HELPING VICTIMS’ DEPENDENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2451, 8 July 1922, Page 3

HELPING VICTIMS’ DEPENDENTS.

It has already been suggested to the /Premier that the dependents of the victims of the disaster at Mangahao should receive some special form of benefit, and on Friday My E. Newman asked if the surplus of the Kaitangata fund, which was collected for a somewhat similar purpose, and which he understood was a considerable sum, could be diverted for this purpose. Mr Massey replied that he would be glad to make inquiries into the suggestion. Subsequently Mr Malcolm, member for the district where the fund mentioned- was raised, put a question on the order paper requesting that nothing of the nature, suggested should be done without the consent of the contributors.

FUNERAL OF VICTIMS. Christchurch, Last Night. . The funeral of three Christchurch „ men who perished in the Mangahao disaster, Frederick fames' Birss, ■- . William Charles Birss, and Phillip Graham, was held to-day. .There was a large gathering of friends'ymd workers from Mangahao and Ar- . thur’s Pass. Rev. N., L. D. Web-, ster, at the grave of Mr Birss, senior, and his son, said they had lost > tli'eir lives in going to the rescue of comrades in danger. It was part of the sacrifice for the good of mankind that had to be made. Rev. W. P. Hughes, at the grave of Mr Graham, said that industry would claim its toll of victims and in his opinion those who went forth on difficult qnd dangerous enterprises were every bit as- brave as those who went to war. A strong denial of the statement that the late Mr Maxwell had been warned not to enter the tunnel was made by some of the, men who attended the funeral of the victims.

The funeral of the late Mr A. E. Maxwell, another of the victims of the Mangahao .tragedy, took place at Wanganui on Thursday. Among the many boral tributes which were placed on the grave were beautiful wreaths from the Public Works Department, Shannon, the Duries Hill Ratepayers’ and Electors’ Associa- ' tion, the Wanganui Technical Colz' lege, the Ladies’ Guild of St. Barnabas, and the committee, teachers, and children of the Durie Hill School respectively, while a. handsome artificial wreath was sent by the de- \ \ ceased gentleman’s Mangahao comrades. - Op Wednesday afternoon the remains of'Bernard Butler were laid to rest in the Shannon Cemetery, the gathering being the. largest ever witnessed in the town. ■The service was begun in the . Catholic Chureh and concluded at the graveside. The sight indeed was a sad one. The young man was known and respected by all in the town, and many who were at the graveside had seen him grow from infancy to manhood, and while it is hard to part, with those we love even when they have reached the allotted span, the blow falls heaviest when tlie young and { vigorous are suddenly taken in health and strength, and cross the Great Divide. Few eyes were dry at the graveside, and sympathy for - this young man’s parents and sisters is universal.