THE HUNTLY DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2262, 23 September 1914, Page 8

THE HUNTLY DISASTER

■ o APPEAL FOR THE DESTITUTE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. The Mayor of Wellington has receive* a circular signed by Mr. J. P. Bailey chairman of tlie Huntly Town Board and Sir. V. Harris, secretary of tin Huntly Mine Disaster 1-ielief i'uml, aj> pealing for assistance- for the relative* of the victims of the Huntly coal mini disaster. The text of the circular is ai follows:— "On Saturday, September 12, a mosi shocking catastrophe overtook the work ere in Haiti's ilino, Huntly, by whicl forty-tlirco men lost, their lives, nnc several were more or less badly injured The accident has been fully reportec in the- newspapers, but it will not bi amiss to give, in a condensed form some of the more distressing features Shocking as was the calamity in itself in its consequences to the men wh< were killed and injured, there is per laps yet another more serious aspeci of the case in. its consequences to tnosi who are- left behind, and who depondec for support on those- that have los' their lives. It is impossible- at thii stage to make up a correct list of al tho dependents, and the list given be low is necessarily incomplete, but i , will, serve to give to the people undeo whose notice this appeal comes somt idea of the appalling distress which ha: beea occasioned by this terrible acci dent. We would draw'attention, to th< fact that, in at least two cases, fami lies which were motherless before an now both fatherless and motherless: ii the one case thero being seven chilorei (the youngest a baby), and in tiro otlie; case- four children (the youngest a baby). In several other cases then are large families of young children iii two rases there being at least sevei children under fourteen years of ago Also there aie cases of widows who an left with children, none of which wen born in the Dominion, and'the widows pension cannot therefore be claimed-. Ii one case, a, father and son have lostheir lives, and auother eon is soverel; injured. The above wiil suffice to shov in some degree- the acute distres: which is in our midst, and we confident ly appeal to the people of the Doiuiniov to' show their practical sympathy foi tho bereaved ones by subscribing sucl a 6um as will, in the hands of capabli administrators, be sufficient to • kcei them from want until better times shal conie to them. We would ask you t< bring this matter as much under no tico as possible, , and to take such step , , as you deem lit to raise subscriptions When raised the amount should b< sent to the secretary." Tho list appended is as follows:—W Patterson leaves seven motherless child ron,- J. C. Skellorn leaves four mother loss children ; John Whorsky leaves ; widow, six children, and one expected W. Hinchco leavos a widow and_ tw< children, and one expected; W. Kelly A. Ituston, E. Taylor, W. Robinson, T Molesworth, S. Jackson, W. Gowans W. Brocklebank, and J. Holden eacl leaves a widow and one child undei fourteen years; D. Paterson leaves •■ widow and five children under fourtcey years: J. Steele leaves a widow am iivo children under 14 years; H. Peck ham leaves'a widow and seven childrei under■fomteen years; F. S. B. Hoppei leaves a widow and two children undei fourteen years; W. Dixon . leaves ; widow and two children under fourtee) year's (in Australia): W. Roper leave! a widow and three children under fourteen years (in England); W. Blenkinsopp leaves a widow and four childrei under fourteen years; W. Burton leave: a widow and two children under four teen years: C. Maloney leaves a widov but no children; H. Ransome leaves s widow and one grown-up daughter; J .W. Jones leavos a widow, but n< children; J.., Greener leaves a widow and grown-up' family; W. Smith leave: a-widow and grown-up family;. Jame; Darby leaves a widow and growiwij family; D. Lyons wa& a widower, anc loaves a grown-iip family. Of the abort there are at, least four widows witl: young families who are not eligible foi tho widows' pension, and there art three widows without children and three widow's with grown-up families who an not eligible.!. : MAYOR'S RELIEF FUND. The following donations to the Major's Relief' Fund have been received:— , . s £ s. d, Amount 'previously acknowledged 7 7 C Wright and Carman 5 0 C Gray Haesell 2 2 C William Ferguson 10 0 C J. R. M'Kcnzie (Dunodm)... 5 6 C Mrs. Eichclbaum 5 0 C John Picot :■ 1■ 1 C Mre.'H. A. M'Gregor 0 10 C : ' £36 5 C TRADES HALL FUND. Tlie Huntly Disaster Relief Fund joint secretaries (Messrs. L. M. A. Rearden and J. Read) acknowledge receipt of the following amounts:— £ s. d. Members of Parliament (per Mr. J. It. Robertson, M.P.) 25 0; C Waterside Workers' Union 10 11 C Tramways' Union 6 0 C Crew of the Hinemoa 3 2 C Collected at Athletic Park (September 19) '■ 12 13 1C J. Towiisend (Blenheim) .... 22 0 C T. Riske (Cuba' Street) 59 £ Cooks'.and..Stewards' Union 3 3 C Jas. Smith and Co., Ltd. (Cuba Street) 5 5 C Employees' Jas. Smith and Co. 3 16 C C. E. Wheeler •. 010 C J. Hutchasdn :...'... 10' 0 C Carpenters' Executive Board 25 0 C Total to date '.... 132 11 1 The secretaries will be pleased to receive donations addressed to the Trades Hall or the To Aro branch of tho Bank of New Zealand. All amounts will be acknowledged immediately aiid forwarded to a responsible committee, at Huntly. which will disburse relief to urgent cases. The Karori' Borough Council las* night voted the sum of five guineas for fcho relief of sufferers by the Huntlj disaster. The council also decided to have subscription lists placed in some prominent business premises in the borough. Tho Mayor of Petono (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) has received ar. appeal for assistance for- the Huntly Distress Fund, and will bring the matter before the council at next Monday evening's meeting. £107 FROM AWAPUNI CAMP. (By. Telegraph—Special Oorreep.oudent.) Palmerston North, September 22. Tho officers and men at Awapuni cflmp have subscribed £107 to the fund organised by Chaplain Captain Bush King for the relief of tho Huntly widows and orphans. PRACTICAL SYMPATHY FROM PAIIIATUA. Pahiatua, September 22. Tlie Mayoress and other ladies aro arranging for street collections on behalf of tho Huntly Distress . Fund. The Mayor has already opened a. fund.