The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 26 February 1879, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1879.

Unfortttnatelt there is nothing resulting from the labors of man, be it erer so great or grand, without its attendant drawback, and tins is most painfully evident even m the matter of civilisation. As the resources of the Colony become developed, as manufactures spring up, and industries become more 'assimilated to those of the Mother Country, while they provide food and labor for the masses, and wealth to tho revenue, they are by no means 'free from the evils and calamities which are' incidental to them and follow m their train elsewhere.' Fortunately, so far, while we have had the benefits of the bright side of the picture, we have been graciously spared the sad experience of its reverse.; but a terrible lesson has now been taught us by the calamity- which- has befallen the little township of Kaitangata, carrying death and desolation, sorrow and suffering to hearths.' By that fellfmisfortune fully a score of bread-winners have been suddenly snatched from their families, widows left helpless with fatherless charges, and fully one hundred orphans- thrown upon the cold charity of the community. Happily such terrible disasters have hitherto been unknown m our midst, and it is therefore somewhat difficult for us to realise that such a frightful calamity has happened amongst us. Unfortunately, however, it is too true, and no one can read the melancholy details without feeling their very souls harrowed at the agony, of the living and the fate of the dead. Whole families almost swept out of existence ; strong men m all the vigor of manly strength hurried into eternity without, a moment's warning ; fathers of' families who had left herae 'but a few hours; before m the -flash of health and happiness,' with perhaps the " God "bless you," dr the infantile kiss scarce dry upon their lips, next to be seen cold," and start, and stiff. Young men and boys who had entered the pit m all the buoyancy of youth, little dreaming that ere the hour of noon they would be. "buried m their living grave, The young and the oldj the father and son, married and single, all gone; and m their stead mourning and desolation. Well can we understand - the poor bereaved ones refusing to return to the*shelter of homes which are fraught with reminiscences of : the terrible desolation which has fallen upon j them j every article of furniture bringing up the memory of those whose hearts will beat no" more. But oh, who can picture the heart-rending gcene as those thirty-two bodies are ranged side by side m tho cold rigidity of death, while the wife, the mother, or the daughter with stricken hear,t gazes upon all that Js l.eft,.of^tjvpse so full of life, of love? and of hope* so short a while before. 1 To the eternal honor. of tho Colonies be it told that the wail of suffering •has ■ never ; been heard m ;vain, and nomatter whether the cry for help comes from Moslem or Muscovite, Prussian or Persian, it has ever found a ready response. This . is .the first time that a call for help has arisen m oursmidst, and, we feel assured it will.be noblyv.re-. Bpbnded to, but can any public -effort fill the great void' which has been thus, created^ 'Tiis .true food may be.pro-r for the orphan,.and assistance for Tthelwitidw, but what eanj compensate for the v absence of those who formed sp r promi nenjb. a picture'in/the social group. •It-issadwhen-death visits us through sickness, and takes from us a member -of-the family circle; but m disasters guoh as that now felt, he, swoops down -without i'monient's warning, and bears away 'the bread-winner, of the family, it is' very much to be feared that tfie. immunity which, we have hitherto ex- f 'perienced from accidents had made •those m chargtTcareless of the ordinary Erecaution ; and if so, a terrible penalty as been paid for their foolhardiness. 'Until the inquest has been held* and the' reliable facts of the case brought put m Evidence, it would be premature" to*a|fcach blame/ definitely to anyone, although, as will* bo seen, from t£e.re.-' port some culpability seems to be attached to the foreman, Mr. I Be aedsjipttE, Who although warned that several slight explosions had taken place during the night, and that the j gas had been increasing m the tnine, considered that iti was in' perfectly good working order. If lie be blamable, his family has suffered for his error m judgment, no less than five' bread-winners of the name of BEAUMMQEa^eing amongst the* victims.' "Several of the Unfortunate men hadorilyliiTived m theWelliiigtbn the day previously., and had 'gone -to work m the. mine, for- the first time on . tho r f atial morning:; .whU,e (an instance is recounted ofj a man n araed-Htrjry e a; wJi q j?houldlhaye',.b^ having overslept h|nsself, -did, not reach.- the mine until a few minutes after the catastrophe. At present the cause of 7 the explosion is enveloped m mystery; but it is surmised that the manager, Mr. Hodge, was making an> inspection m the highest : pkrfc^of the minfe and that he incautiously exposed his :ligbfe This^ supposition is the more tenable, inasmuch as up to the departure of th« latest! telegram on Frwaiy, although thirty-one bodies vhj^b^en., recovered, his wa;s not aj^ongsj them. i3rnimgh.t jj^a^^en £xpected, the volunteers to •enter the mine^jrere not only numerous, bat eaph-oj»e'yied>.with the other m tjjfir',, efforts to render assistance,. and: that, failing to recover the.bodies. many of the rescuers were brought up to the top suffering from foul; air and exhaustion m * semi-delirious state. The deeds of heroism, self-sacrifice, and devotion which- -have been (exhibited b/ the feliowL-warker? of the unfortunate victims, is the one bright ray which has: shone through the dark cloud which Laß overspread the community.