Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 2, 27 October 1887, Page 4

THE BOLLI DISASTER. AN URGENT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF 50 WIDOWS AMD 150 ORPHANS. AS P. disaster that took place at tlio Ri’llj Colliery on the 23rd March last the moit appalling that has ever happened in Australia, it is t» be loped that a calamity so unparalleled in onr colonial history, although occurring in New South Wales, wil cll forth a NATIONAL response «f pra sympathy for ill® widow* and orpb» deprived o£ their breadwinners by that terrible circumstance. Of upwards of eighty men a.rd youths in the mine when the fearful explosion took place, not one was left to tell the awful tale of their terrible death. Host of the ill-fated men were married, and, therefore, leave sorrowing widows and many helpless children—numbering together about two hundred. And, painfully sad as it is to relate, that large total will be increased within the next few month* by about thirty orphans yet UNBORN. Regarding the etraitened, as well as sad, circumstances in which those widows and orphans are pi aged, it need only be mentioned that at the time of the disaster work had bceti resumed at the colliery only a few weeks after a six months’ strike, by which the miners lost all and gained nothing. And MARRIED men only, having been re-empioyed after the strike, causes the number of widows and orphans to he greater in proportioir to the lost than under ordinary circumstances would b® the case. In fact, the victims of the disanter were cut off under peculiarly distressing circumstances as well an in a terrible manner, ail being men either whose means had become exhausted during the strike ®r whose want of means and inability te obtain any other employment caused them to go to work in tin. colliery. 'llies® Bad facts tell their own pitiful tale concerning the position of the widows end orphan*, who as a body, it is pleasing hero to state, are most respectable. Altogether, considering the melancholy cause lor the Bulli Kbliet Fvs*l> aiovenient, and the large number of widows and orphans overtaken by such desolating •uin, the crushing effects of their position must he bitterly lelt by them for many long years, unless assistance of a most generous character bo extended to them. It is fervently to be hoped, therefore, that united and individual action for the raising of the sai.l fund to a total amount somewhat equal to the magnitude of the requirements of the occasion will be taken moet heartily and effectively all over lb® Australian colonies. In considering the sad position of th*ee fifty widows, let it he born® in mind that the earning® of their FIFTY DEAD HUSBANDS, at »hj« low average of £2 per week, would amount to a total of £6200 a year, £15,000 for three years, £26,000 for liv. years, or £52,000 for ten years. Ail these earnings have been lost to them in * moment, and now they an 1 their 160 orphan children are dependent upon the public lor suppoit. Think of this sad fact, ye more fortunately situated men and women *ll over lho Austral!mi colonies, and of your kind sympathy and benevolence leant « liberal helping hand to these your bereaved and distressed fallow creatures. You cannot dry their tears, or restore to them their lost ones, but, by contributing toward the Belief Fund, you will be acting as husbands to ihe widows and lathers to tire fatherless by providing means of living for them. The need is great, but if all in these colonies, who nave

Hearts to fed fur others woes, give toward the Fund according to their menus, tho wauls of those in such need will bo supplied to a very considerable •extent. And whatever gums may be contributed toward t lie Belief Fund should be forwarded with the least possible delay, as although the widows and orphans will be dependent upon the public for years to come, subscriptions in aid of their wants will be certain to cease after a comparatively biief period from tho present. Il cannot be, however, that this APPEAL shall have been made in vain, or that it will bo inadequately responded to, urged, us it is, on tho broad ground of our common humanity by so many widowed women and orphaned childien, for whom their dead husbands and fathers now plead, as it were, with tiie “ eloquence of the grave.” The Committee of which the gentlemen whoso names arc hereto attached are Treasurers was formed at Woolongony (the chief town of the district itt which tho disaster otcuned) immediately after the terrible event. Pore- ns not subscribing toward this urgently required Fund through any local committee in their own localities, or in any other way morn desirable to them selves, can do so by addressing thair kind contributions eitdo* to me Central Committee in Sydney, the Branch Committee at Bulli (eight miles from Woolongong), or to W. J. POULTER. Mayor of Wollongong, A, A, TUBNEB, Police Magistrate, Joint Treasurers, Woolougong Branch Bulli Relief Fund. Town Hall, Woolongong, N.S.W., April Gib, 1887. C-ttARLES POTTS, ; Caupbntkk, Joiner, & Builder. BEGS to thank the inhabitants of Pate* and surrounding districts j for their j ast support, and wnile soliciting a continnancf for the future, assures all who may favour him with orders that the attention wid be prompt, his workmanship good, and his chatgcs to meet the times, strictly moderate. Jobbing work, town or country. Address : Cambridge street. NOTICE. iif US JACOMB desires to notify to ]|J[ her many friends that she has opened business in her promises, EG MONT - STREET, with a large, and wid selected stock of Lirras’ and Childrens 7 Linen Drapery, Fancy Goods, Etc., Etc. Of,which she invites inspection. Mr-dame \WE"d's cut out patterns I mem'•>! oh application. Needlework done on the premises on the shortest notice. MRS. JACOMB Egmoal-street, N arly Opposite the Com t-hcoM.