ON THE FIRST RUNS

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 28 (Supplement)

ON THE FIRST RUNS

For some time after 1852 an eighthour day was unheard of in South Canterbury, and labour began with the dawn and ended with the setting of the sun. Neither was there rest on wet days, for rainy weather necessitated greater activity among the sheep, for be it remembered there were no fences at the time lam referring to. Then, as to wages, these were £lB a year and’ found and £25 a year for old hands, though when the diggings broke out Messrs Rhodes increased the pay of their Jiands to £52 a year, and they loet not a man. As to the term “ and found,” it consisted at first in the finding and supplying of .. a sufficient quantity of wild pork, without, change, but with Maori cabbage and damper. The cooking utensils of the period were the “ go-ashore ” and the camp oven. In later days mutton was added to the menu, and other comforts came in time. Clocks and watches were entirely superfluous, for daylight governed the working hours, and hunger, or the cook, indicated those for eating. But notwithstanding the exposure—and overcoats were not then deemed a necessity but an encumbrance —and the monotonous bill of fare, sickness was never heard of.—A. E. Woodhouse in ‘ George Rhodes of the Levels and his Brothers’ DUNEDIN COSTS IN THE ‘SEVENTIES ‘A Sketch of Otago,’ by James M'lndoe, published in 1878, provides the following information on earnings and living costs in that period:— What the working classes are doing, and what new arrivals will find to he

Labour in the Early Days

to their advantage to attend to as soon as possible, is to secure each a section on which to build houses of their own. According to the locality, the prices of sections vary. In Government townships the upset price is from £3 per quarter acre; in private townships it is much higher. In the suburbs of Dunedin, prices range from £SO a quarter acre, and the terms of payment are one-third cash, and the balance spread oyer two or three years, at eight per cent, interest. The building societies, and in some cases the sellers of the land, are willing to advance money, to enable the purchaser to buy the material necessary to build the house, charging reasonable interest, and taking payment by instalments. The cost of a cottage of four rooms, with provision for extension at a future time, may be fairly set down at about £l5O, including everything. Taking a moderate example: Suppose a labourer to cam, with broken time, £2 a week—equal to £lO4 a year. His family, averaging five members, can live very well on 3s a day, making per week £1 Is; firewood and clothing, ss; rent or interest, etc., 8s; total per week, £1 14s—leaving 6s a week, or say £ls a year to the good. In thirteen years the whole cost of his property would be cleared off. This case does not take into account the reduction of interest as the debt is being paid off, nor any earnings the younger members of the family may make. These are a set-off against school fees and any family additions or other contingencies. There are few steady labourers that can earn more than the above estimate, and

live at considerably less expense, while mechanics and skilled workers will double the amount. DUNEDIN PRICES IN LATE 'SEVENTIES In the same publication, prices are given as follows : Wheat, per bushel of 601 b, 4s 9d to ss; flour, per ton of 2,0001 b, £ll to £l3; oats, per bushel of 401 h, 2s 6d to 4s; oatmeal, per cwt, 15s to 18s ; barley, per bushel of 601 b, 4s 3d to 4s 9d; malt, per bushel, 8s to 9s 6d; ryegrass seed, per bushel of 201 b, 3s 2d to 6s; rye-grass hay, per ton, £5; oaten chaff, per ton, £4 to £6; oaten hay, per ton, £3 10s to £5; potatoes, per ton, £3 10s to £4; turnips, etc., per ton, 25s to 30s; Native flax, per ton, £l4 to £18; rape-seed, 22s per cwt. Wool, from 9Jd to 2s 2d; hides, 4s to 20s each; skins, 7d to 5s 9d each; beef, 20s to 25s per 1001 b; mutton, Id to 2i-d per lb; veal, 6d to 7d per lb. Leather, Id to 4d per lb; bone dust, £6 to £7 10s per ton; boots, 6s per pair, upwards; flax rope, £4O to £44; preserved meats, 2jd to per lb ; soap, per cwt, 18s to 325; clothing, from 25s per suit upwards; hats and caps, from Is to 21s; ploughs, single, double, and treble mounted, from £lO to £25; drays, single and double horse, £2l to £25; wagons, six to eight horse, £6O to £75; spring carts and buggies, £lB to £SO; reaping machines, £3O upward; chaff cut tors, £lO upward; saddlery, riding, from £6; harness, carriers’, £lO upward; bricks, per 1,000, £2 16s to £3; tiles, per 1,000, 20s to 40s; ale, per hhd, £4 to £7; porter, per hhd, £5 10s to £6; whisky, per gallon, in bond, 8s to 9s; geneva, in bond, 6s to 8s 6d; aerated waters, per dozen. 2s to 3s; compounds, per | dozen, 8s to 140 s Coal, at pit mouth, 1 8s to 11s per ton; gold, £3 to £3 15« per ounce; lime, at kiln, 2s per bushel.