MAKARETU

Waipawa Mail, Volume IX, Issue 881, 16 January 1886, Page 2

MAKARETU

[from our own correspondent.]] A MEETING was held in the school at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, the 12th January, to consider relief to sufferers by tlie recent bush fires. There were 36 present. Mr W. F. Howlett acted as chairman. It was proposed by P. Jensen junr., and seconded by 11. Ilemmingsen, that this meeting elect a committee of six. Mr E. Stenberg suggested the committee should consist of non-losers; and Mr A. Stenberg added that members of the committee should have no interest, direct or indirect, in the result of fires. The chairman said at some length that he had enquired fully into public feeling in Napier on the extent of losses up the railway, and was much impressed by the general feeling that the Scandinavians were our guests, and that England was determined to treat them as sho alone knew how to treat the innumerable nationalities she was perpetually assimilating. (Strong objection being made to this in several quarters, on the ground that those present were duly naturalized citizens, the chair proceeded.) This might be a wrong view, but if right, it afforded the strongest reason why all applications for relief should be bona fide . There must be no exaggeration. lie would, however, just allude to another reason. Any exaggerated application would be likely to be rejected altogether. As to members of committee, if they rejected sufferers they would never get a committee. Nearly all present had suffered. The meeting then proceeded to elect a committee as follows : —II. 11. Bridge, W. F. Howlett, A. Stenherg, M. Sattrup, P. Jensen junr., E. Stenberg. It was proposed that the operations of tlie cotnmi)tee extend from the Tukipo to Tuki Tuki rivers. Mr Morrison said that as nobody was present from AshleyClinton or Blackburn, those districts could form committees of their own. Mr P. Jensen said that if a few sufferers outside tlie proposed district chose to send in statements no doubt they could be considered. The chairman said he believed the wish of the central committee was that the Makaretu committee should undertake Ashley - Clinton and Blackburn ; but as the feeling of the meeting was evidently strong, he could not oppose it. Carried unanimously. Proposed by P. Jensen junr., and seconded by E. Stenberg, That this meeting expresses its thanks to all who havo assisted to relieve the present sufferers. Carried, with many demonstrations of approval. The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.