IRISH FAMINE RELIEF FUND.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2404, 22 January 1880, Page 2

IRISH FAMINE RELIEF FUND.

Yostorday ovening, the Mayor, in complianco with a requisition signed by Messrs O'Meagher, A. S. (Hterson, Thos. Meek, A. H. Maudo. H. Aitken, G. Sumptor, and P. Dunlop, convened a meeting in the Volunteer Hall to consider tho question of the distress in Iroland, and tho best means of railing a fund for the relief of tho sufferers. There were 70 to 100 inhabitants of the town present. Tho business for which tho meeting had been called, and the proper means of carrying it out, were discussed with tho one view of as expeditiously as possible proceeding to forward a contribution towards the proposed relief fund, that shall show the readiness to sympathise with tho distressed, with which Oamaru has beforo responded to all similar appeals. Tho Mayor in opening the meeting, said that in view of tho enormous amount of distress that existed in Ireland at the present time, it was our duty as follow countrymen to come forward and contribute all tho help in our power towardi alleviating it, We were not to injure ourselves in any way, but every one should give something according to hU means, to make up a sum for the help of our suffering fellowmen. Some of ns would have a very alight comprehension of the meaning of a famine, but he hiraaelf had a very vivid reoollection of some of tho soenes of the famine of 1846 ; and ho could only say that if but half of the dreadful misery of that time existod among tho Irish now — God help them. His Worship then called upon Mr G. Sumpter to propose tho first resolution to the meeting. Mr G. Sumpter remarked that he was sure, that all tho inhabitants of Oamaru would share in tho wiuh ho himself felt to rendor any aasiatance in his power in contributing to lessen tho diro distress. In speaking of tho terrible miseries of tho last famine in Ireland he alluded to the many generous instances of self-sacriGce shown by the upper classes in Groat Britain in holp ing to alleviate the distress, and felt lure that the Mine noble apirit would bo shown

at the present time, and he mentioned Mr Burdett, who in those days gave up the whole of tho rents of his great estates in Ireland. Ho was sure that such examples would do good now in moving every one to give, even at the sacrifice of some of their own luxuries, towards the holp of their fellow countrymen in such great need. Ho then moved— That in view of the alarming distress which exists in Ireland it is desirable in the interests of humanity to adopt measures for raising a fund in this town and the surrounding districts for tho relief of tho sufforors, and he was quite sure that we, who had given so much towards tho relief of tho Indian famino, would bo ready to do as much for own kith and kin. (Much applause ) The motion was seconded by Mr W. J. Smith, and carried unanimously. Father Ooleman, in proposing tho sooond| resolution, observed that Mr Sumpter, having stated the genoral object of the meeting, tho next stop would be to have a committee to carry out that object, in tho quickest and most efficient manner ; and his proposition was that for carrying into effect tho object of tho meeting, a committee be formed consisting of Messrs W. J. Smith, G. Greenfield, W. H. Rouayue, J. Moss, B. VV. Hayos, G. Jones, J. Mirains, S. E. Shrimski, M. Grant, A. 11. Maude, A. S. Otterson, Sumpter, Roy. Dowsbury, Rev. A. B. Todd, Mr T. W. Hislop, Mr O'Meagher, the Mayor, and himself, with power to add to the number. Ho thought that all should join to render assistance to any in need, no matter whore they might bo ; and to give genoroualy thoy wore not required to give largely. If evorybody would only give modorately, they could make up a largo amount for tho relief of tho want in Ireland. They should remember that in helping those in neod, ho gives twice who gives promptly. He was pleased to see that tho present expression of sympathy had boon callod for entirely by those who wero not Irish themselves, and ho hoped the mooting would thank those who had come forward to propose this public expresuion of kind feeling. As a representative of Irishmen ho thanked them, and the chairman himself. He thought that young New Zealand perhaps, not having known what it moans to suffer themselves, would hardly realise the moaning of tho present call upon their sympathies ; but no people in tho world wero more willing to give help to tho suffering than these. When the Indian famino was carrying off its hundreds of thousands, and in tho Lancashire famine, and in tho Irish famine of 1847, the people of England, America, and every other nation readily gave in every way their utmost to lessen the distress, but none gave so nobly or so readily as tho people of England. Alluding to an expression made use of by tho Mail, in reference to the opinions of others as " Quakorish," he remarked that no one came forward so liberally in the time of tho former famine in Ireland as the Quakers, and that wherever they aro found there are no men so ready to give liberal and kind holp to tho distressed as tho Quakers. (Applause.) Mr Toohoy seconded this motion, and it was carried unanimously. Mr O'Meagher then inovod that tho following gentlemen bo requested to act as collectors in the various districts in which they reside, viz. , Mostrs Murcott and Bremner, Hampden ; T. Henderson and Bockingsale, Otopopo ; A. Thompson and W. Manning, Kakanui ; T. Shaldors, 11. Schlutor, and T. Duncan, Oamaru to Pukouri ; D. Borrio and G. Millington, Papakaio ; John Johnson and \V. Sinellie, Awamoko j A. A. Smith, and F. Thomas, Duntroon; J. Campboll, D. Barry, and Cowlan, Ngapara ; 0. Todd, Waiaroka Valley ; T. Cameron, Reid, and Monlovo, Elclorslle ; and 0. F. Roberts and M'Quade, Livingstone Mr Greenfield seconded tho motion, and it was oarried. In speaking of tho difficulty of making prosperous people realise the moaning of tho word " famino," Mr O'Meaghor mentioned his recollection of some of tho scenes of the former famino in Ireland — how he had seen the dead and tho dying lying in one hut, and with none to help them. Tho poor children screaming for broad, and tho starving mothor witli her own agonies doubled by the feeling that she had not a scrap of bread tvith which to oaso hor childrens suffering;. How ho had seen families tearing along tho road for five or six miles to roach tho placo where tho Government relief in the shape of maize flour was boing distributed, and how thoy sometimes camo too late, and had only tho raw meal with which to relieve their pangs, and how by living on such food, or worse, on the woods that grow about, thoy brought on sourvy and diarrhoea, and diod Hko pigs in a sty. Ho mentioned how the Quakers had sent down to one town 60 tons of rico and machinery for cooking it, and how, thanks to tho Quakers, ho had soon the bloom of health returning to tho cheeks of old and young. Mr O'Meagher alluded to the letter advocating a penny relief fund, and ridiculed the idea, and observed that wo had done our best to help the sufferers by the famines in India, in Ohina, in Manchester, and oven amongst the Jews in Palestine, and that there never was a cry for help from any part of the world that was not responded to by poor little Oamaru, and ho hoped that within fortyeight hours from the time tho collection was begun wo should bo able to telegraph that wo could contribute L5OO, or oven LlOOO to the relief fund for the Irish, Father Ooleman said a few words as to tho necessity for all uniting in tho good work, and laying aside any differences of view as to the best means of effecting the desired object in order to carry out what they wished to do in tho most earnest and expeditious manner. Mr Hayes was then duly appointed secretary, and Mr W. J, Smith treasurer, and it was resolved that the iccretary be instructed to write to the proposed collectors, asking their 00-operation, and en* closing subscription lists. Mr Shrimski wished to start a subscription at once in tho room, but the general feeling of the meeting was that tho opening of tho subscription must be left to tho oommitteo that had boon duly appointod to do the work. Mr Hislop hoped that people would not bo led by Father Ooleman's remarks to think that young New Zealand was less ready to sympathise with want than older countries. People at home might see so much of want and misery as to become hardened to it. People of New Zealand might never have known what tho meaning of being hungry was, but they would be all tho more ready to sympathise with suoh as did feel it. Father Ooleman defended himself from any wish to imply that young New Zealand would bo less ready to give than any other community, and Mr Jones suggested that both Mr Hislop and Father Ooloman should put down L 5 6s each as a proof of their own sincerity, and the latter gentleman gained much applause by at once taking tho hint and laying down his money. With a vote of thanks to tho chair the, meeting then terminated, The appointod committee opened their subscription lists at once, and before the meeting left tho hall L3O had been paid down towards the fund,

An International Exhibition will be held at Romo in 1862.