Wairarapa Relief Fund.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5211, 19 March 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Relief Fund.

r» ! Tha Lyitelton Times saya :— lt eeema ' that the local committee of the Wairarapa Belief Fund was mistaken io : assuming that the Danadin Com- f mittee had made no provision for the eupport of the late Mra M'Donald'a children. We are assured by a gentleman who should ba well informed on the subject that a considerate sum ha 3 been set aside by the Dunedin Committee for the maintenance of the orphans. Tbeie can be no objection, of course, to supplementing this sum ; but it is unfortunate that the treasurer of the local committee should i have cast an unfounded reflection upon the ' humanity of out neighbours. We are Eure that Mr Mitchell will join with us in deploring his mistake. ■ In reference to the foregoing 1 , Mr W. E. Mitchell haa today submitted for our perusal correspondence in his possession, whereiti the Dunedin Committee stated to the Wellington Committee its financial ' position, and made specific claims for aid to meet certain special ciees. The letters ' and the balance-sheet attached thereto show that, in February last, the Dunedin Committee had until "then paid 25a per week towards the support of the late Mrs M'Donald's four children (aged twelve, ten, ! eight and six yaara respectively). The committee's plans for the future included a further expenditure of only £25 for these children. It will, therefore, be seen that with these details before it, the Christchurch Committee, which had no desire to cast reflection upon anyone, was justified in the assumption that adequate provision for the children of the heroic stewardess had yet to be made.