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Manawatu Herald, Volume i, Issue 52, 25 February 1879, Page 2

News lias reached us of the first extensive colliery accident in the Oolonic? ; and it has occurred iv New Zealand. Although the .Newcastle mines have been working for many years, we bsliove no such acci« dont h'ss occurred there as took place on Friday last at the ELaitangata mine There is something, inexpressibly mournful iv the thought of over 30 strong, stalwart men in the full flush and vigor of man* hood starting 1 in tho morning for their daily toil, and a few hours after being ushered in the twinkling of an eye into that dense Eternity which no mortal vision can piezce. We reprint the graphic words of the Press Agency correspondent, who telegraphed : — " In all there are thirty* four dead, and of all the strong men, uearly everyone of whom was in his prime, who went into the mine this morning, not one remains alive to tell how the accident occurred. It was a sight as sad as anyone could see, and enough to affect the most insensible, to see the dead men brought out one liy one from the mine and placed oa stretchers which had been hurriedly kuoclco 1 together, covered with sacks, and then put on the railway, by which they were conveyed to the Bridge Hotel. In tho commercial room and parlor of that house, while I write at nine o'clock, thirty-one men who were in their strength this morning are now stiff in death. Of this number hardly one has the ghastly appearance we usually associate with death. The two young fellows who had the horse 3 were b it« tered about the head, having been blown some distance. the rest, with the brown dust still on their faces and clothes, were as calm as if they lay in sleep." But turning f >-om the dead, let us look to the living. JSympathy is doubtless the predominant feeling. In thousands of homes we are assured our fellow-colonists have sorrowed with those who mourn for their dead fathers, husbands, and brothers. But something more than sympathy is called for. About one hundred children are left fatherless, and over twenty wivos are deprived of their breadwinnors. Therefore help is wanted. Sympathy aloiio'will neither clothe, nor feed, nor house the fatherless and the widow. It i 3 certain that subscription lists will be opened in all parts of the Colony on behalf of the sufferers, and as in the past, so in this case, we ar3 confident the settlers of Macawatu will liberally subscribe. The simple facts are eloquent pleaders on behalf of tho sufferers.