KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3419, 26 March 1879, Page 2

KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND.

A meeting of tho Kaitangata Relief Fund Committoo was held at the Corporation offices last nighfc. Thero wero present — His Worship the Mayor (iv tho chair), Councillors Gapes, Ayers, Wilson, Jenkins, Clifford, and Binstead, Messrs Seager, Hobday, Pratt, Alport, Hulbert, W. H. Smith, R. 0. Bishop, and King.

The Mayor explained that the meeting was called to hear tho Treasurer's statement. Thoy wero thankful to all who had assisted in the mattor, and Ohristchurch had cause to bo proud of its position in regard to the fund, and he was proud to be Mayor of such a city. He might state that in addition to the funds collected afc the f&te he had received upon his lisfc altogether £303 18s lOd, £200 ot whicli he had already forwarded to fcho secretary of tho Kaitangata Fund, Dunedin. Ho (tho Mayor) had that doy received from Mr A. J. White's employees a cheque for £4 3s 6d ; and from the Archdeacon £6 15s 6d, the amount of tho offertories collected at the Asylum. This, he thought, showed greafc kindness on tho part of the inmates of tho Asylum. The Mayor of Sydenham had also forwarded a cheque for three guineas. This made up the total mentioned. Mr Pratt, tho Treasurer, gave fcho following statement of moneys collected : —

£ b. &. Tak<>n at tho gates 288 6 0 Sile of books 13 15 0 Professor Scott 15 15 6 Gipseytout 13 0 6 fiichurdson'a show 68 10 0 Drill-shed 81 7 0 Theatre , „, 100 0 0 Mr Wheolor 10 10 0 Mr Foster in 10 0 MrDonovau • ... • ... gi

, , , . , £G( > 9 l6 6 Since then ho had received tho following amount : —

Sale of booths ,£6O 0 0 There still remained the monoy for sale of tickets, which he had nofc yet receivod.

On fche motion of Councillor Wilson, a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Mr Pratt.

Mr Smith, Secretary, Btated that he had collected £36 19s 4Jd, oufc of which Bundry disbursements were made.

Councillor Wilson moved a vote of thanks to tho Secretary for his satisfactory statement, which was carried unanimously. It was decided that the sum of £8 2s 6d received by the Mayor on behalf of the Fete Committees Fund, and placed to his lisfc, should bo placed to the credit of the fund collected afc tho fete.

It was resolved that the Hon. Treasurer be authorised to pay the outstanding liabilities, amounting to -£37 13s sd.

Mr Hulberfc said he thought about £60 or £/0 would have yet to come in for tickets ovor and above what had been collected The Mayor stated that he had received a letter from Mr Craig, who was interesting himself on behalf of the widow of the lat*

Sorgeanfc-Major Kerr, asking for a subscription on her behalf. Fe (the Mayor) had replied that he would lay the matter before the Committee. He would solioit the sympathies of those present on the widow a Behalf. Mr Pratt said he thought, after paying all liabilities, thero would be a sum of £750 in hand.

Mr Hulbert said had he or others given Major Kerr's widow a thought they would have suggested that some of tho funds should havo gone to her and other widows in tho community. Ho was aware nono of the present fund could go to (hem, but there was a number of articles in hand which it was contemplated to devoto to tho bonefifc of the widows in tho community. Mr Towlo had generously offered through him, to give tho proceeds of an opera he shortly intends to produce towards tho object referred to. It would perhaps amount to £100 or more. Mr Hobday moved, and Mr Pratt seconded a cordial voto of thanks to tho professional ladiea and gentlemen who contributed so powerfully to tho success of tho Vfnft match. A voto of thanks was accorded to those gentlemen who had written off their account-* on behalf of the fund, and another to the Genoral Manager of the Ohristchurch Railways, for hiß kindness in putting on late trains on the day of the f6te. A Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Coombes ond Hulbert, Secretary and Treaßuror, woro appointed to wind up fche affairs of the fdto.

The Mayor said ho had a pleasant duty to Eerform, viz., to mako a presentation to tho on. Seoretary, on behalf of tho Committee, who had privately subscribed towards ifc. He had muoh pleasure in presenting Mr Smith with a very handsome gold locket. The looket bore the following inscription : — " Presented to W. H. Smith by the Kaitangata F6te Committee, 1879."

Mr Smith acknowledged tho gift, stating that he did not know whafc he had dono to deserve it. Ho thanked them for their token of appreciation of hia bumble efforts. A vote of thanks to tho Mayor terminated the business.