NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2320, 7 January 1893, Page 2

NORMANBY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

About a fortnight bro some of tbe settlers of Normanby applied to tbe authorities on the East Road for work. I give the conversation as given to me by one of tbe party: — Question— •• Is there any possibility of getting n Government oontraot on the East road ?" Answer — " You cannot be put on here ; you will have to apply to the Labor Bureau at Wellington, sending tbe names and ages of all your party. If, on your making application for a contract, we ascertain through the constable of tbe district that there is, plenty of other work, we should not give you the contraot, as the settlers and general contractors would be complaining. We do not wish the work to proceed; we only wish to give work to married men and the town surplus. It is tbe intention of tbe Government to let all oontraots to small working parties at fixed rates. At present it would be unfair to existing contractors." Now, ' sit, these facts speak for themselves, and the Government are not aoting fairly by tbe working men of tbe district by bringing a lot of foreign labor to compete with the bona fide working-men of this portion of tbe country. Many of oar straggling settlers took up tbe bash lands of tbe district;, and when doing so they naturally

calculated that the roadwork adjacent to their properties would give them labor. Bat what is the result ? Why, so soon as there is a little roadwork to be done tbe Government flood the distriot with a lot of men from other parts, and, if what I bear be true, with a lot of the Australian unemployed, as I am told the Victorian Government gave a large number of their unemployed £1 per bead and paid their passage to New Zealand; and these are the men whom tbe settlers of this district have to compete against — men that are usually town loafers and an annoyance to the Government of any country. There is also another question whioh I shonld like to draw attention — that is, the land question. A very pertinent question was asked me tbe other day; it was — Why are men who have land allowed to compete against thoae that have none ? Men have been in this distriot ior the last two or three years trying to get land ; they have made application time after time, but have not been fortunate enough to draw the winning numbers ; but men who already bad land, or who had had land and parted with it, were again tbe lucky ones. What I contend is that when a person has once had land, be should not be allowed to compete against tbe one that has not previously had any. Thiß would to a great extent reduce the difficulties againßt the would-be settler, and would in a great measure prevent " landsharking.'*

Tbe new year has started wet, bat is is hoped the rain will soon stop, for should it continue much longer the whole of the hay in this, portion of the distriot will be quite destroyed. Normanby was quite gay daring Xtaas week, and all the stores and hotels were more or less decorated with evergreens. The Town Board had a portion of the main street cleared of weeds; but why not clear the weedß of the other portion of the street which goes down past the site of the Bank of New Zealand ?

Mr. Wilson's new residence on the Mawbitiwhiti road is progressing favorably and when we get a footpath on that side of the road that portion of the township should be fully satisfied for the present, and the Town Board should expend a small portion of the rates on the other side. A few loads of gravel are necessary at the railway crossing, which leads to Egmont street.

A considerable amount of sickness is reported just now, a kind of la grippe, but vvbether it is caused by the weather of the Xmas holidays history sayeth not. Mr. Gane complains that some one in* jared a horse of his by ontting it across the back with a bill hook.

Dr. Lightbourne's services here have been rather frequent lately, as some few accidents nave taken place. There is one thing to be said that no matter what the weather or how far tbe distance or whether there is any prospect; of being paid for his services, Dr. Lightbonrne never refuses tbe call of suffering humanity. I did bear sometime ago that a testimonial was being got up to that gentleman, but have not heard of its having been presented. I hope the promoters will not let the matter fall through.

I am informed that it is the intention to again lease the Beoreation Ground at Waibi for seven yearß, bo soon as the present lease expires. This is a subjeot whioh interests the whole of the community and is one that sbonld be left to the public to decide.