THE SURAT PASSENGERS' LUG

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 15

THE SURAT PASSENGERS' LUG-

GAGE.

A deputation representing the Committee appointed at the meeting on Saturday evening, of the passengers of the Surat, and consisting of Messrs Woodcock, Isitt, and Fountain, waited on His Honour the Superintendent on Tuesday, to ascertain what had been done by the Government towards getting back their luggage During the conversation which took place it was mentioned by one of the deputation " that a lot of the carpenters had gone rounrt and round for employment, and could not get any." He believed false representations in the matter of getting employment had been made. His Honour remarked that that was to him " a most remarkable statement mthe face of the fact that carpenters were not to be had for love or money." His Honour was then told that " this might not have been the case in regard to the carpenters, but it eerfcotoly was jin regard fes the ptoae>

masons," a statement at which. His Honour expressed his surprise. It appears that the Surat Relief Committee had still a balance in hand. His Honour expressed himself {willing to make up the deficiency in the sum wanted to get back the luggage, to a reasonable extent, but not to the extent of £SOO as had been demanded. I He also pointed out that nothing could be done until the injunction restraining the sale had been taken off by the Supreme Court. He thought Mr Larnach had made a very reasonable offer when he was willing to let the lug/gage go at half valuation. The Relief Committee having taken the matter in hand, should finish it. — A member of the dentition remarked that the Relief Committee had told the passengers that they should not suggest to them (the Committee) what to do. When the suggestiou was made by passengers that the Committee should pay the salvage, that was the answer.— His Honour remarked that the Committee had been entrusted with a large sum of money by the public, and it was for them to use it to the best advantage. The Committee were all men of business. If the deputation liked he would put himself in communication with the Committee, and repeat the offer. He thought t:iere had been a mistake in going to law in the first instance. He was away at the time, and had he been here he would have protested against it. He thought things could have been amicably arranged ; it was their going into the Supreme Court that brought things to their present position. He would see Mr Martin, and urge him to apply the relief fund towards an amicable arrangement ; and the offer now made was so reasonable that the Government was warranted in contributing a share. It was mentioned that a sum would be raised among the passengers, and His Honour asked the deputation to see what the passengers could raise among themselves.