CORRESPONDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 191, 15 August 1888, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

The daily demands upon our space by Parliamentary news, local reports and foreign news, have caused alarge amount of correspondence to accumulate. We can only give the leading points of the letters which have been awaiting insertion. B*b Land Laws.-"A Sufferer" declares that what the colony wants chiefly is a good land law. He knows one man who wanted twenty acres of land, and ho had to call time after time at the Crovvn Lands Office for three years before he could 'tret it put' up for sale, although no one wanted it but himself. He knew two others worth £40,000, who, after calling tor three months until they were disgusted, left the colony in the Doric. He says: "Why cannot it be co arranged that first come shad be first served without all these vexatious delays ?" Our correspondent has nob much faith in the village settlements, still he believes that industrious men settled on really good land are sure to do well. Settlement, he observes, is the best remedy for the rabbit-pest. . Free School of Art.—" Pupil" warmly comments on the omission of all reference at tho Aru Society's meeting to the art class conducted by Mr Watkins. Our correspondent remarks: " The teacher and pupils have no wish to work in any but an unobtrusive way, but all connected with.the school so highly appreciate the advantages afforded them by Dr. Campbell's generosioy, that they cannot tamely submit to have their benefactor and his work insulted, by being so pointedly ignored on every occasion when art is brought before the public." Ma>'ufactube ov Salt. — Mr -Edwin Harrow expresses surprise that when there is such a cry in favour of local manufactures, the land lying between the Narrow Neck at Devonport and Rangitotq Channel is not utilised for the manufacture of salt. He says he has seen enormous quantities of salt manufactured in England, up to 20 years ago, and subsequently at Mauritius and Natal, by tho evaporation of sea water. He says : "Let the Harbour Board come forward and offer to lease the land, and give leave to the lessees to make a place through Narrow Neck so as to let in the sea water from outside, undetvpropor regulation, so as to be free of sewage, and for filling the pans. And then we should see if it could not be made a great success, the more so if the clerk of the Weather could only bo bribed to give us some more of the dry,- hot summers such as we have had lately." Misbehaviour in Church. —A correspondent writes : ," I attend a certain Anglican church in the suburbs of Auckland, and would like to draw attention to a habit that requires chocking. I refer to the practice of talking, grinning, etc., in church. What looks worse, or is more arnoying, than t<^' see respectable-looking women be having in so unseemly a manner? By doing so they depict vulgarity and want of reverence. The proper way would bo to openly stop such proceedings by a gentle hint from the pulpit." '

Peddling.—"X.P." writes: "I think the municipal authorities might take some steps towards protecting small shopkeepers in Auckland. We have got rent and taxes and gas bills to contend with, and yet for the paltry sum of £1 per annum any man can come before cur doors and undersell us. Small Chinese vendors also sell a single article at wholesale prices at people's doors. When the* strawberry season comes round the same thing occurs."

A Street Brawl.—t" One Who Nearly Had bhe Door Banged" complains of an unseemly street brawl in Vicboria-street on Monday night, and wonders why the police were not summoned to put an end to the objectionable language which went on in the presence of a number of children.

Insane Men in Lower Refuge.— "A Visitor," writing on this subject, considers that " as there are no conveniences for such cases in the Refuge, they ought to be sent to the Asylum at once." •

Anti- Poverty Society.—Mr W. G. Wilson, of Port Pirie, South Australia, having read in our columns an account of the proceedings of this Society, asks us "to salute the members of -the Auckland Society, and to wish them God-speed in the noble and Christian work in which they are engaged. They, have brothers and sisters in England, Ireland, Scotland, many, many in America, and nob a few in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia of this island continent. Ours is a noble cause : we are fighting by pen and speech and reason for oppressed humanityl We are battling for right versus might.''

A New System oe Government.—Mr J. Giflbrd thinks that what New Zealand wants is a radical change in the form of government. He says: "Why should not New Zealand be governed as follows:— Ono House of Representatives—members, equal number for each island—to be elected by each class over the Whole of each island, say : Merchants, three for each (or two); monetary institutions, three foiv each (or two); manufacturing interests, three for each (or twb); Wade's, three for each (or more); pastoral, two for each (or more); agricultural,, two for each (or three); mining, two for each ; labour, two for each (or more); professions, two for each -.total, 42—tho members to hold office for .five years, one to retire by ballot from each class for the first foul- yeafs, then by rotation ; the honorarium, say £200, with free passes to and frbih the House; the House to sib twice a year, for two months or 48 sitting days ; the House to appoint its own chairman. Then in all centres form honorary . Boards or Committees for each ' class' to decide what is required by each (to submit from time tb time to the House), these Boards to,have all voters registered, and take,a vote upon any subject as required."

Bootmaking.—"Heavily Handicapped" confirms the remarks of "Carlos Res," to the effect that in one or two instances the agreement between the boot manufacturers and men is flagrantly infringed. "Is it any wonder, then," he continues, "that other manufacturers are growing, restive, seeing the great disadvantage, they are; placed at? I would like to ask who is to blame for this state of affairs? Is it the employers, or is it the rrten themselves for' allowing it, which I am very much inclined to believe ? If it is their fault, then 1 say with all my heart serve'them right." The Depression.—J. V. is of opinion that tho Government should issue half-a-million of paper money every year to'bei used in carrying railways to a paying point and settling people on the land. He believes there'is-a market for 20,000 barrels of apples per year in London. The Baldwin, red apple, Newcown pippin, green, and russet, are favourite sorts. Messrs Keeling and Hunt, of London,.are, he states, good people to consign to. •- Writing on the Wall. — " Colonist' writes ;■':, " The following extract from Zola' 3 'Rush for the Spoil' seems 'to fit the colony's "case:—'Although a tyrant, Napoleon 111, was a demagogue at heart, when he came Into bfflc6 Paris was starving. To go, em, he saw that he would have to feed the people, and to do this the ingenious plan of oreaiing an immense debt, living upon it, ■ and giving, the city fts 1 seouriijy, adopted, He appeased liia

enemies by calling hew harness to the hM he unchained ttfid he gave thepi unlimited fcieansef gratifying theft appetites; •. * •. Sab what is trvle lot individuals Id trlie fei' nations., Sedan was the suicide of the jtfwrtitutedeifey-. s"' A Warning so Contractors.-^,Gav> dez" writes! "A monument of folly, may be Been in . Wakehelcissfcf set,. oh .the loft side going .up ■*- a build^ Ing oommenced by a Friendly Society s lodge. Tho sapient members of eatd lodge determined to build ft hall. Now, their funds were nil, thou; only asset being a small piece of ground in Watte-field-street, over whioh a moneta/y institution in Queen-street held a mortgage of £600. They had plans drawn, and accepted a tender price (£1,700). The contractor was told to lose no time, and he joyfully went to work, fulfilling his part of the contract well, till the time came round for a progress payment or draw. , The architect gave the necessary document, but he (the contractor) was put off by somd trumped-up excuse, such as 'If we draw the money now we will lose three or six months' interest,' 'You go on — the money is all right,' 'Do you think we would go in to build a hall without the necessary funds !' So he went on working till he was out of pocket somo seven or eight hundred pounds, when he was told that they had no money to pay him, and were unable to raise any. The job _of course, was stopped, and after waiting many weary months and getting no satisfaction, he sued in the Supreme Court, the verdict being that the members of the Lotl ge as suoh were not liable. Is o vv, sir, it will be seen from above that such is the condition of the law that a hard-working, honest tradesman can be ruined with impunity, so that the community ought to take warning. ' Friendly Societies are, no doubt very well in their way, but worked on the above principles they are a curse to all who join them. To those who mean to make provision fof a rainy day, I would recommend the Government Life Assurance or other Life Assurance societies doing business hero, as I am told, and believe, that the socalled friendly societies are mostly worked by cliques."