Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 24 November 1887, Page 4

THE BULL! DISASTER. AN HUGH NT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF 50 WIDOWS ANDJ 50 ORPHANS, A Re disaster tiiat took place at the Ri’lH Colliery on the 28rd March : last <*m the most appalling that has ever : hapopned in Australia, it is to be toped that a calamity so unparalleled in our colonial history, although occurring in New South Wales, wil cll forth a NATIONAL RESPONSE of pra sympathy for the widows and orpha deprived of their breadwinners by that terrible circumstance. Of upwards of eighty men and youths in the mine when the fearful explosion look place, not one was left to tell the awful rale 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 th.e next few months by about thirty orphans vet UNBORN. Regarding the straitened, as well as sad, circumstances in which these widows and orphans are placed, it need only be mentioned that at the time of the disaster work had been resumed at the colliery juiy a lew weeks after a six months’ titnkr, by which the miners lost all and gained nothing. And MARRIED men only, iiav.ng been re-emp.oyed after the strike, j causes the number of widows and orphans | lu be greater in proportion to the lost than under ordinary circumstances would be the case. In fact, the victims of tbs disaster were | cut off under peculiarly distressing circumstances as well as in a terrible manner, all being men cither whose means had become exhausted during the strike or whose want of means and inability to obtain any other employment caused them to go to woik in the colliery. These sad fuels tell their own pitiful tale concerning ihe position of the widows and orphans, who as a body, it is pleasing hero to state, are MOST RESPECTABLE. Altogether, considering the melancholy cause lor the BULLI BELIEF FUND movement, and the large number of widows and orpiians overtaken by such desolating ruin, llie crushing eHfecis of their position must be bitterly felt by them for many long years, unless assistance of a most generous character be extended to them. It is fervently to be hoped, therefore, that united and individual action for the raising of the sain fund to a total amount somewhat equal to the magnitude of the ’requirements of the occasion will be taken moei heartily and effectively all over the Australian colonies. In considering the sad position of these FIFTY widows, let it be borne in mind tbut the earnings of their fifty dead husbands, at the low average of £2 per week, vvoulu amount to a total or £5200 u year, £15,000 for three years, £26,000 for five years, or £62,000 for leu years. All these earnings have been lost to them a moment, and now they and their 160 orphan children are dependent upon the public for support. Think of ibis sad fact, yo more fortunately situated men and women ail over the Australian colonies, and of your kind sympathy and benevolence lend a liberal helping hand to these your bereavec and distressed fallow creatures. Yon 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 ilia fatherless by providing means of Jiving for them. The need is grear. but if all in these colonies, who 1 auvo

Hearts to feel for others woes, give toward the Fund according to their menus, the wauls of those iu such need will be supplied to a very considerate *;xient. And whatever sums may be contributed toward the Relief Fund should be forwarded with the least possible delay, as although the widows aud orphans will be dependent upon the public fur years to come, subscriptions in aid of their wauls will be certain to cease after a comparatively brief period from tho present. It cannot be, however, that this APPEAL shall have been made iu vain, or that it will bo inadequately responded to, urged, us it is, on tho broad ground of uur common humanity by so many widowed women ami orphaned childten, lor whom their DEAD husbands and fathers now plead, as it were, with the “ eloquence of the grave.” Tho Committee of which the gentlemen wimte names are hereto attached are IreaMirers was formed at VVoolongon,; (_the chief town ot the district iu which the disaster occurred) immediately uftei the terrible event. Port' ns not subscribing toward this urgently required Fund through any local commit tee in their own localities, or in any other way more desirable to them selves, can do so by addressing their kind contributions euue* to tue Central Committee in Sydney, the Branch Committee at JBulli (eight miles from Wooiongong), or to W. J. POULTER, Mayor of Wollongong, A, A, TURN Fit, Police Magistrate, Joint Treasurers, Wooiongong Branch Bulli Ilolief Fund. Town Hall, Wooiongong, N.S.W., April 6th, 1867,

CHARLES POTTS, Carpenter, Joiner, & Builder. BEOS to thank the inhabitants of Patou and surrounding districts tor their {asl support, tmd while 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 chaiges to meet the times, strictly moderate. Jobbing work, town or country. Address : Cambridge street. R. WILLIS, EG MONT FRUIT MART AND OYSTER SALOON. In addition to the Fish and (Oyster Business he still has Shooting Gallery and French Aunt Sally always open for the instruction and amusement of his I'atea Friends, inspection of which he cordiu'Jy invies. Note the address : RICHARD WILLIS, Egnicmt Sc cel (Opposite the Phar m-.cj. CjOPIES of the Palea County Press / can be obtained at J. O’Brien’s or Mrs Kenwwtby’e.