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Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 October 1908, Page 9

Writing of Bio do Janeiro,. Mr. A. A". Huggins, builder, of Pctonc',l who recently visited the Mother Country, makes some interesting observations. After 'describing the city and a proposal which is afoot to rebuild a great"part of it, he continues as follows:— "We remembered the cry of high rents in Wellington, and curiosity compelled us to make inquiries here, with the object of comparing both places. Wo found three-roomed cottages-with-stone floors and no conveniences 2osV per week. The strange' thing is that wages are by no means high. Bricklayers, carpenters, masons,- and plasterers get seven to eight millrays per day, equal to about Bs. 9d. and 10s. per day in opr. money. Labour- , ers, os. to 6s. per day. When wo reckon the .cost of living, which is also hi?h, we marvel how the workmen can live there. The cost of rebuilding will not be as heavy as in Wellington, .becausp all the old buildings are of brick and are to bo used again. The new buildings will be three or four floors higher, thus saying some of the ground lost in street widening. I am informed that the reinforced concrete for buildings is a failuro, as the .rods buckle and break the walls in a heavy shako, and they cannot bo repaired 'like brick or stone. Steel frame-work is being tried successfully. There are many magnificent churches; occasionally one is'in tho way of tho street improving scheme, and down it comes. We were unable to ascertain how compensation is arranged, but it cannot bo on tho New Zealand system, or it would cost about 50 millions, instead of the 5 millions borrowed for the purpsoe. On the whole, it seems that in five years time Itio will be one of; the most beautiful places on earth, but for the present wo cannot help but sigh for our green and beautiful little country, and long to return to the Land of the Moa. ! ; The chivalry which depends on circumstances'is not' worth having,—"Gentlewoman. -