The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 107, 13 May 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1870.

"We are constantly observing instances of neglect in making provision against sudden death, and its painful consequences to surviving relatives. A man is in receipt of fair remuneration for his labour; keeps his family in comparative comfort ; lays past nothing for adversity; lives in fact from hand to mouth ; while a moment's thought would tell him that if death came, the hand that wins bread would be paralysed; those dear to him as his own soul would not only have to endure the agony of bereavement, but have immediately to face glim want, or be dependant on the charities of friends. Case after case of the kind passes before our eyes in melancholy review, >f yet the living lay it not to heart." It is not heartlessness, for we can see it in those who have loved wives and children fondly; it is simple thoughtlessness ..or procrastination ; and when such' a case arrises, it is right to urge tiie claim on every one similarly circumstanced to avail himself of the simple and effective provision supplied in our scheme ot'Goverunieut Life Assurance. We are led to this by observing a subscription list going round the City for the wife and

children of the late Charles Purday. It is a case that appeals strongly to the feelings ; the wife is in a delicate state of health, giving indications of approaching total paralysis ; apparently she will never be able to earn anything for a living, and she and her little children are in actual want. Her husband was an old resident, respectable and respected, and a general favorite with all that knew him ; and we feel confident that the feelings towards the husband and father will be shown in kindly form to the bereaved widow and orphans. But is there any one in the City of Auckland that could calmly contemplate such a position as possible for his own wife and little ones. The circumstances of a moment may turn any bread-winnner in Auckland into lifeless clay. An accident wholly beyond control, an organic disease deep seated and working in secret, may bring life to a sudden close ; not this alone, but a simple cold, or the mildest of disorders may so affect the system as to prevent a man from ever effecting an insurance on his life. In such circumstances, can any man with family dependant on him calmly contemplate the possibilities of his position and enquire to what straits will liis wife be reduced ; to what calling will she turn to get bread for herself and her children ? In their poverty and consequent neglect, pinching poverty on one hand, temptation on the other, his boys, what may they become ? city jarabs ? His girls—what ? Can any man in the receipt of moans .of support, sleep with such thoughts weighing on his mind, when it is known that without any trouble, and at the expenditure of a few shillings he can lift off his burthen of care. In the case of the deceased before alluded to, at his age, for the sum of thirteen shillings and a penny paid quarterly, or at the rate of one shilling per week, he could have effected an insurance on his life by simply visiting our Post-Office, from which his widow would now receive one hundred pounds to keep the wolf from the door.

These cases are frequently recurring ; others read of them, acknowlege that they could spare a shilling in the week, that they will do so, that they are determined to insure their lives; a little "telay occurs, the feeling fades from the mind, death comes, and another case ia added to the melancholy tale of procrastination and consequent misery. "We desire in the strongest terms, to urge on every man with a wife and children dependent on his daily effort, to seriously consider the claims of life assurance ; to examine the simplicity of the operation of the Government scheme; to note the small sacrifice of a few shillings, compared with the immediate and lasting boon ; and, by that love for " wife and bairns" which impels him to daily duty, we would plead with him to delay not a day in lifting them out of the reach of penury and suffering at his death.