THE FLOODS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5859, 29 April 1897, Page 1

THE FLOODS.

* # * Subscriptions towards the Hawke's Bay Flood Belief Fund received at this office will beVftt once forwarded to the Mayor of Christchurch and acknowledged in his Worship's list. [Per Press Association.! BRISBANE, April 28. The Mayor presided at a meeting to organise a New Zealand Flood Eelief Fund. It was resolved to cable .£670 lying to the credit of the Queensland Central Eelief .Fund to the Mayor of Napier; also to open a relief fund and appeal throughout Queensland. AUCKLAND, April 28. A public meeting was held at the City Council Chambers this afternoon to appoint a committee to collect subscriptions in aid of the Hawke's Bay Floods Fund. Mr P. Dignan. acting-mayor, presided. A motion of sympathy with the sufferers was carried, and a committee was appointed to raise subscriptions. The Town .Clerls reported that the sum of .£157 had ; already been collected. WANGANUI, April 28. An adjourned meeting in connection ■with the relief fund -in aid of the" sufferers by the floods was held to-night, the Mayor presiding. There was a fairly good attendance. The Treasurer reported that a sum of .£520 was in hand. It was pointed out by several persons that it would be absurd to send money out of the district to Napier while the losses in this district were so great. Particulars had been slow in coming to hand, but every day details of great losses in the Wangaehu, Turakina and Eangitikei valleys were being received. Not only European settlers have suffered, !but Natives in many cases have been practically ruined and require assistance. It was recognised that people outside the district <lid not realise the damage done here. It was generally agreed that charity begins at home, and that local sufferers would have to be succoured before those at a distance. It was resolved that the mayors of boroughs and chairmen of County Councils between Patea and Palmerston North should be asked to apply the funds raised to assist those settlers who had suffered in the district named. Canvassers have been appointed. After relieving •wants in this district the balance of the' fund will be sent to Napier. Tn reference to the. telegram from the Mayor of Napier, mentioned in yesterday's issue, the Mayor of Christchurch wishes it to be known that he will be glad to receive • donations of hay, chaff, oats, &c.-, or produce of any kind, which are urgently needed by the sufferers from the Hawke's Bay floods. Produce will be forwarded to Napier free of freight. A meeting, called by the Mayor of "Woolston, will be hold in the Library, Ferry Eoad, at eight o'clock this evening, to take steps for relieving the sufferers by the floods. A public meeting will be held at the Kaiapoi Borough Council Chambers at eight o'clock this evening, to devise means for assisting the sufferers by the Hawke's Bay floods. • At a public meeting of New Brighton residents last evening, it was resolved to hold a concert on May 13. A subscription list was opened in the room, and the sum of .£l4 15s collected. Mr A. W. Owles, who was present at the meeting, said that he had been at the scene of the floods, and that the reports had not been in the least degree exaggerated.