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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 185, 21 August 1888, Page 3

Two terribly destructive fires have recently occurred in Sweden, in each case the destruction of a town being involved. The Melbourne Consul for Sweden and Norway says:—“ Sunds vail and Umea are two seaports situated at the Gulf of Bothnia, in one of the poorest parts of Sweden. Their inhabitants are principally engaged in sawmilling and timber export trade, but partly in rearing cattle ; the hard climate and the poor soil prevents rural occupations on a scale sufficient for supply of the necessities of life. They are a very hardy and hard-working race, but poor, being dependent on a short summer for their work and earnings, When winter, which lasts over six months, sets in, manual operations are perforce suspended. The country seems one vast howling wilderness, clad in snow and Ice, and the laborer is glad to keep within doors, and support life and warmth as best he may. Work at the best of times is scarce, and wages a mere pittance, such as an Australian workman would look upon with scorn, so that it will be readily understood that the savings of the poor sufferers are utterly inadequate to enable them to subsist for any lengthened period without external aid. The last winter, although more severe than usual, had come to an end, and the hardy toilers had again renewed their summer labor gladdened by the freshness of spring, when suddenly, without warning, all their hopes were dashed to the ground, and thousands of men and women and little children were left homeless and penniless, with hunger and misery staring them in the face.” An appeal is being made to the Australian public on behalf of the sufferers. It is stated there are 4000 shoemakers in Dunedin out of employment. We do not believe it.