INDIAN FAMINE BELIEF FUND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 2

INDIAN FAMINE BELIEF FUND.

Wellington, February 24. The following telegram ha* been received from the hon. secretary of the famine fund, Calcutta, T>j Beater** agent, through whom the appeal for, help from the colonies was lately made: —" Calcutta, Tuesday. Please thank all , who have helped the fond. Kindly oommumcafo the following, just received by the Central Committee* 'A local missionary reports that of 981 poor starving wretob.es admitted to the Jubbulpore Poorhouse, one in seven died from exhaustion in spite of every possible care.' He concludes t * Surely this is proof of the reality of the famine.' Later official returns received by the committee show that at the present

moment 2$ millions of people are employed on relief works in various districts.

Archdeacon Palmer, of the Uelanesian mislion, is carrying through the press at Auckland an edition of 4000 copies of the Gospels in the language of Moto, Banks Islands. The cort, about £80, has been guaranteed by Archdeacon S. Williams, of Napier.

The annual eonyenfcion of the New Zealand Christian Temperance Union was held at Christchurch on Friday, 26th nit., Mm Sohackenberg presiding. The reports from 23 local onions in various parts of the colony showed that during the year they have raised £1993 and spent £1609, leaving a balance in hand of £389,

Mr John Holme*, flaxmillers' representative, interviewed several members »f the Chriatchurch Chamber of Commerce on ' Friday, and the quarterly meeting of the chamber unanimously passed a resolution approving of tha' action of flaxmillers in endeavouring to send an expert to examine the Home market, and urging the Government to support the movement to the utmost. There are 60 banks in the United States where women are employed, and, curiously enough, out of the whole number all bnt one are either married or are widows. Another strange circumstance is that no two women are found in any one bank, and no two banks where women hold positions are in the same city or town. The posts filled range from bank trustees and presidents to cashiers and ajui.bui^ cashiers,

Fresh regulations for the enrolment 08 recruits in the Permanent Militia are gazetted, Wednesday i» appointed the dosing day for a number of townships which have failed to nam* their half-holiday. Regulations are gazetted for the inspection of 'milk and dairies in th^ Christchurch district and for deer shooting in, Ofcago. In applying to the Wellington City Council^ for the expenses in connection vrith tha licensing election, the returning officer sag* gesfced that if no committee - men wer4 elected the administration of th« act vrouldi be left in the hands of the stipendiary magistrate, and thus £150 or £200 would be saved. He bettered both sides were willing to take this coarse. The conncil thought} it a good idea, and referred the matter to (| ' committee to fleaif it could be thus »rrMMEed».~