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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3238, 16 November 1881, Page 2

Such persistent efforts are being made, without the slightest regard to truth, honor, or fair play, to misrepresent the action tauen by Mr Ormond when Minister for Public Works in reference to the introduction of Chinese laborers, that we append the circular issued by Mr Ormond, from which so much political capital is hoped to be made by Mr Smith's supporters. The following is the circular: — To their Honors the Superintendents of Provinces and the Chairman of the County Council of Wesfcland. Public Works Office, Auckland, 22nd January, 1872. Sir, —Having in view the large demand for labour caused by the railway and other public works now being undertaken in the Colony, and the difficulty experienced in inducing a sufficient European immigration to supply that demand, the expediency of allowing railway contractors to employ Ohinpsp labor to a limited extent has been suggested. .before adopting such a course, or taking any steps to carry it into practical effect, I shall be obliged by an expression of your Honor's opinion as to the general expediency of such a proposal as affecting your Province, and as to the extent to which Chinese labor should be introduced. I may state that it is already evident that the want of labor will prove a serious hindrance to the economical and rapid development of the public works scheme, and unless every available means of obtaining labor be temporarily adopted, until a sufficient flow of European immigration shall have been established, great difficulty and vexatious delays will be experienced in the execution of railways and other important works. I have, &c, J. D. Ormond, Minister for Public Works. Replies were received from the Superintendents of Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington, in favor of the introduction of Chinese labor. From the Superintendent of Canterbury (Mr Rolleston) the reply was adverse, but from Mr J. Rhodes, who was at that time Mr Ormond's deputy in the Superintendency of Hawke's Bay, came the only strong expression of disapproval. In Mr Ormond's address on Monday night to the electors at Woodville he said "that in 1872, when he was Minister for Public Works, Messrs Brogden complained that that they were unable to get labor, and applied to the Government for permission Ito introduce Chinese. He, as Public I Works Minister, sent a circular to the Superintendents of the various provinces, asking if they were in favor of Messrs Brogden's proposal, thus taking the responsibility off the Government. He was not in favor of the introduction of Chinese into the colony and never would be." We trust we shall have no more such foolish letters as that of " Shearer's" upon this subject.

A concert in aid of a fund to provide prizes for the children attending the Port Ahuriri school will be given in the Spit, school-room, on December the sth. The following ladies and gentlemen have kindly conpented to assist at the performance :— Misses Reid and Palmer, Messrs Bear, Foster, Gilpin, Hill, Bailey, Monteith, Morton, Hanna, Hodgson, and Lee. Subscriptions in aid of the fund will be thankfully received bj Messrs Cotton and Wilkie. At the Theatre Royal last night the Pomeroy Company produced Sheridan Knowle's " Hunchback" to a good house. It is almost needless to say that MissPomeroy's Julia was a most finished performance. Miss Jessie Grey made a most charming Helen. Mr Hoskin's Master Walter, as was expected, was admirable done, and the whole of the company filled their respective parts admirably. To-night Shakespeare's tragedy Cymbelino will be given. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, before H. Eyre Kenny, Esq., R.M., Samuel Jones, a seaman on board the schooner Mary Wadley, was charged with disobedience of orders. It appeared that the defendant had refused to work, pleading illness. The captain had a strong suspicion that it was a case of malingering, and had him examined by a medical man, and tho result waH that the prisoner was fined one day's pay (2s) and ordered to pay one guinea for tho medical examination, the amount of cab fare for taking him to tho doctor, and in default seven days' imprisonment with hard labor. A very fair sum of money has been collected by public subscription for prizes to be offered for ships' boat races &c, with a view of holding a regatta on Friday, the 30th instant. That day happens to be a bank holiday, and the tide will be favorable for rowing and sailing matches in the inner

harbor. If the Napier, Union, and Telegraph Rowing Clubs will hold their trialfour matches on that day, the Sailing Club might at the same time compete for the Mayor's trophy, and, with the ships' boats, tin eitcelleht afternoon's aquatic sport might be arranged for. The 30th instant being a bank holiday, there should be less difficulty in obtaining the closing of business places on that occasion. The Waipawa County Council elections to-day have attracted some interest outside the county by the supposition that their result will to some extent indicate the direction of the polling for the general election for the House of Representatives. For the Waipukurau riding (Mr Smith's stronghold), that gentleman is opposed by Mr R. Harding. The Norsewood riding is contested by Mr McGreevy (Ormondite) and Mr Wilding (Smithite); the Porangahau riding by Mr Hirzel and Mr Hunter. Messrs. Dillon, Fountaine, Johnston, Newman, and Ross, have been elected unopposed for the ridings of Patangata, Woodville, Tamumu, Eparairaa, and Ruataniwha respectively. According to the Gisborne Herald it is anticipated that the shearing operations which are now in full swing, will result in a better clip than any which, has been, recorded in past seasons. Some are sanguine enough to expect half as much again as last year's clip. The weather is all that could be desired for the work. Russian papers publish terrible details of the diphtheria epidemic in Russia, which is stated far to exceed in intensity and in the extent of its range all the previous visits of this disease, so peculiarly fatal to the young. In certain communes and parishes it is reported to have carried off all the children up to 15 years of age. In Pultowa, a province of considerably less than two millions of inhabitants, there have been 45,543 cases, of which no fewer than 15,765 have proved fatal. In 1870 the total production of coal in the world was 193,070,683 tons ; in 1880 the output was 294,468,000 ; the increase was therefore 100,497,312 tons, or 52 per cent. The increase during the ten years was greatest in the United States, where it amounted to 127 per cent, and in Russia, where the output was greater by 275 per cent. It wis augmented least in Spain, only 36 per cent. We may suppose that production and consumption about balanced each other, and that a certain relation must exist between tho former and the extension of industrial undertakings and the construction of additional means of communication. It may therefore be assumed that the United States and Russia have progressed most from an industrial point of view, while Spain has advanced least. Both Lord Beaconsfleld and Mr Gladstone were in their youth trained lawyers. The former kept nine terms at Lincoln's Inn, remaining a member for seven years. At the end of that time he petitioned to have his name removed from the books, alleging that ill-health incapacitated him from following the profession. Fourteen months after Benjamin Disraeli ceased to be a fellow of Lincoln's Inn. William Ewart Gladstone, having first completed his brilliant career at Oxford, was, at the age of 23, admitted to the same learned society. Mr Gladstone kept eleven terms, and after being a member for six years and three months, likewise petitioned to have his name removed on the ground of his ' having given up his intention of being called to the bar.' There is an auction mart in the city (says the London Temperance Record) where public-houses, hotels, &c, are sold to the highest bidder. A house with a license is often there sold for £20,000 and upwards. We know one that brought £44,000. But great changes are impending, and people are perfectly aware of it. Observe : last week not a single licensed house was sold by auction in London. Every house advertised for sale either had the sale postponed or was withdrawn from public competition. The reason is not far to seek. The temperance movement is sweeping onward like a mighty tide. Non-intoxicant drinks are multiplying. Coffee palaces are popular. Medical men are advising less ■"timulation. Banquets are given without, wine, and England is growing free and more sober. Indigestion is necessarily the offspring of a gastric disorder, while yet it is simultaneously tbe parent of more physical disturbances than almost any other malady. Nervousness, irritability, impaired appetite, nausea, heart-burn, restlessness, clouded vision, and a host of other ailments, are its lineal inheritors. To destroy these, is to remove the primal source, and Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps strikes at the very fountain head, being at once an adjuvant, a tonic, a stimulant, and an appetizer.—[Advt.] At the Theatre to-night Miss Pomeroy in Cymbeline. The nomination and polling days for the Hawke's Bay electoral district with polling places are announced. The sale of the Korikipo stock is fixed for the 24th inst'int. Mr R. G. Graham is appointed to collect moneys due to Chappell's estate. Messrs Neal and Close announce new suits in Mosgiel tweeds. Mr Pell has a grocery business for sale. Tenders are wanted for fencing section No. 377. Building shares in No. 5 Society for sale. Messrs Brooking and Dobson's list of properties for sale is published. The Oreti steams for Gisborne, Tauranga, and Auckland, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. Messrs Neal and Close have received men's and youth's suits of all kinds. The polling places for the East Coast Maori electoral district are advertised. Mr Beilby has been appointed the Hastings agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company. Fortnightly meeting Temperance Mutual Improvement Society to-morrow evening. Messrs H. Monteith and Co. hold their usual stock and produce sale at the Horse Bazaar on Saturday. A private special train leaves Hastings for Napier and intermediate stations at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, returning after the performance at the theatre. The time for receiving tenders for the supply of coal on New Zealand railways is extended to the 26th instant. Dye Brothers, tea merchants, intend holding a clearing sale at co-operative prices extraordinary. A number of new advertisements will he 1 found in our " Wanted " column.