AN EXPERIENCE DURING THE FLOOD. (By Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 28.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 24

AN EXPERIENCE DURING THE FLOOD. (By Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, April 28.

A resident of this city ha°, says the Post, received from his daughter in the flooded districts an account of her experiences during the recent storm there. Amongst other things, she states that, although her house stands on piles 3ft high, the water rose until ib covered the bed. Half an hour before that the backyard was quite dry. She and others in the house were taken away in a cart, the horse attached to which bad to swim for some distance. About 150 people, including herself, were huddled together in one large room, without fire, food, or bedding, for a very long time. Allher property has been ruined by the flood. The water wa3 so deep that the boats were able to cross all the fences and go right into the hotel door with the people they had brought away from flooded tenements *nd laud them half way up the stairs. At tho

time she was writing there was a foot of mud in her house.

THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE

Mr D. Harris Hastings, secretary of the looal Relief Committee, ha 3 reoeived tho followiog telegram from Mr Swan, Mayor of Napier :—": — " Twelve men are known to have lost their lives, and 10 of the3e ware drowned in attempting to rescue women and children from their submerged homes. Bight of these 10 men have left widows and about 30 children entirely destitute. Besides the loss of life, the country for many miles round is desolate, being covered wilh silt from the rivers and quite bare of crops. In most ca=es the settlers had to ltave their bouses in boats, and numbers of houses were literally floated bodily away. The settlers are thus left without prospects of raising crops, are penniless, hou3eles*, and without clothes. It is to provide them wilh these necessaries that an appeal has been mado. Escuße delay ; great pressure of work."

ORCHESTRAL SOCIETY'S C

Although the attendance at the Garrison Hall ou tlae 27bh. whan the Oirchcs^ral Society tendered a concert in aid of the Hawke's Bay relief fund, was gratifyingly numerous, 3'et the size of the audience did not nearly approach the dimensions of those that usually foregather at the eater 1 •vintnents periodically givou by the society. Why this should be £0 is difficult to conceive, for on this occasion an opportunity was not only afforded of listening to a choice selection ot musical ibuins, but ab the same time profferiDg aid to a highly-deserving object. However, ib is confidently anticipited thab the fund which is bein^ organised on behalf of the settlers who suffered so grievously from tho calami "on* flo^d mil be benefited to the extent of some £60 by the proceeds of tho concert. The selections contributed by ths orchestra were those played at the recent smoking concert, and even by those who were present on th»t occasion their repetition was hailed with pleasure. Suppe's overture "Tantalusqualin" and a selection of airs from Audrau'a charming opera "Olivette" formed the principal orchestral pieces, and although at times there was a )ack of precision amoagab ihe violins in the latter, in both instances was ths audience afforded a thorough mnsicxl treat. Tho gavotte, "Herz an herz," was so greatly appreciated that its repetition was insisted upon, while the cornet polka " Oreste et Pylade " and the serenade " Sfcs-rs of the nigh'u " should also be singled out for s. mead of praise. The vocal portion of the psogL-nrnma was esntrusfciil to Mis 3 Mongredien and Mr Jagc, both of whom achieved considerable suece->s in their resppctive numbers. Miss Mongredien's songs wore "The mission of a rosa" (Cowen) and '• O, loving heart, trust on" (Gott6cba'k), aud they w«e rendered with such exquisite tasto and effect that in each instv-c3 an encore was imperatively demanded. The lady would fain have escaped with bowing her acknowledgments, bu'j the applause being continued with persistence she re-pca 1 ed the items. Mr Jago, who is a warm favo'ui'ito with uaiwc lovers, rasb with a flattering reception, aid tho demonstration of approval which his singing evoked was well deserved for both his numbers — " The soul's awakening" and " Dsarer than life" — were rendered with artistic tasta and KkilJ. For the latter song he was recalled no less thuu three times, and eventually was obliged to repeat ib. Mention should ba made of Ills facb thafc the accompaniments were sympathetically and skilfully played during the evening by Mr D. Oooke.

Auckland, April 28,

A public meeting was held in the City j Council Caambers thi3 afternoon ta appoint a j committee to collect subscriptions ia aid of the H*wke's Bay floods fund. Mr P. Diguan, the acbiDg-mayor, presided. A resolution of sympathy with the sufferers was carried, and a committee was appoiuted to raise subscriptions. The town clerk reported that £157 had already been colleobed. New Pr.TMODTH, April 27. ! The Hawke'fi Bay relief fund now amounts to £160, including £14- 7s, the proceeds of a benefit given by Probasco'a Circas lasb nigbA Napier, April 28. At the inquest on the bodies found floating in the harbour, and identified aa John Rose and Harry Brierly, the jury returned a verdict "That deceased were accidentally drowned whilst bravely attempting to save the lives of others." j Riders were added thab no inquesbs were necsss- I sary if any other bodies were found acd indentified,; also that the Government be recommended to keep a suitable boat at Olive for use in case of emergency, and that the residents of Olive be recommended to form a volunteer brigade to man the boat. Wklungton, April 27. Mr Gaorge Ma=ssy Watson, a wealthy gentle- i man of Monte Video touring the colony, has denoted £50 to the Hawko's Bay relief fund. Chbistchukch. April 27. This afternoon the Hawke's Bay Flood Committee decided to amalgamate with the Record Reign Committee aod to requssb the officers, executive, and sub-committees of that body to act for the relief fund. About £250 has already been subscribed towards the fund. Brisbane, April 28. The mayor presided at a meeting to organise a New Z°aland flood relief fund. It was resolved to cable £670, lying to the credit of the Queensland central relief fund, to the mayor of Napier ; also to open a relief fund and appeal through- j out Queensland. j The treasurer of the Hawke's Bay flood relief j fund acknowledges the following receipts : — j Duneiin Eugineers' Band £14 8 5 Rev. James Gibb 2 2 0 JohnAVhite 110 Miss Marchant 110 Rev. H. S. Leach 10 0 Mr and Mrs Eliot EHott 3 0 0 Dr L'olquhouu 2 2 0 Stone, Son. and Co. 2 2 0 Smith aud Smith 3 3 0 Rev. C. S. Bowden * 110 Drßarnett 1 1 0 i H. Wadie 1 <> 0 i Wrigat, Stsphenson, and Co 10 10 0 O. P M. Butterworth 5 5 0 G. S. Lintott 110 A Friend 0 5 0 Holy Innocents' Church — Collection Harvest Thanksgiving Service ... 1 5 S Campbell and Cruet 5 5 0 Dr R.Fulton 5 5 0 P. Hsymsn and Co. (in addition to subsc rip* ions ?iven by Wellington and Auckland branches) 3 3 0 Kenvon and Hojking ... 5 0 0 "Elizabeth" 2 2 0 Duuedin City Fire Brigade 2 0 0 Profe soi- Ulrich *.„ 110 Mr acd Sirs Morice 110 ' Kaikorai Band = ... 27 11 1 ! Alasaey-Harris Company 5 5 0 j Tabernacle, Church, of Christ 7 J) 3 I Brown, lCwiug, and Co. .. 5 0 0 Great King street Church. Sunday School 4 0 0 St. Matthew's Church collection harI vest festival .-.- 215 0 William F.'.tdck 3 0 0 ' Nationals" 1 (i 0 J. Sinclair Thomson ... 3 3 0 J. Jlattray anil Son 3 3 0 Wm. & Reynolds and Co 2 2 0

i i 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 10

James- Gibson and Co ... 2 2 0 A. W. Morris 5 0 0 T. R. F.sher 3 3 0 Staif Sargood, Son, and Ewen 10 0 0 ii Standard Insurance Company ... 2 2 6 v Otago Daily Times 3 19 6 ii Innes and M'Farlane 15 0 Factory staff New Zealand Clothing Factory .< 7 3 0 J. Wilkinson 110 Adams Bros ••. 2 2 0 J. 11. Morrison 2 2 0 A. Palmer 110 J. Gow 1 1 0 ltev. L J. Harrison 1 1 0 Peter Trcseder 1 0 0 S. Myers and Co 11 2 Tablet Company 2 2 0 R \I. Marks, 10s ; Mrs Marks, 103 ... 10 0 J. A. Fenton i ™ 8 Miss Annie Morton 0 10 0 Mi\iV:innini... ' 010 0 F. A. Hooper 0 10 6 Mackenzie and Sanders 0 10 Jj W. A. Smith 0 10 0 Collected in small sums by Messrs Thomson anil Brownlie 2 0 0 H. J. T. (t. (per Kvening Star) 0 5 0 R Frauds, 2s ; Miss Dwyer, 5s 0 7 0 Friend, 2s (id ; J. S., ss; T. Escott, 2> 6d ... 0 10 0 Collected by T. W. Kempthorne in small sums * 1/. A Friend, 3s, 5s 0 8 0 Collected by Messrs Denniston and Gibson — H. K. Shicklockaml Co 2 2 0 Rtron.inh Bros, and Morris 2^o J. H. KukandCo 1 1 <| Morrow, Bissett, and Co. in John <4rindloy 1 1 J{ Cilv Saw Milling Company 110 Collected by Mr C. H. Osmond— Dr Lindo F-*iguson „ 5 » 0 ,1. P. Armstrong and Son ... •« - 0 Kearus, Wilson, ami Uo 2 2 0 A. M. S : dey 1 1 0 James JloisburgH 110 \l*v. W. Laycock 110 S Jacobs 10', H I.J. 10s 10 0 Collected by Mr Muir— DrMrU-tin 110 Joseph M.ickay 7 7 a Kobe. Bantham } 1 ? Mr Moller 10--, J. S. Alexander 10s ... 10 0 Mrs Scott 12s, C. B. Morris 5b 0 12 0 Friend ?s 01, Friend 3d, Miss Allen 2s 0 4 9 JohaEdmond 3 3 0 Stout, Mondy, and Sim on Moritzson and Hopkin « 2 0 Zealandia Waterproof Company ... 110 Cossens and Black 110 O. Christian nnd Co., 10s ; T. A. Shiel, 10s ; W.r H , si ; A Friend, ss ; W. Bririgeman, 2s (id 1 12 6 Collected by Mr J. Mvir — Wavdell Bros, and Co 110 Simon Bros 110 11. Mackenzie, 10d (3d ; Thomas Scurr, 10 1 ; R. H. Fra'er, 5s ; J. Eustace, 2s 6d 18 0 Collected by Messrs Lorie and Cohen— JauiFs Smith 5 5 0 JDrHncken 5 o 0 JL 10. Williams 5 0 0 Ahlteldßro* 3 3 0 A. Beaver aud Co 3 .3 0 Nitnmo s.nd Blair 3 0 0 A. Michie 2 2 0 Fred. Smith 110 Geo. Fen wick ' J 10 A. M'Farlane, Dowling street 110 J. F. Nixson 110 A. G. Som,-rvill<? 110 Mendelsohn and Co 110 E. Withers, ]03 ; F. 0.8., 10a ; G.H.H., 10s ; W.KE.R., 10a ; A.W.M., 10s ; T.M W., 10s ; W. Asher, ss ; D. Wisharr, ss ; J. B. M'Callum, ss ; Sympathiser, 2s 61 3 17 6 Total ■: £538-16 2 The subscription previously acknowledged as from Evelcen Mayd should read, from Rev. F. Mayne. Two hundred pounds was telegraphed on the 28th to the Mayor of Napier, making £300 thus forwarded. We have received the following subscriptions on behalf of the Hawke's Bay relief fund : — J. B. Logan £5 0 0 \ Professor Black ... 2 2 0 Mrs J. D. Walker 110 W. Grant, George street 3.0 0 F. Siedeberg 110 R. S 0 10 0 Quick and Smith 5 5 0 William Mill 8 3 0j Widow's mite 10 0 J. K. Auderaon, Heriot row 5 0 0 J. W. Rearden 110. Jamss Caffin 110 Honest sympathiser ... 110 X V Z 10 0 A. E. sends 5s to the Indian famine fund and 5s to the Armenian relief .fund. i The Mayor of Brisbane is calling a meeting j to raise funds in aid of the sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods. The matinee given by Mr Carl Hertz on Saturday, 24th ult., in aid of the relief fund was largely patronised, and it is unnecessary to cay thafe those present thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The gross receipts amounted to £40, but Mr Hertz has further shown his sympathy by giving another £10 out of his private purse, and a cbeque for £50 has been sent to his Worship the Mayor. The attendance at the Princess Theatre on the 28tb, when Boucicault's drama " The Octoroon" was produced by the Dunedin Amateur Dramatic Club in aid of the Hawke'a Bay relief fund, was somewhat meagre, and it is to be feared that the ebjeeb for which the performance was promoted will not bs benefited to the extent that might have been expected. Apart from the worthiness of the object, the performance itself may be referred to in terms of commendation. The stage equipment* generally were fairly complete and the acting on the whole was praiseworthy. The cast was entirely sustained by amateurs, and although some were painfully deficient in stagecraft, their defects were compensated for by some ; really good acting on the p*rt of other members ! jof the club. The principal chataoters were taken by Misses Lilian Chester (Zoe), Leech (Dora Sunnyside), Ellen Stevens (Mrs Peyton), Messrs W. H. M'Corraaok (Saleca Scudder), Jas. M'Connell (Jacob M'Closkey), W. Wood (Squire Sunnyside), and H. Attridge (Wah-no-tee). At a representative meeting held ab Balclutha on Tuesday, 28bh, it was resolved to canvass the town thoroughly toe subscriptions, aleo th 9 immediate country districts ; also to get up a good concert on Friday, May 14. Christchurch has sent; £200 to tire fund, wh"ch now reaches over £3000. Ab an adjourned meeting at Wanganui in connection with the relief fund, the treasurer reported thab they had some £520 in hand. It w&3 pointed out by several that it would bo absurd to send money out of the district to Napier while the looses in the Wanganui district were so grext. Particulars had been slow coming to hand, but every day details of great losses in Wangaehu, Turakina, and Rangitikei Vallejs were being received. Not only European settlers have suff ered, but Natives in many cases were practically lu'ned and required assistance. It was recognised that peop'e outside the district did not realise the. extent oi damage done. The general trend of the discussion was th'tfc charity begins at home, and the local sufferers would have to be eucooured before ! those at a distance. It was resolved — •' That the mayors and the chairmen of the counby councils between Patea aud Pdlmersbon Noilli ba asked to apply the fuuda raised to

assist those settlers who had suffered in the district named." Canvassers have been appointed, and after relieving the wants in this district the balance of the fund will bo sent to Napier. A Feilding telegram says that Feilding contributed £64- 78 to the Hawke's Bay relief fund. A fund m aid of the sufferers by the Rangitikei flood has now been opened by the mayor (Mr Walter Bailey). The Kaikorai Band performed the following programme at the Botauical Gardens on Sunday afternoon: — March, "Washington Greys" (Graffala) ; Air Varie, "Adeste Fideles" (H. Rounds ; chorus, "Lift Up Your Heads" (Handel) ; anthem, "Jerusalem, My Golden Home" (Lowell Mason); selection, "Cinq Mars" (Gounod) ; song, " Ora ProNobis " (Pic•colomini) ; "Funeral March" (Ccopiu). There was a record attendance, and the collection in aid of the Hawke's Bay fund realised the handsome sum of £29 Is 6£d. The committee, in addition to owing thanks to the band, are icdebtel to Mr M'Bean, the curator, and the gentlemen who .kindly looked after the gates. An Auckland telegram states that the local committee have telegraphed £300 as a first instalment for the relief of sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods. There was a fine meeting in the Tabernacle King street, on Sunday evening, when the sum ot £7" 9s 3d was collected for the Hawke's Bay relief tund.

A meeting of the Hawk&'a Bay Floods Relief Committee was held in the office of Mr D. Harris Hastings ou Monday afternoon, when there were ptesent — His Worship the Major (chairman), Rev. L. J. Harrison, Hon. R. Oliver, and Messrs T. W. Kempthornc, G. L. Denniston, A. Lorie, and C. Watt, C. Osmond, M. Oohen, and D. Harris Hastings (hon. secretary). Apologies for non-otlcn-daace were received from the Hou. D. Piukertou and Dr Fulton. The following telegrams from the Mayor of Napier were re*d : — "May 1. Many thwka for additional £200 received." "May 3. Just received your welcome wire announcing amount already collected, £4-50. Accept cur v*>ry best tbaoks." Messrs T. S. Graham and B. Hallenstein wrote expressing regret that tbey were unable to acb on the committee. Mr J. lsas.es wrote offering the services of the Ohio Mk,strels. — Accepted with thanks." Mr H. Crust wrote enclosing £5 ss, and stating that the New Zealand Express Company would store and cart goods free of charge. — Received with tkanks. The Secretary reported that he had recpived from "A Sympathiser" a handrome patchwork quilt, wliieu he had forwarded to the Mayor of Napier. Mr Denniston (the treasurer) reported that up to date he had received £559 Is Bd, and Mr Cohen mentioned that he and Mr Mackerr&s had a sum of £32 odd to hand to the treasurer. The Rev. Mr Harri'ou stated that it was not customary with his congregation to take up collections, but he bad no doubt the members thereof would subscribe liberally to the fund. The Hon. Mr O.iver said there was no doubfc about that.