A meeting of sympathisers with '.ho un fortunate victims of the Brunner disaster was held in the Hawera Junction Hotel on Saturday evening. Mr Jensen, the convener of the meeting, , in calling upon Mr Mowbray to occupy th« chair, explained that the meeting was called at the instigation of the Manager of the New Zealand Times, who hid called upon his various representatives to do their utmost to assist in the matter. Mr H. B. Mowbray then took the chair, and in a few well-chosen remarks urged those present to do their utmost for tin unfortunates rendered destitute by tie appalling disaster. Ho drew the meetings attention to the generous manner in whth the call for help had been responded to from all parts of the Colony, and felt sure this district would not bo behind. , Mr C. F. Morgan addressed the meeting at some length and stated that, hiving been working in the mining districts if the West Coast for some year's, ho knot the circumstances of the miners arising from scarcity of work and other causes—to bo very unenviable indeed. He kmw the coalminers to be an ’ cxtremel; opon heartod and generous class of nun, and gave several graphic instances whch came ■ under his notice of their gone'osity in assisting in cases of need. Hf also re ferred in eulogistic terms to the heroic efforts of those engaged in tryin; to extri cate the entombed men. The Chairman then suggested that a subscription-list bo passed rouid the room, whereupon the sum of XU 7sCd was imme diately subscribed. On the motion of Mr Morgan, seconded by Mr Mowbray, it was resolved that all present form themselves into a committee, and that Messrs Reardon and Beauchamp be appointed secretary pud treasurer res pectively. . The Chairman then called for volun teers to canvass the district for subscrip tions, when the following gentlemen imme diately offered their services : Messrs Beauchamp, Farrell/, Turner, Marsh, Mor gan and Christie, the latter gentleman suggesting that lists be also opened by the representatives of the various sawmills in and around tke district. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair and also to the convenor of the meeting, Mr Jensen.
