Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 6, 10 November 1887, Page 4

THE BULLI DISASTEB. AS URGEST APPEAL ON BEHALF OF 50 WIDOWS AHDJSO ORPHANS. fa So disaster that took place at the Bi'iH Colliery on the 23rd March last Q « the most appalling that has ever happened in Australia, it is to be I oped that a calamity so unparalleled in our ciiinstance. Of upwards of EIGHTY men a..d youths in the mine when the fearful explosion took place, not one was left to tell tlio awful tale of their terrible death. Host of the ill-fated men were married, ana, therefore, leave sorrowing widows and many helpless children—numbering together ’ about TWO HUE deed. And, paintuily sad as it is to relate, that large total will be increased within the next few months by about thirty outiians yet UNBORN. Begarcling the straitened, ns well as sad, circumstances in winch these widows and orphans are placed, it need only be mentioned that at the time of the disaster work hud been resumed at the colliery only a lew weeks after a six months* strike, by which the miners lost all and gained nothing. And married men only, having been re-employed after the strike, causes thenuinbci of widows and orphans to be greater in proportion to the lost than under ordinary circumstances would be the case. In fact, tiro victims of the disaster were cut off under peculiarly distressing circumstances as well as in a terrible manner, all being men either whoso means hud become exhausted during the strike or whoso want of means and inability to obtain ant* other employment caused them to go to work m the colliery. Ihese sad facts tell their own pitiful tale concerning the position of the widows and orphans, who as a body, it is pleasing hero to state, are most uestectable. Altogether, considering the melancholy cause lor the BULL! BELIEF Fund movement, and the large number of widows and orphans overtaken by such desolating ruin, the crushing effects of their position must be bitterly felt by them for many long years, unless assistance of a most generous character bo extended to them. It is fervently to be honed, therefore, that united and individual adieu for the raising of the said fund to a total amount somewhat equal to the inaf-rmurie o£ the requirements of the occasion will be taken meet heartily and effectively all over the Australian colonies.

In considering the sad position of these FIFTY WIDOWS, let it be borne in mind that the earnings of their fifty dfad husbands, at the low average of £2 per week, would amount to a total of £5200 a year, £ 15,600 for three years, £20,000 for live years, or £52,000 for ten years. All these earnings have been lost to them in a moment, and now they and their 150 j onriiAN CHiLDuKN are dependent upon the public for support, . Think of this sad fact, yo more fortunately situated men and women all over the Australian colonies, and of your j kind sympathy and benevolence lend a liberal helping hand to these your bereaved and distressed fellow 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 the widows and fathers to the fatherless by providing means of Jiving fur them. The need is great', but if all in these colonies, who nave Hearts to feel for ethers woes, give toward the Fund according to their means, the wants of those in such need will be supplied to a very considerable extent. And whatever .sums may be toward the belief Fund should be forwaided with the least possible delay, us although the widows and orphans will be dependent upon the public for years to come, subscriptions in aid of their wants will bo certain to cease after a comparatively brief period from the present. it cannot be, however, that this APPEAL shall have been made in vain, or that it will bo inadequately responded to, urged, 1 as it is, on the broad ground of our common humanity' by' so many' widowed women and orphaned children, for whom their DEAD husbands and fathers now plead, as it were, with the “eloquence of the grave.’'’ Tiro Committee of which the gentlemen whose names are hereto attached are Treasurers was formed at Woulungong (the chief town of the district in which the disaster occurred) immediately after the terrible event. Purs- ns not subscribing toward this urgently required Fund through any local committee in their own localities, or in any other way more desirable to them selves, can do so by addiessing their kind contributions time* to me Central Committee in Sydney, the branch Committee at Buili (eight miles from Woolongong), or to

W. J. POULTEIi, Mayor of Wollongong, A, A, TURK Bit, Police Magistrate, JOINT TREASURERS, Woolongong Branch Bulli Relief Fund. Town Hall, Woolongong, N.JS.W., April lit I), iy<s7. CHABLES POTTS, Carpenter, Joiner, & Builder, '[TEGS to thank the inhabitants of Pa tea and surrounding districts lor their past support, and wnile soliciting a continuance for the future, assures all who may favour him with orders that the attention will be prompt, his workmanship good, and his chaigcs to meet the rimes, strictly moderate. Jobbing work, town or country. Address: Cambridge street. .NOTICE. n rICS JACOMB desires to notify to pjj_ her many friends that s-.o has opened business in her premises, EGMUNT- STREET, with a largo, and wd ! selected slock of Li.'A'Es’ AND CmuiiAA's’ Lixh:i I>uapeuv, Fanoy Good-, Etc., Etc. Of wide!; s e invites inspection. Madame W A .G cut out patterns pi■ ■ 1 <>u application. I\ eeuiewoi k dom; on the premises vii liie ciiurtesl no*ice, zim. jaco-jb Egmout-street, Keaßy Opposite the Court-house,