The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-29 00:00:00

THE WORKING OLk.E',ES OF GENOA.

GENOA, May 21.—Among the many hopefal signs visible in this city
replete with life and hopefulness, perhaps the most encouraging is the
upward and °award progress everywhere manifest among the work-
ing classes. I have now spent some days in visiting the associations
and schools, in alking with working men at their work, or after
working hours, and I am sure an English travellers who (not confin-
ing their visits to the British consul, banker, and clergymen) will
take the same pains, mast share my surprise at the intelligence, the
independence, the generous sentiments that prevade the whole class.
Perhsps one of the best orgasised Associations of the workins clan ses
in Genoa is that in the Strada 111.3.11elena, caled the Mutual Aid
Association. About 6,000 members are now inscrLed on the list;
these constitute the General Assembly, woieh holds weekly sittings
to deliberate on the wants of the working classes, „the condition- and
amelioration of the different trades, and the a vancement of education.
Bwides these ordinary sittings, any ten members can convoke a
special siting for any sposial oSject. Etch year the Connell, com-
posed of a Pres' lent, a Vice-president, and five Councillors, is elected
by universal suffrage, from the General Assembly, and is charg.d
with the execution of its delihsrations. Women are ado's:Ned as
members on evil terms With the men, and are eligible to fill any of
the ()faced. Members on cnter:ng pledge themselves to obey th e
rules, and to lead the life of industrious and good citizens, to abstain
from intensp.rance :and disorderly conduct; also fromgambling,
especially in the royal lottery. Tae cn,aimam contribution is one
penny per week, which sum may be double lb y the Assembly. F rom
this contribution ars exempted all volunteers who may join a war of
independence on bsha'f of any opsressed nation, also members laid
aside by illness that does not proceed from drunkenness or other
vices: These latter also receive not less than half a franc for each
day that they are dLabled from working ; and this sum may be
increased to two francs, according to the necessities of the individual
and the funds of the Association. - In case of any dangerous illness the
council appoints one or more of the members to assist by turns In the
care of the invalid. Members too o:d for labour; orphans under 14 years
of age, and widows who are themselves or whose husbands have been
members- for' not less than a year, arc also entitled to such aid as they
need and the fends allow of. The spirit of the Association may be
jadged of from the following extracts from the Regolamento •
Art. 1. This Association originated in the, want universally felt by
the working classes of intercourse among themselves and of fraternal
relations with their fellow-citizens. The solidarity and co mbannton
of the people involved in the precept " Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself " forms the fundamental principle of the association.
Art. 2. The 'special ;object of the Association is to promote the edu-
cation; the moral progress, and the material wail -being of the work-
ing classes by means of mutual aid, in order that they may contribute
efficiently towards the liberty and emancipation of their own country,
and through their own country to other nations, &c.

ANOTHER FRIGHTFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

Oa Wednesday morning a dreadful and fatal colliWy explosion
occurred at the colliery near Wigan, known as the Kirkless Hall
Colliery. The pit in which the explosion occurred is known as toe
Yard Coalpi'. The explosion occurred about eleven o'clock, at
which time the e were a k.reat many colliers at work in the pit.
One correspondent says: As far as I can ascertain, there are five
persons dead, and six more dreadfully burned." It was not sup, o,ed
that sever..d of these last could survive the injuries they had received.
ThSnames of those taken out dead, we subjoin as under :—Ralph
Whittle, aged 22; John Whittle, aged 19 ; John Shiner, aged le;
Robert Crompton, aged 22; John Banks, aged 15. Among the in-
jured are Daniel Critehley, Noel Massey, and William Cooper.
Anothz correspondent.writes on Wednesday morning, a little before
noon, a fatal explosion occurred at one of the pits of the Kirkless
Hall Coal Company, situate at Ince, near Wigan, and known by the
name of the Hind Colliery, by which five persons were killed;
one died in a short time afterwards, and thirteen are more or
less injarel. An inquest on the bodies was summoned for
Wednesday, at the Walmsley Arms Inn, Ince, and adjourned to
Monday next. From the evidence taken, so far it appears that the
work-people were engaged with naked lights, and that the ventilation
of tie mins-appeared, up to the moment of the accident, in the most
perfect state. The cause of the explosion is believed to ho a fall of
roof and sudden escape of gas in some old workings near whose those
who suffered n ere engaged. There were about 90 persons in the pit
at the time ; and all, whether dead or living, were got out in a very
short time after the explosion. Samuel Yates died when he was,
being carried home, making the sixth fatality from the accident
so far.