THE M'MASTER FUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13586, 7 May 1906, Page 7

THE M'MASTER FUND.

The following additional subscription* 'have been received for the M blaster Fund:— J., 2s6d; (1.D.,55; F. H,,£l; ,1. A., £1; Herbert, Haynca. and Cb., £?. 2s; "Bruin and Cub," ss; Working Woman, 2s 6d; Sympathiser (Oamaru). 2s 6d; John Duncan (Merlon), £1; D. M., 2a 6d. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—Re tho "M'Master Fund," to which you havo very kindly and generously given publication, I suggest that it would bo a wise course for tho settlers of Ratanui to form a Select Committee, said committeo to confer with and ndyiso tho widow ro her future courso and welfare, and perhaps appoint trustees to manage her affairs for her. I havo it on good authority' that she is physically weak and mentally not too strong. Her eldest maimed lad, Hugh, is breaking out in sores, and ho was therefore stopped somo time ago from going to school on two crutches through a sea of mud, as ho is not oxpectcd to recover. The poor, frail mother in attempting to farm neoessarily neglects her children, and, moreover, in trying to attend her children iicglects her farm, which, I understand, is mortgaged for £100, more than it is really worth. I am also informed that there is a bill of sale of £25 on tho few cattle she holds. ;Under tlieso circumstances, Sir, I suggest, in tho event of a goodly little sum being collected for her, that a Fund Committee move in conferring with and advising the widow to givo up the farm for the littlo ones' sake and, her own, and take up a littlo business somewhere, say, Dunedin, and get medical treatment for tho boy Hughie, to seo if there is any chance of recovery, as I was told by the late father that ho meant to educate him for tho teaching profession, as ho is vorji intelligent. Cannot the poor boy's lifo still bo saved? The above are a few of tho facts ro this sad case, which may ba published with the _ widow's approval. Would someone else lie so good as to suggest tho best courso to teko in this lament ablo case.—l am, etc., A Fbiend.