Floods Relief

Southland Times, Issue 13501, 18 July 1896, Page 3

Floods Relief

At the adjourned meeting, held in the Council Hall yesterday evening, for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of settlers who have suffered by the recent floods, in the New River and Makarewa districts there were present :-His Worship the Mayor (chairman), Messrs W.B. Scandrett, Hugh Hunter, Wm. J. Moffett, William Batchelor, W. N. Stirling, George Haines, W. Lewis, David McKay, George Froggatt and Mr Young (hon. sec.).—The Mayor regretted the smallness of the attendance as a number of settlers had suffered very severely and it was the duty of the people of Invercargill and surrounding districts to assist them. He read an apology for absence from the Ven. Archdeacon Stocker, who was unwell and also from the. Rev. W. C Oliver, who enclosed a subscription of LI. Mersrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. forwarded a cheque for L 5 5s and Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.R., LI Is. Mr Scandrett said he thought a good deal of sympathy existed with a number of people who had been unable to attend and if those present formed themselves. into a committee to canvass for subscriptions a substantial amount could be raised with the assistance of the £ for£ subsidy. Information should be obtained as to the sum of the losses and the condition of the losers, for some of them would be able to stand the loss and would not need assistance. On his motion it was decided that those present should form a committee to raise subscriptions, to obtain information .as to losses, and to report to a future general meeting to decide as to the allocation of the funds. Mr Eroggatt thought the associations connected with the farming community in different parts of the county should be communicated with and asked to co-operate in the matter. The assistance rendered should not be confined simply to the Makarewa and New River districts, but to other localities where there had been losses. The Mayor said there were some cases at Mataura quite as bad as at Makarewa, but to take in other districts would be to include a very large number of settlers, and in the advertisement calling the meeting only the Makarewa and New River districts were specified. , It was decided to notify by advertisement that the committee will receive applications through the Mayor for monetary help from those who have suffered from the recent floods in the Makarewa and New River, districts and who need assistance, with an'estimate of the losses they have suffered and their circumstances. The town was divided into districts for canvassing purposes by the committee and it was decided to send lists out to various districts, farmers’ clubs, and A. and P. Associations. The meeting then adjourned until the 31st inst., when it is intended to have the lists returned.