THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 30

THE BRUNNER DISASTER.

The following is tho letter from tho president of the Women's Social and Political League to tho Mayor of Bruunerton, enclosing tho donation from tho League : —" Dear sir, —I send to you enclosed herewith a Post Office order for the sum of £lO on behalf of (he "Women's Social and Political League, this being tho contribution collected by that organisation for tho Brunner Relief Fund. I forward the money to Brunnerton direct, in accordance with tho wish expressed to me when on tho Coast. —Yours faithfully, Janie Seddon, president." Tho lastest subscriptions to the Citizens' Fund are as follows: —Mrs Hustwick (further collection), 5s j J. Newton, £5; employees of J. Newton, £2 Us. Total to date, £2195 Os Id. Tho total amount banked to tho credit of the Bruunerton Relief Fund in Auckland is £7.10. The athletic carnival produced £221.

Napier was c» J'clc on April 29 on account of the great demonstration in aid of the Brunner Fund. The procession was the finest ever held here, including tableaux representing, amongst others, a coal-pit head, a, fully equipped lifeboat, and a threemasted ship. Sports were held on tho Recreation Reserve in the afternoon, and there was an enormous attendance, though the day was bitterly cold. The chief open event, the Two-mile Bicycle Race, was won by Cattanach (Wanganui), and Holder (Wanganui) won the 200yds and 800yds races. The proceeds were about £l3O, making the Napier list £9OO. A ball took place at night in aid of the fund. The following further subscriptions havo bean received by the Premier: Per Sunday Times, Sydney, £OO 12s sd, mado up as follow : —Brighton Juvenile Amateur Variety Company, organised by Mr Kidman, £ll 7s; New South Wales Polico Band, £1) os ; combined Garrison Artillery bands, £lO (is lid ; received at Sunday Times office, £2 Bis (id. M. Malonoy, Native School, Little River, 10s. His Excellency the Governor has signed the Brunner Commission, which is made returnable for June sth.

The amount in tho hands of tho Mayor of Auckland Relief Fund is over £llOO.

The following telegram lias been received by Mr Crowlher, M.H.8., from the Mayor of Wellington relative to the Brunnerton Fund :—" Premier has undertaken to nominate trustees composed of metropolitan representatives of Colony. We agreo with you. We object to purely local Brunnerton trustees."

At a meeting of tho Nelson Committee, it was reported that about £IOOO had been subscribed in Nelson City and Waimca County for the Relief Fund.

All but a few small lists of the Tiniaru Belii f Committee are in. The amount reported is—Cash, X'>-'2; clothing, £ls ; plus £23 collected conditionally on tho whole going to the present sufferers. The Mayor of Chiisteliurch and Mr G. G. Stead have been appointed delegates to tho conference convened by the Premier in "Wellington to decide as to tho disposal of tho Fund. A resolution was carried at a mooting of tho Executive Committee this week that it is desirable that tho whole of tho funds should be applied to the relief of those who had suffered through tho disaster. Tho lion, treasurer, Mr Stead, reported that £1770 was lying to the credit of the fund in tho Union Bank, lie understood that Lyttelton, Tiniaru, Akaroa and Ashburton between thorn had collected nearly an additional £IOOO. As over £OOO had been remitted direct to tho West (..'oast without going through tho committee, it would bo seen that considerably over £(5000 had been contributed by Canterbury.