Message from the Postmaster

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10497, 19 November 1901, Page 2

Message from the Postmaster

Further Minor Disturbances

WELLINGTON, November 19.

Tho postmaster at Cheviot, telegraphing to the Secretary of the Department at 8 a.m., says:—"l have to report another depressing sight. Since my last there have been a number of minor disturbances, intermingled with one or two more severe and serious shocks. None, however, have done any additional damage, ohifley because practically all the damage from which the settlement'can suffer has already oeen done. I regret to say that after a promise of much-needed, cooling rain last night, the weather has again changed this morning, and is oppressively close, with a scorching sun. This will add to the -troubles of farmers, whose land is parched, and crops are consequently in nearly all cases failures. "Christchurch newspapers havo already started a relief fund. It must not bo understood, however, that the settlers are destitute." Almost, without exception, their homes are badly damaged, and in some cases destroyed, while one or two business' people in McKenzie itself, who have no available capital, have lost their all. It is these latter who will benefit by the relief fund, the chief use of which will not Tie to buy food, but to enable them to make another start. The impression abroad that the people are absolutely destitute is incorrect, though several are ruined.