A DISTRESSING CASE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 251, 29 July 1872, Page 3

A DISTRESSING CASE.

It is seldom (observes the Hobart Town Mercury) that a case presenting such a sad picture of poverty and distress comes before the public as that brought under the attention of tha Executive Committee of the Benevolent Society yesterday. Mr J. F. Hull, Council clerk of Glenorchy Municipality; has late 1 , visited a famly named O’Brien, resdence in that neighbourhood, about three miles in the bush off the road, and his discretion of the position of the family when he found them is heartrending. The mother has six children, the eldest of whorao is 12 years and the youngest about 10 months. The family are in a deplorable condition. The mother and infant are in very ill helth, the latter being in a dying state from cold and starvation. The children have little or no clothing, no food nor are there any cooking-utensils of any discription in the house. The husband is of intemperate habits, and has had several good situnations, but no account of his fondness for intoxicating liquors, and other reasons, 4iis employers have refused to retain his services. He is now breaking stones for the Sorrell Causeway, some time age he deserted his wife and family, appropriating what little bedding there was, and leaving them but two or three old sacks, which is all the bedding they have. To add to the troubles of the unfortunate mother and childeen, and make their pitiable condition doubly so, the late heavy rains have filied their abode with mud nearly a foot deep. Bilton stated that the sight of the family was terrible. He had supplied them with food, and was arranging for their removal to the villiage.