St. James Church on the wreck, selecting for his text the 4th chapter A m o s , and the last line 12th verse, "Prepare to meet thy God."Measures were at once taken to raise funds for the relief of the survivors, and to acknowledge in a becoming manner the gallant and humane conduct of Mr. Howie and his men, and also the owners of the " Midge." O n e of the earliest in the field at this good work was Mr. George Coppin, still amongst us, and in 1884, as in 1845, doing good to his adopted country and his kind. H e was then lessee of the Queen Street theatre, and, unsolicited, gave the proceeds of a benefit to the fund on the 18th September, which realized a net sum of ,£66 (a considerable donation in such times). O n the same day a public meeting was held in the Royal Hotel, Collins street, to aid the movement, and as some of the remarks and resolutions characterizing this gathering possess an interest beyond the more immediate purpose in view, an abstract of its proceedings is appended.
THE "CATARAQUI" PUBLIC MEETING.
The Mayor (Mr. Henry Moor) stated that the object of their assembling was "for the purpose of devising means of rendering assistance to the survivors of the ill-fated " Cataraqui," and to express the sense of the community towards Mr. D. Howie and his party for their generous and benevolent exertions on their behalf. In consequence of the departure of the " Shamrock," steamer, he regretted his avocations did not allow him to remain; b u t he pledged himself to contribute towards the furtherance of the object in view. O n the motion of Mr. E. Curr, seconded by Mr. J. P. Fawkner, the Rev. A. C. Thomson, Episcopalian minister, was voted to the chair. The Chairman observed that on the present melancholy occasion it was unnecessary to say m u c h to excite commiseration. Their feelings were already wound up to a high pitch, and their hearts deeply touched with a sense of the misfortunes occasioned by the late wreck. Never did such a frightful destruction of human life occur on the Australian shores, and as all present were aware of that fact, and their minds had been already fully impressed with such a disaster, he felt that a long speech was altogether unnecessary to • urge them to perform their duty, for he was assured that British Christians (did he say Christians ?) or persons of any religion whatsoever would, under such circumstances, from motives of humanity, perform their duty towards their fellow men. H e therefore felt confident that persons of every denomination would most cheerfully respond to the call now m a d e — o n e which the Providence of G o d brought about to excite the sympathy of their hearts. Dr. A. F. Greeves proposed thefirstresolution, viz.:— "That this meeting, in expressing their deep sorrow for the awful calamity of the wreck of the 'Cataraqui,' and their regret at the neglect of any means to prevent similar catastrophes, consider it a public duty to relieve and assist the survivors." H e said little was needed beyond the reading of the resolution to induce" everytjne to join in adopting it. T h e event to which it alluded was so recent and terrible, and so overwhelming a catastrophe, that few there were ignorant of the particulars. If there were any, let them only read the official list of the sufferers. W h o could peruse without emotion the names of so many large families suddenly swallowed up by the raging sea; or picture without being sick at heart the scenes of agonizing distress and horror which must have taken place? Great, indeed, was the loss this colony had to deplore.' T h e actual loss of life was greater than upon any similar calamity, except the " Royal George," and the " President," steamer. But we have not only to deplore the loss of life, the loss of so much useful labour—the loss of so many who would have extended the foundation of our future community; w e have also to regret the evil impressions which would result at h o m e towards this colony, and the check to emigration. T h e resolution alluded to the want of means to prevent similar catastrophes; and it was impossible to avoid reflecting that if lighthouses had existed on that coast that it is probable the accident would not have occurred. It was the fifth shipwreck which had happened near the same spot; besides which there were numerous narrow escapes, of which one seldom hears. O n the voyage out to Sydney of a reverend gentleman n o w living in Melbourne
