DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD IN SYDNEY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1696, 9 February 1888, Page 4

DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD IN SYDNEY.

Amongst the methods of celebrating the centenary in Sydney was a distribution of alms to the poor. Upwards of 10,000 tickets had been distributed to persons whose cases were guaranteed necessitous by clergymen, magistrates, and charitable organisations. The Government had entered into a contract with Messrs Kidman and Co. for the supply of the following assorted provisions:—Two loaves of bread, Gib of beef, lib of mutton, 21b of white sugar, |lb of tea, £lb of currants, lib raisins, 41b flour, one cake of tobacco and a pipe, one tin of preserved fish, one tin of jam, one quart of milk, and 71b of assorted vegetables. The first day of the distribution fully 3000 tickets were presented, and though Messra Kidman and Co's premises were thronged all the earlier part of the day, little or no unseemly scramble was noticeable. The majority of the applicants were of the reapectable poor class, and distributed throughout the crowd of eager ticketholders were many able-bodied men, apparently deserving artisans and laborers who had fallen temporarily into bad circumstances. There was an air of anxiety and eagerness about the men, women, and children, and expressions of gratitude were not lacking. The sight was not a pleasant one, and yet it was reassuring to those who expected to find many instances of squalid poverty* andito see utterly hopeless misery expressed on pale hunger-pinched faces.' The contractors' price was 5s per ticket, at which no profit could certainly be made, but the attraction was depended upon as a big adver'fcisernen.t