PUBLIC MEETING IN THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4573, 18 February 1893, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING IN THE ODDFELLOWS' HALL.

Last night, in response to the announcement made by the Mayor of Christchuroh, a public! meeting was held in the Oddfellows'. Hall, Liohfield street, for the purpose of taking steps to give assistance to the sufferers by the floods in Queensland. The attendance at eight; o'clock numbered between fifty and sixty persons, including, some ladies, but it increased during the course of the evening till about one hundred and fifty were present. The Mayor pcoupied the qhair, and was supported on the platform by Messrs H. O. D. Meares (Mayor of St Albanß), W. Jacques (Mayor of Sydenham), City Councillors W. H. Cooper, J. Anderson, Widdowson, W. Thomson and B. Smith, Mr E. Sandford, M.H.E., Messrs E. 8. Harley and.Ji A. Bird (Chairman and Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce) and the Town Clerk. , The Mayor said that he had hesitated, in calling a meeting earlier till they had been placed in possession of fuller information respecting the amount of suffering and the probablo relief required. Although he had full sympathy with those who were sufferers by such a great calamity, he felt justified in delaying action for a few days till full news arrived. But when he saw the particulars that had been published in Wednesday's papers, which had more than confirmed the cable news,' he decided to take action at once, and used the best means to make the meeting known. He had also received a communication from Mr Harley, President of the Chamber of Commerce, and had been requested byseven or eight of the Councillors to call the meeting. Therefore he felt fully justified in calling the oitizens together,' and hoped that the few days' delay would be the meanß of arousing their sympathy all the more, and that there would be a united effort to make the relief fund such as would be a credit to the city and to Canterbury generally.! There were several reasons for so small an attendance. The Orangemen were having a meeting for the same purpose, the 'members of the Liedertafel had a gathering that., evening, and several of them had expressed their regret at not being able to be present. The By-law Committee of the City Council was holding a meeting, and Councillor Gray, who had headed the petition asking for the present meeting to be called, was its Chairman. He (the Mayor) had ordered the Town Clerk to postpone that meeting, but the Chairman had ordered otherwise. He had written to the same effect to Councillor Gray, .who, however, had declined to postpone it. These ciroumatancea all tended to lessen thVattendanc*, but he did not think for a moment that, they would lessen the sympathies of the people, or that- the small' meeting would mean a small relief fond. He read apologies* for absence from the Bight Bey Bishop Grimeß, who warmly supported the -movement ,to send immediate relief, and proffered his warmest sympathy and assistance (cheers); from the Eev W. Baumber, who wrote enclosing a cheque for £1 Is ; from Mr W. Devenish Meares ; from the •Eev H. C. M. Watson ; from Mr Albert Kay?, who telegraphed from Donedin, giving JBS ss— (oheera) ; and from Councillor Appleby and Mr J. C. Atkinson (Mayor of Lin wood). Mr F. Anzau, a working man residing at Papanui, recommended that every working man bhould, of his own accord, give one day's wages towards the fund, and the writer had enclosed his amount— five shillings. (Cheers.) Mr Justice Dennis ton wrote, enclosing a cheque for £5. (Cheers.) Besides these amounts several offers of assistance had been received. One was from Mr Worthington, who offered to deliver one of Wb popular lectures, all the proceeds to be given to the relief fund. (Cheerß.) Mr Harry Fleming proffered the services of hiß Quadrille Band at any entertainment that was got up for the relief fund. ' (Cheers.) Mr T. Crook had arranged for a popular entertainment in the Theatre next Thursday, at which Meßsrß Appleby, Millar, Weir and other leading musicians would assist, and which he (the Mayor) hoped all would patronise, to make it a financial success. (Cheers.) It waa evident that the feelings of the people had been thoroughly aroused, and their unanimity would again redound to the credit X>f Canterbury. He would leare the first resolution in the hands of the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr E. S. Harley said that he felt sure that Christohuroh would take up the assistance of their fellow colonists in Queensland with as much vigour as they always did any real case of distress. It waa not the large cheques that would make up the amount, but such contributions as Mr Anzau had suggested, and so practically had supported, that would make a good relief fund. They should, while receiving money, also receive goods, and if they got a large subscription, they might spend a portion in the purchase of blankets, clothing and goods here. If they bought goods here, and Bent them over at once, the goods would be more valuable at Brisbane. He had received a telegram from the Hon W. P. Beeves, stating that the Government would send any goods free of freight, and he thought clothing and food would be more acceptable than money. At the present time the sufferers were badly off for flour, and a portion of the consignment should consist of this artiole. He wished to point out an omission in the Mayor's speech, and that was that Mr George had put his own name down for ten guineas. (Cheers.) He might also inform them that he had interviewed

several of the bank managers, who- had promised to" cable any^mbneyalfree of cost. (Cheers.) He had great pleasure in moving— "Thair this meeting request* his Worship the. Mayor to open a subscription list in money or in kind for the relief of the qufferers by the Queensland • floods, and that the following gentlemen be appointed as. ;an: Executive Committee to assist the Mayor in carrying out the details: — The Mayors of St. Albans, Sydenham, Sumner, Linwood, Lyttelton and Kaiapoi, the Chairmen of the Selwyn County Council and Drainage Board ; F. W. Penfold, D.G.P., Druids; J. M. Douglass, " . G.M., L.0.L. ; W. Woods, P.G.M.of the Oddfellows; the D.C.R. of 'the Foresters^ and the mover, with power to add to their number," * Mr H. O. D. Meareß, Mayor of St Albans, in seconding the motion, said that the attendance at the meeting was no guide to 'the people's intention to assist. On, all 'sides he had been told by people who conld not attend that they would be ready ! "with their subscriptions when a relief ( fund was organised. They had only to look back at other movements of the same kind, such as the Kaitangata relief fund, 'to see that Chriefcohurch would be to the front in anything that was . wanted to 'assist their fellow-colonists." He " cordially agreed with Mr Harley's proposal 1 to send goods, but at the Bame time they must send some money, and the offer of the banks would be very Valuable to the Committee. He thought that the Committee should have power to. add to its number. Mr Harley accepted the suggestion in regard to the increase of the Committee. Dr Frankish strongly urged the advisableness of forwarding flour and useful clothing in preference to money.. ' The motion was then put and; carried unanimously with applause. " ''"''. The Mayor of Sydenham moved— "That the following gentlemen constitute a Canvassing Committee, with power to add to their number*:— Messrs Blake, Joyce, Sandfordj Tanner and Moore (M.ILB.'s), members of the City Council, members of the Linwood, Sydenham, TSJaiapoi, . St 'Albans, Lyttelton. and Sumner Borough Councils, also Messrs John Ollivier and W.E. Mitohell." - Councillor. Cooper seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously; ; ' The Mayor said that he had asked the Bey H. 0. M. Watson if the' ministers of Christchurch. would . devote the contributions of one Sunday .towards the fund. Mr Watson had fallen in with the sngges' tion, and had proposed that next Sunday week should be the day. If that suggestion were adopted, he hoped those before him and all citizens would turn out and attend church, on that day.? As regarded the object of the fund, the bravery of the driver Jackson, and the 'fact of twentyseven children being left orphans through the mining calamity were of themselves sufficient to warrant the' people of Christchurch in making the greatest possible effort to raise a sufficient sum to relieve th« sufferers. 1 : ■ ' >..- ' '■ Dr Frankish -thought the action of the Union Steamship Company in placing its boats at the disposal of any relief fand organisation „ for the carriage of goods to Queensland was a meritorious one. (Cheers.) The opposition line of steamers also had offered the Bame facilities.. He therefore moved — "That the Executive be requested to forward flour, clothing and blankets by the first opportunity."; •■; This was seconded and carried. ■ The Mayor said that Councillors Cooper and E. Smith would be at the door to receive any money or cheques that might be given -that evening. •• A hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor closed the meeting. '■■' - ■ ..-■■;■■ His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch 'desires to acknowledge the following subscriptions :— J. B. Ohisholm (Waikari) £1, Working Man Bs, F. Orzanne ss, His Honor. Mr Justice Denniston JBS, Bey W. Baumber JBI Is,' Mayor of Christcburoh JBIO 10a, collected at door at last night's meeting £1 15s 6d, total .£l9 14s 6d. A meeting of the Executive will be held at the City Council Chambers on Monday morning at eleven o'clock. Mr Herriok desires to acknowledge, with thanks, the following gifts of materialfor making up:—S ix yards flannel from Mrs Gaze, twelve yards flannel from Sympathy, twelve yards flannelette from Sympathiser, ~«1bo a patch quilt. : A meeting of the members of the Orange Institution was held last night in the Orange Hall to consider what steps should be taken to alleviate the distress caused by the recent floods in Queensland. The Grand Master, Bro J. M. Douglass, explained that when the meeting was called the Mayor of Christchuroh had stated he was not going to open a relief fund, and it was thought desirable that the Orange Institution should take the matter up. The Mayor had since, however, called a meeting which; unfortunately, clashed with the present one. It was resolved to cable £50 to Queensland this morning, and to raise a further amount if possible; Nearly the whole amount was promised in the room; The meeting adjourned till Monday evening, at the Orange Hall, at 7.30, in order to enable country brethren to be present. Lists will be ready to-day. A mass meeting, which will be addressed by Mr W. W. Collins, will be held in Cathedral Bquare to-night. , . \, ; 9 'The Melbourne .ccorrespondent of a northern contemporary says :— -The. scene of desolation in Nor th Brisbane on Tuesday . morning, Feb. 7, was simply indescribable. The damage done amounts to hundreds of thousands of pounds. It is estimated that 500 houses have passed down the river from within a few miles of Brisbane, and several hopper waggonß also. One man .counted one hundred houses come down and strike against the railway bridge within an hour. Six houses in a row came down the stream together and were smashed to pieces against the structure with a loud .report. They were thrown high into the air, and as the shattered timbers fell off they were engulfed below the bridge and passed out on the other side. Between Dinmore and Wolston the railway line is badly damaged. Goodna on Monday presented the appearance of a veritable city of the dead. The railway station is canted right over, and the Brisbane end of the building is a wreck. The water washed a large hole in the platform between the two lines, and a large log lies across the plat* form. .