THE STRATFORD FIRE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume IX, Issue 882, 19 January 1886, Page 2

THE STRATFORD FIRE.

A Diftim urr of o]»iniuu.

Tiie Wanganui Chronicle States : —The Stratford Fire Relief Fund convasshue received a sudden check, owing to the telegrams received yesterday afternoon from New Plymouth, that sufficient money had already bfeeb collected. True it is that a subsequent telegram has been received from Hawera flatly contradicting the New Plymouth statement, and expressing is no measured terms the indignation of the Hawera Relief Committee at what is termed the interference of the other body at New Plymouth. Which body is right remait s to be seen, but there is not the least doubt that the message from New Plymouth will be most telling in its effect. Already it has paralysed the action of the charitably inclined. Iu Wanganui the projected chess tournament in aid of the relief fund has been abandoned, at any rate for the present. The - ladies’ sewing bee will be brought to an abrupt conclusion to-day, and it may be presumed that the canvassers for the town appointed at Monday night’s meeting will for the present at least suspend operations. The City of Christchurch was just waking up to an appeal put forth in the leading columns of the Lyttleton Times —hut their enthusiasm has been nipped in the bud. Tt may also be safely predicted that Wellington and Auckland will rest upon their oars and lie by until their are able to satisfy themselves as to the real necessities of the case, the conflicting statements of the authorities contiguous to the spot making it difficult for persons at a distance to know what to believe. Opinion in Uawcm.

The Hawera Star says on the subject:— i What evidence have the committee in New Plymouth ns to the sufficiency of present subscriptions? So far as we are i aware there is nothing definite known aela to damage down or assistance required.'*! That is shown by the resolution itself, for j it states that Mr Skinner has been engaged J to “ ascertain the extent of the damage % done and the amount of claims.” Tlic | total amount of subscriptions in hand and promised amounts to about £IOOO. The Taranaki Herald , which is owned by the 1 treasurer of the New Plymouth Com- U miltoe, es imated the damage up to Thursday last “as fully £10,000,” aud

has eiiv-e then recorded further damage. In an article on the subject ou Monday, it further said, “ It will be necessary to exercise great discretion in paying away the money which has been so creditably subscribed in the town. Discretion is necessary, in the first place, because the stun is small in comparison with the damage.