LOSS OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1090, 17 June 1865, Page 5

LOSS OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN.

PUBLIC MEETING.

A pnblic meeting, convened by His Honor the Superintendent, in .compliance with a requisition, was held in the Princess Theatre, yesterday afternoon, " for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken for the relief of such persons as have been deprived of their means of support by the loss of the steamship City of Dunedin."

J. Hyde Harris, Esq., the Superintendent, presided; and amongst those present on the stage were Messrs J. Bathgate, — Bain, C. Bird, E. B. Cargill, M.H.K., M.P.C., B. J,. Farjeon, John Gillies, G. Hepburn, M.P.C., Henry Hooghton, John Jones, R. B. Martin, H. J. Miller, M.P.C., Dr. Nelson, James Paterson, M.H.R., M.P.C., Alexander Rcnnie, M.P.C., C. V. Robinson ; -Revs. F. C. Sim monds and D. M. Stuart; and J. Voxel, M.H.R., M.P.C.

The Superintendent said he need scarcely refer to the object for which, in compliance with a requisition, ho had convened "the meeting ; nor need he dwell upon the dreadful cjuamity by which many families resident amongst us had Buffered the most severe loss possible, by being made widows and orphans. Many of those, if not in actual destitution, were in a condition bordering on it, their only means of support being cut off. A simple knowledge of the facts would, he was sure, be amply sufficient to elicit from the public that active sympathy, which had always been shown in similar cases of distress. lie noticed near the head of the list of requisitionists, the names of those gentlemen who had been the most severe pecuniary losers by the wreck of the City of Dunedin. He referred to Mr John Jones, and Messrs Cargill and Co, who were both great losers, but who, he was sure, wonld not therefore be prevented from contributing to relieve the necessities of those who had depended on the men who had lost their lives by the wreck.—-{Applause.) He had no doubt that some practical resolutions would be submitted to the meeting j but he did not know whether or not it was contemplated to take steps to bring the matter before the Government or the Provincial Council. He did. however, regard the loss of the City of Dunedin as of the nature of a public calamity. He had hoped that His Honor, Mr Justice Richmond, would have been present, and have presided. When he mentioned the matter to His Honor recently, His Honor expressed his most cordial concurrence with the object of the meeting-, and said that he would preside, if possible. He had, however, just received a note, in which His Honor expressed regret that indisposition prevented his attendance ; His Honor adding, " but I enclose a cheque for LlO, towards any subscription which may bo raised for the relief of the persons made widows or orphans by the calamity."—(Applause.) He would only further add, that the management of the Theatre had offered to give a benefit on some evening next week, in aid of the Widows and Orphans' Fund, which, no doubt, would before then be in existence.—(App'ause.) Mr E. B. Cakgii-l did not think that the occasion was one for lengthened remarks. A simple statement of (he disaster which had occurred—and was pretty well-known already —and of its consequences, would be sufficient to call forth the sympathy of those present, and to secure their co-operation, and that of the public, in whatever it might be decided to be desirable to do towards alleviating the consequent distress. It so happened that an unusually large proportion of the crew of the City of Dunedin were, for a vessel of the kind, married men. From.the nature of the service in which she was engaged, preference was given to men of steady character, having families living here : and the result was that, as regarded the crew only, there were no leas than 13 families left unprovided for by the loss of the vessel. It was not necessary that be should say one word as to the duty devolving on the public; because he believed that no case of the kind had ever yet been fairly put forward here, without everything being done, by those able to assist, towards tli3 relief of those whom the calamity had left in distress. He would move—

That this tnpfting desire (o expres their sympathy with the widows and famiJu-a o' ih • pasEcngeis and crew lost ia the steamer City of ljuii'dia, and consider it the duty of liie public, to make an rxeition to allevive the sad consequences of that calamitous Ids.

Mr Rennib seconded the motion; and it was adopted unanimously.

Mr R. B. Martin moved —

That a committee be appointed to or/?anise subscriptions ond tako such other steps ns oay be requisite to raise a fund for the relief of thve families who have he<-n l«fc destitute. The committee to consist of the following gentlemen, with power to add to their nuinler.

Mr Batiigate seconded the motion. There •was a silent eloquence in the sad calamity, that appealed most forcibly to'every heaitjand he hoped that the public would show commiseration and sympathy, both for those lost and those who remained, by entering heartily into the subscription. No community was more called upon to show its gratitude to Heaven on such an occasion ; for we had been singularly free from shipwreck in the long voyage from Britain to this Province. The Superintendent said that he should be glad to receive suggestions as to the addition of names to the list of the Committee, as read.

Mr J. Mrrxs suggested that the name of Mr George Dodson, Port Chalmers, should be added.

Mr E. B. Cargiix said that no Port Chalmers names had been put down, because he thought a movement was also being made at the Port for a subscription amongst the residents and the shipping interest. If that should not be the cisc, it would be in every way proper to have the numes of several gentlemen from the Port; for he was sure that, in one way or the other, most active exertions would bo made there to aid the subscription. It was agreed that names should bo added, pending the decision of the residents mt Port Chalmers as to they course of action. Mr H. J- Miller thought that the country districts should be represented on the Committee. There, was no part of the Province where the Captain of the City of Dunedto | was better known or more respected than in Oamaru ; and there, on a previous occasion. Captain Boyd received a tribute of esteem from the inhabitants, which he knew that gentleman prized very highly indeed. The list of the Committee was read* as follows, it being stated that the Committee could, of course, increase its numbering it sawnecessary. The Superintendent,, the Revs. D. M. Stuart, B. G. Edwards, and; F. C. Simmonds ; Dr Nelson -Messrs J,ohn Jones, W. A. Tolmie, E. B. Cargill, G.eorgo Turobull, John Bathgate, Henry, Houghte.n, J. Vogel, A. Jackson, J,ames Pater^on, A. Rennie, C. Caldwell, «k Rf. Mackenzie, J. V. Robinson,. H. C. Strgat, H. J.. Midler, J. B. Mudie, George M'l^an, B. L. Farjeon, and H. Hart; Capts/Tfe<Wft(ja, If.ackinnon, and

Robertson, and G. Dodron, and T. Taylor, Port Chalmers j Rev Messrs GiSard and Connor, and Messrs Ajhcroft, Lock, and Black, Oatuaru ; Messrs Gleeson and Leggett. Moeraki.

The motion was unanimously agreed to ; as was another, i olid ting Mr Batbgate to act as treasurer, and Mr H. J. Miller as honorary secretary. Various subscriptions were given in. A question was asked as to wlio were those lost in the wreck—amongst whom it was intended to divide the subscription.

The SurEitiNTENinxT said that a list of the crew had been handed to him, Itie names of the passengers were not exactly known, some of them were 'from other Provinces, and tho residents in those Provinces would no doubt look after those who were consequently kit in distress.

The Querist said that there was considerable, excitement, amongst the mining community especially, to know who were really lost; and those who were nnxious trusted that the promoters of the meeting would give information on the matter.

Mr Jones :. I think that only nine- passengers went from here, in the City : but there were some taken on board at Canterbury and Wellington. We can get a list of the nine at the Custom House here, for the agents never keep lists ; and I have no dordbt that so soon as a complete list can be made up, it will be published for general information.

The Sopejuntedknt read the list of the crew, as follows : —Engineer, D. Macdonaid, wife and three children in Melbourne ; second, Robert Douglas, kept his mother in Dunedin.—Firemen : VV. Anderson, single, friends in Melbourne ; Ephraitn Burns, single,friends in Dumbarton;. Hugh Graham, wife and children at Dumbarton, —Trimmers : John Harper, wife and two children, Dunedin ; Ronald Macintyre, single, friends in Kothesay ;. Alexander Macdonaid, wife and child in Lyttclton.—Captain James Parker Boyd,.wife and two children, Dunedin ; Mate, George M'William, wife, Dunedin ; Second Mate, Neil Nataal, wife and child, and mother, Dunedin. Carpenter, Alexander Campbell, wife and two children, Port Chalmers. Sea men : Nicholas Cowbray, wife and child. Dunedin ; Joe j John Garrttt, wife and three children, Dunedin ; Alexander Willis, wife, Dunedin; Alexander Gibson, Dunedin; Daniel Lamont, wife and child, Dunedin ; George Johnston, single. Stewards : John King, Neil M'lnnes, and Thomas Wilson, all single. Cooks: Thomas , wife and three children,. Dunedin; Richard Hoskins, wife and child, Dunedin. Stewardess, Miss Mackny. In all 25 persons lost;: leaving 14 widows, 20 (Rt least), children, and two .mothers, without means of support, altogether apart from tho families, &c r of passengers. The Superintendent also read a list of subscriptions as follows:— r J. Jones, LI00; Mr Juatice Richmond, L 10; Dr Nelson, LlO; J. Bathgate, L 5; J. Hyde Harris, L 5; Cargill and Co, L 25-, ft. B. Martin and C\ L 25; G. Hepburn, L 5; James Paterson, L 5; John Gillies. L 5; Proprietors of the •' Daily Time.',' L2l; H. J. Miller, LlO 10/); A. Rennie, L 5; Robinson and Lilly, L 25; Henry lloughton, LlO 10s; Rev. D. M. Stuart, L 3 3s; Captain M'Lachlan, LlO; Rev. F. C. Simmonds, L 5; J. R. Mills, L 2 2»; Moss Mosf, L 3; — Kenyon, L 5-, Alfred Cataraore, L 2: in all, about L3OO.

A vote of thanks to the Superintendent, for presiding, terminated the proceedings. The Committee will meet at three o'clock on Monday, in the office of the Chamber of Commerce, at the Aihenruum.