^-tj-ous flro which has raid owpi,vl y V ? 110I 10 noxv oi%nn £" ldin f Colli »ff«'ood aiiew .' /J ano t hor and more suitable site ow a , t( ?- L \ tiH ' r - The old village! ™t wn«.° r ! i U "? tHv , n Place bf the was ill-placer for its crowinc* iniportanefi. 'and' hciioc pf offi> v access to it was availan' ••';,. \\y *'a and land only at c-n „,i ..i-.Tiosi ot the Udy,-Tte*e-is al- ,r,da. • of room for the new sit, in W -i Ol ?s ' shrewd and far-seeing settlors!