THE EARTHQUAKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2396, 11 January 1909, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE.

THANKS TO NEW ZEALAND AND

NEW SOUTH WALES.

MEASURES FOR RE-BUILDING MESSINA AND REGGIO.

(Received Jan. 10, 4.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 9. The . Hon - W - p - Reeves, - " High Commissioner for New Zealand, and the Hon. T. A. Coghlan, Agent-Gen-eral for New South Wales, have received the Italian Government’s warmest thanks for the generous donations from the Dominion and the Stato.

The Mansion House relief fund now totals £BO,OOO.

ROME, Jan. 9. The Chamber cheered Signor Giolitti’s statement that Messina and Reggio, are to be re-built, and granted a million and a quarter sterling from the Budget surplus to provide for the urgent needs and to reconstruct public buildings. The Chamber also imposed a surtax on certain sources of revenue for two years.

AN ELOQUENT ACKNoWIEDG-

MENT.

ITALIAN CONSUL-GENERAL’S

THANKS

United Press Association. Copyright

MELBOURNE, Jan. 9, The Consul-General of Italy, in acknowledging the Commonwealth’s contribution to the earthquake fund,

says: “The Commonwealth Government has given a most generous sanction to a most noble principle—a principle which ignores time and distance, is above race discriminations and prejudices of every kind, and is a true basis of civilisation. It has earned the everlasting gratitude of the warmhearted Italian people.”

MAYOR ASKED TO OPEN SUB SCRIPTION LIST.

REQUEST BY GISBORNE TRADES

COUNCIL

At the meeting of the East Coast Trades and Labor Council on Saturday evening, the President referred to the great -Italian- earthquake, and urged that the Mayor be asked to open a subscription list in aid of the sufferers. He stated that labor was always humane in its views, and ready at all times to assist the sick and distressed. The first action of the Council after its inception had been to inaugurate a Labor Day demonstration in aid of the suffering womanhood of Gisborne by the establishment of a Maternity Home. The Council would not be overstepping its privileges in _ requesting aid for suffering humanity t ~ v of Italy. They were aware that the Government had voted £SOOO to the relief fund, but the duty of the citizens did not end there, as recognised townsfolk in other centres. Giswirne should do its duty, and the Mayor should be requested to open a subscription list to augment the relief ■{funds: He moved to that effect. Mr. Maddison seconded the motion. He thought that no convincing was necessary, and that the motion would meet with hearty support. ' The motion was put and carried unanimously.

ACTION IN GISBORNE. A PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTION LIST. Messrs Vita Brothers are acting as agents for the Consul of Italy in obtaining subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers from the earthquake in Calabria and Sicily.