WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1887.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1887, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1887.

The Industries and Manufactures Committee, which was appointed last session "to consider how manufac tuies and industries may be encoui. aged," only held four business sittings, and the report which has been issued only gives the actual evidence taken, the correspondence being reserved for consideration next session. The _witnesses examined by the Committee were all connected with the iron trade, and their testimony generally was favourable to the imposition of a twenty per cent, tariff upon steam engines, boilers, and the larger class of manufactured articles, while the small articles, such as bolts, nuts, and rivets, which are made almost entirely by machinery, should be admitted free. Mr Seager, in his evidence, said that an engine which would cost £100 if made " here, could be landed , from England at £80 : that workmen who would be paid 5s a day in England were paid 10s a day here. He stated that while sometimes he has had as many as 100 to 150 men working for him, he has not at the present time above 20.

Mr Luke, another Wellington ironfounder and ship-builder confirmed the statements with reference to the depressed condition of the engineering industry. He said: "My experience is that the trade has fallen off two-thirds within the last four years. I believe that four years ago the output of the engineering-shops alone in Wellington would amount to £70,000 per annum. From what I know, and can gather from other shops, I do not think that last year it much exceeded £20,000. Four or five years ago our average number of hands was from ninety to a hundred, but during the last six months we have had to discharge about fifty of that number. We have discharged thirty-six within the last two months. In addition to that, we are working short hours to keep the few people we have remaining employed, and to avoid their drifting away from us." In his further evidence Mr Luke stated that the cost of labour in the average run of machinery was 85 per cent., the raw material only amounting to 15 percent. This witness, as well as the preceding one, and Mr G. W. Mills, who followed him, maintained that all engineers' holts and nuts, carriage bolts and nuts should be admitted free.

All the witnesses admitted frankly that there would probably be some increase in prices if a 20 per cent, duty were imposed, but not to the full amount of the duty. Their evidence tended to show that with the present rate of wages in England and in New Zealand, it was not possible to manufacture at the same price. They thought that 20 per cent, would be a sufficient balance,, and that to go beyond it " would only encourage the building up of large monopolies." The evidence is remarkable for its moderation, and the case is fairly reasoned out. It amounts to little more than a demand that our labour shall not be placed into unrestricted competition with the labour markets of Europe, and we believe that a majority of the community would be willing to submit to some ncrease in price in. consideration of the vast gain which would accrue to all classes through the existence of a well-employed industrial population. If the Committee continue its labours in the coming Parlia ment, we have no doubt that sufficient information will be* elicited to enable the House to revise the tariff in a manner that will give substantial support, to profitable local industries without injuring industries already established or unduly taxing the people for articles which there is no chance of producing, and which are indispensable to industrial progress. The failure to carry this out with discrimination was the radical defect in the tariff brought down by the Government during the last session.

Captain Edwin reports at 1.35 p.m. •__ .-.-"Every indication of frost to-nio-hfc ' or veather will continue exceptionally cold." The market is still dull. New Zealand ~,-Bank and South British Insurance are ' panted, but transactions are very few in any . stocks* A favourable report is to hand from the Cambria, and the shares are on the rise lOlbs of specimens are reported, andfche general dirt is crushing for over an ounce to the load. Imperials are asked for about 4 g) whilst Saxons are neglected. 10 , Our attention has been drawn to the fact " that a number of our most flourishing local industries are not represented at the Industrial Exhibition, and we mention it in the hope that the omission will be remedied without delay, as ib is desirable to make ''■ the exhibition as complete as possible. The industries "conspicuous by their "absence " are oil and candle manufactures, leather boots, rope and twine, beer, and brass. . ;Mrs Violet McPhee Was to-day sentenced '& to.th ree years' penal servitude for arson in "' Victoria - street. The report of the case appears on our eighth. .The annual meeting of the shareholders ■ 'of'the Waiuku and Onehunga Steam. Navigation Company took place on Wednesday last in the Kentish Hotel, Waiuku, about ,20 persons being present. Mr J. BanBrown (managing "director) occupied the chair. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to have amounted to L 2,084 2slld, the largest items being cash in hand) November, 1885, LIOO 10s Id; passages LL'OlSlOs; freight, L 920" 12s lOd. The expenditure had amounted to L 1,984 Gs 9d, leaving a balance of L 99 10s 2d in hand. The largest items of expenditure had been wages, agencies, and labour, LI, 177 13s 6d ; -coals, stores, and water, L 404 4s 4d; auditor, rent, and interest, L 93 4s Gd ; and repaid bank, 1,1.07 12s lld. The balancesheet was adopted, and Messrs John Hood and Caleb Hosking. were re-elected directors, and Mr D. Campbell was re-elected auditor. A long discussion took place" with reference to money owing to one of the .banks by the Company. Sonic shareholders .'-'were of opinion thab the Company shpuld issue more shares ; others thought it would not answer the object in view. It was suggested that tenders bo called for the sale of the boat. The meeting was ultimately ... adjourned for a fortnight. r The Star of Auckland Lodge of American P Oddfellows have reeentlyreduced their scale of initiation fees in accordance with a.reBolution from the Grand Lodge authorising them to do so. The result lias been an increase of members, and a more prosperous condition of aftairs. The lodge meats for the election of ofiicers to-morrow evening. Mr R. S. Smythe, manager of the Royal Comic Opera Company, has, on behalf of . Messrs Williamson, Garner and Musgrove, handed over a donation of ten guineas to the Auckland Benevolent Society. There Is some excitement in Sydney consequent upon the refusal, of the Government to alter their tobacco tariff!. Already about a hundred men employed in tobacco factories have been thrown out of work, and it was intended to organise a public meeting in front of Parliament House some night v this week, in order that their case may be fully laid, before the public and the representatives of the people. Fully 600 men will be thrown out of* work for a consider-t-able period, and it is -probable that not more than one-third of their number will be .taken on again". On Monday evening last the Sir Henry Havelock Band qf Hope gave the third of their winter evening entertainmen :s in the !" schoolroom.. .Notwithstanding the downpour of rain, there was a good attendance of'taembers and friends, who spent a very enjoyable evening 1 , and went home feeling well' repaid for having " braved the ele- , men Is." -The chair was occupied by the ' vice-president, who . in a few well-chosen ! I words expressed the pleasure it gave him 4-to see such a large gathering in spite of the %. wet night. The programme comprised some iiteeii' items. Master Wood gave his tation in a very creditable manner, lady and gentlemen members of the .B. class sang a glee in a very pleasing tier.;; Miss Jane Picard- sang "My her " very nicely, and Messrs P Mowtand W. McDonald followed with an sing dialogue entitled " The" American Weller," while the Misses Taylor, as, and Robinson were all that could -sired in their rendering of " Have you lit ?"• a dialogue for three. One of the pieces of the evening was given by. Miss ide. This was followed byasong "Don't ry 'a, Man if He Drinks," which was ; iri a very pleasing manner by Mrs Col3. - Willie Clithan then gave a recita-. j and Mr Whitelaw (from the A.B-.H. m) delivered a very interesting address, lfulof humour and common sense. The i-item- was a Jubilee temperance piece, ten for the occasion by the Rev. A. J. th,, and recited by Miss E. Gillespie. Ie Wife's Mistake," a dialogue for five, well rendered by the Misses A. Arnold, Gillespie, A. Carlaw, and Messrs W. ry and Clarke. Miss Annie Carlaw ted "The Lips That Touch Liquor 11 Never Touch Mine," Miss Potter . a reading in a pleasing manner, and a c girl recited " I've Dot a Man to Sign Pedge," after which the meeting was ed with the Benediction by the Chairl. In the absence of Miss Aley (the d'of Hope pianist), Miss Potter kindly plied her place. ;, aperstohand to-day show that the ers die Auckland-owned horse St. Dnnstan l the big steeplechase at the Sydney at Club meeting. . . it a recent committee meeting of the lsonby Choral Society, it was resolved admit, orchestral members,, and an orstra" is now formed of 22 instrumen-ufts,-including Mr C. Hem us as leader, 1 most of the leading instrumentalists of cklarid. The first rehearsal of the* -iety with the orchestra was held last 'riday; in the All Saints' Schoolroom, and ladcring the weather, was very well atlded. The work for the next concert is w&'s'" Rose Maiden," which is entirely Nto Auckland. The music in this cauais of the most tuneful ahd light de-■iption.-and there is no doubt that it will come exceedingly popular. The conducf (Mr Trimnell) seems to have a knack of ( feting the attention of performers, and ot eptafyinghiniself-with them, prnnber of good dogs are now in the -•"■els. Amongst them are three fair re- ? ev era, This mornm" Garrard got into a f?%.with a little dog in Cook-street. «■ man, after consulting with his wife, could not afford to buy,a *for'his dog, ahd accordingly Garrard ftfed away with it to the kennels.. Ihe «$' however, objected, and bit Garrard s somewhat severely. He subsequently *at to a chemist's.and had the wounds prised.. It will be seen from this that even of a dog muzzier is not its seamy side. from Christchurch says :— Me balanGe-sheet of the Union InsurSCompany shows that there is an availTM_ Mnce of L16,G95. The directors proVhl dividend absorbing LIO,OOO 577. forward LG,695." 18 -ill rl)an e, the American orator now in teH *?**>■* aboufc to leave for s y dne y> bu ? Steady announced) kindly consented [<f>, 14; one more lecture which takes place (Thursday) evening at the TaberrJß St As t]ii ' s will bo the last opportunity • eminent lecturer, no doubt a lU fj: *'t 5 J W ?e a mhence w m bo present. The secJ9M W*tymo_th Church, one of thelargest rffoWm writes of the lecturer :— 110 W ab( ' sfc at, ° lls ecl by the opening senIre: W l M, nnva*,ed and unbroken until the ill iL.. iki lecture aside from the immediate t -S_S£?** of permanent value." Por- ; be found in our advertising