The Huntly Disaster.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2453, 22 September 1914, Page 2

The Huntly Disaster.

The people of New Zealand have made a ready and generous response to the call for funds in connection with the Avar. It is sincerely to be hoped that some money will now be spared -for a cause more immediate and that touches us right here at home—the needs of the families bereaved of their bread-winners by the terrible disaster at the Huntly coalmine. We referred in our news columns last week to a meeting held in Wellington under the auspices of the trades unionists of the city to organise means of raising a Huntly fund. We are now in receipt of a circular from the executive of the committee set up at that meeting. The circular informs us that it has been decided that the headquarters of the fund be in "Wellington, from which centre the National Committee will, acting upon the advice of a representative local committee in Huntly, administer assistance to all entitled to it. Already appeals have been issued to Ministers' Associations, churches, Labour organisations, racing clubs, and all other bodies that might assist in any way. The committee feels certain that, despite the heavy donations made to the patriotic fund, the people of New Zealand will liberally respond to assist the widows and orphans whose breadwinners were snatched by death under such tragic circumstances. The circular concludes expressing the hope "that your paper will give publicity to this appeal, and open a list on behalf of the above fund at your office." . W r c have therefore readily agreed to this appeal, and shall be glad to acknowledge and forward to the Wellington Committee any contributions sent to the Star office. And the Lyceum management informs us that they have decided to give the free use of the Lyceum for a sacred concert to be held in aid of the Huntly funds next Sunday night. Feilding can be sympathetic, as well as patriotic.