A meeting of the Committee of the above Fund was held on the Gth inst. Present Dr, Johnston in the chair, the Very Rev. Dean Butcher, Rev. E.R. Palmer, Messrs. Wood and Hibbbe, also Mr. Skelly'as acting Treasurer of the Fund, Mr. SkELLY reported there was a balance in hand of Tis, 9,764.17.
The Sxcrerany stated that Messrs. Richard and Niel had been joined by Bfessrs. Scott and Capel at Ping-yang Fu, in th South of Shansi, where the greatest destitution now prevailed. Mr. Hillier, of the British Consular service, had also proceeded thither, with a view to spend a month or two in the relief work.
Reference was made to the letters from the famine districts that have lately been published, showing that relief will be required fill May next, and that the distributors had been greatly facilitated i their work by the high authorit-es in Shansi and Chibli. "The offer of Governor Tseng, to defray the expenses of removing the remains of the late Mr. Whiting to the United States, was adverted to with pleasure, as affording satisfaction to the Conmittee and the friends of the deceased.
Tt was stated that very liberal contributions had recently been received from Melbourne and Adelaide, as well as the balance of funds in the hands of the London Committee, &e. These had been thankfully acknowledged, together with the reports accompanying them.
The Secretary mentioned that the final report of the Committee was at present in abeyance, until the receipt of details from the Chairman of the Committee at Tientsin, and while the work of distribution was going on.
The appropriation of the funds on hand was then considered, and in view of the present condition of the famine field, and the number of distributors now atwrork, it was moved by Mr. Wood and seconded by Mr. Hitbbe—"That the sum of Tls. 6,000 be at once forwarded by native bank to Mr. Richard's address at Tai-yuen Fu, and that Tls. 3,000 be sent thither vii Tientsin on the opening of the river."
Agreed to.
Wa. Memueap, See.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.