AITANGATA COLLIERY ACCIDENT. —PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5394, 1 March 1879, Page 6

AITANGATA COLLIERY ACCIDENT. —PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting, convened by the Mayor (T. Peacock, Esq.), was held yeßterday, io the Mechanics' Institute, "to consider the best means of relieving tho sufferers by the above lamentable occurrence." The attendance was less numerous than might have been expected, but the meeting waß a u preliminary" one to appoint a committee with authority to collect subscriptions, and it was fixed for an hour (3.30 p.m.) when the greater part of th 9 citizens are engaged in their ordinary business. His .Worship the Mayor, on the motion of Mr. F. G. JfiwiHGTON, seconded by Mr. W. Buchanan, was called on to preside. The Chairman', in openiog the business, said: Gentlemen, —This meeting has been convened by myself, as the result of a communication with the Mayor of Dunedin, in reference to the great calamity that has happened in the Kaitangata coal miue. I have thought it advisable to give you this opportunity of assisting the central committee in their endeavours to alleviate the distress consequent upon the sad accident, with the particulars of which you have been made aware by the public prints. It is, therefore, not requisite that I should dwell upon the details of that occurrence. They must be in the recollec tion of everyone who hears me. I feel assured the sympathy of the people of Auckland with the sufferers will bo sufficiently active,, without requiring to be stimulated by anything that L might have to say to you. It is now, when so many hearts are sad, aud so many homes are made dreary and desolate, that it becomes us to take action, not only to shew our sympathy with the sufferers, but to al : eviate their distress, and to mitigate the effect of the terriblo blow that has fallen upoo them. I shall not occupy your time further, but ask you to take what resolution the circumstances of the case may require. Sir. Swanso.v, M.H.R. .- Mr. Mayor, I beg to move, '"That this meeting, having heard with deep regret of the lamentabie accident that ha 3 occurred in the Kaitaugata coal mine, desires to express its warmest sympathy with those who have been bereaved and deprived of their means of support." There are two or three reasons why 1 should not make a long speech ; lirst, because I happen to be very bus 3'; second, because the meeting is rathor thin ; aud third, because if the fact of 33 human beings having been killed, by which 30 women have been made widows, and nearly a hundred children have been left orphans, will not make people put their hands in their pocket?, aud give relief, no speech of mine would have that effect. It is said that the darkest cloud has a silver lining, and, in mau} cases, the silver lining is but a faint one, yet it can be made brighter by going hea>tily to work and helping—not talkiug about what w<; will do. Let us put our hands in our pockets, aud give assistance liberally and immediately to relieve those widows aud orphan children. Mr. Lakkins : I beg to second the resolution that has been proposed by Mr. Swauson. I agree with him that it is incumbent on everyone to give what assistance he cau in a case Hko this. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. Mr. J. M. Clark : Mr. Mayor, we have given expression io our sympathy by the resolution which we have passed unanimously. Sympathy is no doubt a very good thing, but in a case like this something uicre than sympathy is required of us. "What is required of us now is to shew what our sympathy is worth towatds giving tangible relief to widows and orphans. As immediate action is imperative, if we would offer sympathy iu a *übatautial form, it is necessary to make someone responsible ; for my experience is that, \v\2re there is little respon. sibility, there is not much work, and what work there may be is not so well done. The usual mode adopted is to appoint a committee who shall take upon them the task of organising the endeavours that will be mads to make the general contributions worthy of acceptance, and equal to the urgency of the ca>e. But when we shall have appointed a committee, that will not be sufficient. We must not leave to that alone the duty of an energetic canvas 3. Success must depend upon the liberality with which everyone in the community will give and get others to give. In order that some such united action as I have referred to shall be commenced, I beg to move, "That with a view to relieve the distress of the sufferers by the recent colliery accident at .Kaitangata mine, a committee be appointed to collect subscriptions—the committee to consist of his Worship the Mayor, Messrs. J. M. Clark, F. Larkius, F. G. Ewington, W. Buchanan, H. F. Anderson, W. Swanson, T. Buddie, with power to add to their number." Mr. W. Bucha>*ax : I beg to second the resolution that has been proposed by Mr. Clark. I have no doubt that the response to the call now made upon the Auckland people will come up to what they have done on former occasions—in the case of the Indian famine, for instance. Our people have acquired a good reputation for making their sympathy not only tangible but substantial in all cases where it may be required to give relief to suffering. The whole of Tnew Zealand is called upon to.contribute in a case like this. It is the first time in this colony that the people have been asked to alleviate the distress consequent upon such a calamity. It were to be hoped that such an occurrence might never happen again, or that a very long time may elapse before public sympathy on account of such a catastrophe shall be needed. But our plain duty is to take active measures to contribute all in our power towards alleviating the distress of those who have been bereaved and left destitute by the great misfortuce that has befallen them. I shall be glad to do all in my power towards the object in view. The resolution was put and carried unanimously. The Chairman : It is desirable that we should appoint some gentleman to be treasurer of the fund. Mr. J. McCosh Clark has been requested to act in that capacity, and he has kindly consented, if it is the wish of this meeting. I will move that Mr. Clark be treasnrer of the fund. Mr. P. A. Philips (Town Clerk) seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Dr. Wallis, M.H.R., thought the business was to devise "ways and means." He regretted that the meeting had been called for an hour in the day when a very large proportion of .the population could not attend. The hall might be full of working people who woald give very effective aid in such a movement. Mr. Hgjist : Every man in the place will have an opportunity of giving his half-crown 1 or any other sum that he may wish to sub- 1 scribe —that is the practical part of the : matter. Mr. : I take it that this is a 1 f pre- * liminary " meeting, and that an opportunity 5 will occur to hold a large meeting in the * evening, if necessary. ] Mr. Ewingtox : I presume the committee < just appointed has power to collect subscriptions for the object in view, by the terms of 1 the resolution that hag been passed. If • that be so, their task will be to make 1 arrangements by which the city and suburbs 1 may be divided, so that everyone willing to 1 subscribe shall not want the opportunity of doing so. According to this view of the ' case, Ido not seo the necessity of calling * another meetiug. The sooner the committee * enters upon its work the better. A second c meeting would rather suspend any active * measures being taken. Our busiaess now is 1 to do all we can to raise tbi3 money. i On the motiqn of Mr. F. Larkjns, seconded by Mr. J. M. Claj»k, a vote of thanks was £ passed to the Mayor, and the proceedings terminated. c His Worship convened the first meeting a of the Committee to be held in his room, at 2 the City Conncil offices, on Saturday (this) f morning, at 11 o'clock. 1 c (