OUR WOMEN.

Evening Star, Issue 10340, 14 June 1897, Page 2

OUR WOMEN.

HOW THEY LIVE. In the census papers there are 1,335 described as "independent ladies"; but the truly independent are those who have boldly entered the industrial field. Coming to the unusual occupations, it is noted that three women described themselves as carry* ing on the business of phrenologists, five others are described as "showmen lecturers," one is a " theatre manager," two are " professional athletes," and three have adopted the profession oi barbers. Three women have undertaken the duties of tourist guides, while two others have settled down to the prosaic but useful business of pawnbrokers. Dealing in money seems to present unusual fascination to the sex, for no fewer than fifty-two ladies are engaged in the business of financier and money broker. In connection with insurance business three are engaged as travelling canvassers, while four have had the courage to pursue the vocation of a book fiend. One lady is an auctioneer and one a land broker. One lady is a traveller to a fancy goods business, while two travel in drapery, and a number of others in various other departments of bade; one lady deals in marine stores, and two others drive milk carts. There are two lady ooffin-makers, one tanner, two opticians, and 210 barmaids.

The list of lady batchers "includes one who describes herself as a slaughterman. One lady is a jolly miller, and three other ladies have saw-mills, and there are four lady brewers; one lady is an officer in the gasworks, another is a brick and tile maker, and another workß in pottery. There is one lady goldsmith, with three lady assistants in the same calling; and there are ladies carrying on business as gardeners, fruit growers, wattle farmers, poultry farmers, and pisciculturists. There is one lady engaged as an alluvial gold miner, and three ladies are engaged in mining for coal; three sprited ladies are engaged in gum-digging, and two others are blacksmiths. Again, three ladies are tea-sorters, and one fulfils the expert duties of a wool-classer. There are two lady carters, one kauri gum buyer, and six importing merchants, white one occupies the responsible position of a pie service officer. One is employed as a stereotyper and two as watchmakers, while the new busines? of bicycle making and saddlery, sailmaking—in fact, all the minor at well as the larger manufactories and industries have women on the working Btaff. Thirteen ladies have declared themselves as "irregular medical practitioners," and apparently carry on the healing art at their peril, without having the fear of the law be. fore their eyes. The bent of another lady's mind is towards horseflesh rather than the ills to which man is heir, and she has boldly taken up the calling of a veterinary surgeon. But no fewer than eighteen ladies have adopted the profession of a chemist and druggist, with two others who are assistant dispenser and clerk in the drug business. Under the classification of university professor, demonstrator, lecturer, etc , another lady has enrolled herself a> being by profession an anatomist, and the profession of the dentist has also been carried by storm, no fewer than eighteen women having qualified themselves for the business of repairing Nature's failings in the human mouth. A hundred and twenty-four women have enrolled themselves under the designation of the •* irregular olergy." The ranks of the barrister and solicitor are graced by one of the fair sex, while there are fourteen law clerks, betides a number of aspirants to the university legal degrees. There are four* teen lady journalists, twenty-one reporters, and seventy-one compositors. That all this had been accomplished noiselessly and without friction may be taken M a proof of the existence of greater freedom and equality of opportunity in New Zealand than are to be found in most countries,—- ' Lyttelton Times.'