Page 5 Advertisements Column 2

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 280, 10 May 1862, Page 5

HARTLEY COLLIERY CATASTROPHE. (From the Home News.) Some idea of the extent of the above frightful dis aster, recorded in our last, will be gained from statistical returns that have been compiled by the parochial officers, assisted by the officers of the colliery. The following is a statement of the nearest relatives only of those whose lives have been lost in the pit : — Widows 117 Children 273 Sisters supported by brothers 27 Orphans ... ... 2 Parents supported by sons ... ... 16 Aunt supported by nephew ... ... 1 Grandmother supported by grandson ... 1 Total 437 — 407 living, and 219 dead, including those who were killed by the tailing of the cage, and yet those figures only indicate those immediately affected .by the calamity. The male population of three pit hamlets have been swept away at one fell swoop; and of all the men employed at this important colliery, which three weeks ago was in active operation, only 25 remain alive. The mournful ceremony of interring the bodies of the deceased persons was performed on Sunday, January 26. A correspondent says that the scene presented by the " pit rows " on the morning of that day will never be forgotten : — Almost every cottage contained a coffin, with the remains of a lost one, some two, one five, and one poor woman had no less than seven coffins-piled up in her cottage, containing the remains of her husband, five sons, and a boy they had brought up and educated. The meeting of friends was deeply afflicting. The houses of the bereaved looked models of cleanliness and order, the coffins containing the remains being laid upon the wellknown pitmen's four-post bedsteads, with white coverlets over them. Long strings of carts arrived at one o'clock, when the coffins were brought to the doors, previous to being lifted into the carts, and the hymn, "Oh God, our help in ages past," was sung in mournful cadence, amid the wailing of the widows and the sobs of the orphan children. The effect was almost overpowering. The larger portion of the interments took place at Earsdon Church, in a piece of ground given by the Duke of Northumberland. The other bodies were interred at Horton and Cramlington.

Mb Justice Halibtjbton on ova Relations with America. — The hon. gentleman named gave an address on this subject the other day at Isleworth. After expressing his satisfaction at our having escaped from the lately threatened contest with America— a contest in which we Bhould have been subject to so much misrepresentation of our motives and conduct as would have been heaped upon vs — he said — ' But let ub take warning by the exhibition of feeling we have witnessed on the part of the Americans, and be prepared for the day of trial, for come it most assuredly will, and at no distant period either. Our duty is plain — to give no offence, and to submit to no insult. Our for* bearance has. been misunderstood, and has invited aggression. It is desirable that there should be no mistake between us.' Advertisements have appeared, in. the Canadian newspapers calling for 100 negroes to enter the service of the. Australian Cotton Association in New South TYaies and;* Queensland. The terms are a free passage and £21 per an., with rations.