SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 21

SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY

A meeting of the executive of the Shipwreck Relief Society was held on the 12th instant, and was attended by Messrs 0. W. Chamberlain, G. L, Denniston, T. W. Wiiitson, F. 0. Bridgeman, E. C. Hazlett, J. H. C. Bond, W. Clarke, J. A. Park, G. Fenwiok, and T. M. Culleai. The sum of £37 10a was received from Captain Wyllie, per favour of Mr F. O. Bridgeman, as a contribution to the funds, this sum having been raised through church collections and concerts on Übard an ocean liner. The following donations from harbour boards were acknowledged : —Bluff, £lO 10s; Riverton, £2 2s; Wairoa, £1 Is; Westport, £5 ;' Wellington, £lO 10s; and Otago, £lO 10s. The secretaries of the Patea and Greymouth Boards wrote regretting their inability to contribute at present, and the Napier Board asked for a. statement of the society's finances. This had been forwarded. Captain Fleming (Auckland) wrote enclosing a draft for £ll 12s, deposited in the collection boxes in his charge. chairman remarked upon the fact thjkt Captain Fleming was almost the only man in the dominion who succeeded in obtaining anything from collection boxes. The draft annual report was read and approved, the following being the principal clauses: —The most serious disaster during the year was the sinking of the Port Kembla by an explosion at sea, fortunately without loss of, life. The society afforded relief to the officers and crew to the extent of £2BO 18s 7d. Relief was also granted in connection with the following:—Relief crew Welcorne, £l2; relief crew s.s. Te Anau owing to a fire on board, £37 13s 6d; widows of two fishermen. who lost their lives at Manukau Heads, £2O; relief crew Moehau,.£l2; relief crew schooner Eunice, £23; widow of one of the , crew of the missing Waii'una, £lO. The society contributed the sum of £25 to the Otago Patriotio Association, and £5 5s to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. To the Union Steam Ship Company the committee expressed indebtedness for continued *md ' valuable support, its contributions amount 5 * ing to the handsome sum of £283 9s 3d; also to the Huddart, Parker Proprietary for the sum of £37 10s. The executive acknowledged donations received during the year as follows-.—John Ball, legacy, £l2 13s 2d; Otago, Wellington, and Bluff Harbour Boards, £lO. 10s each ; Gisborne Harbour Board, £lO ; Harbour Board, £5 ss; Westport Harbour Board, £5; Neh son. New River, Riverton, and Wanganui Harbour- Boards, £2 2s each; Wairoa Harbour Board, £1 Is; the Right Hon. W. F. Massey. £1 Is; the Hon. W. H. Hemes, £1 Is; E O. Morris, £1; T. B. Louisson, 10s, and contributions collected by Captain Fleming, £23 19s. It was pleasing to note that there is a slight increase in the amount received from annual subscriptions, but with very few exceptions the subscribers were all residents of Dunedjn. The executive considered' that it was duo from the northern centres to show their appreciation of the valuable work the society is doing by furnishing a larger number of subscribers. Owing to the continued indisposition of Mr T. W. Whitson, the duties of treasurer to the society had again been kindly undertaken by Mr G. L. Denniston. The society had suffered a serious loss by the_ death of I Captain Strang, marine superintendent, l Union Steam Ship Company, who ;waa long < a valued member of die Executive ComI mittee. The sum of £4-15 12s 7d was ex- | pended in affording relief to crews and rela- | tives, but despite the fairly heavy expendiI ture the position of the society is rather I better than at the oloso of last year.

The balance sheet was approved, and it was. resolved to deposit in the Dunedin Savings Bank.