Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1891.

I The Industrial Conciliation Bill brought in by the present Government baa the

advantage of a very pleasing name, which will bespeak for it the good-will • of many who think that conciliation upon the basis of mutual concession is all that is wanted to establish satisfactory relations between capital and labour. The object of tho Bill, which tends to bring about a complete organisation of both the opposing forces in the great question of the day, is to give method and consistency to those relatione, and to provide means whereby trade' disputes may be authoritatively settled, but it imposes no disability upon any association of employers or employed, in respect of the rules which may be adopted by such society, e.g., unions will be free as at present to debar their members from associating at work with free labour, by means of boycotting, picketting, etc., while employers will be equally free to resist such aggression, by the exclusive engagement of free labour. Probably it is expected by the authors of the measure that difficulties such as those adduced may be dealt with successfully by the machinery provided in the Bill ; but the constitution of the courts which are to have cognisance of those matters is such that really authoritative and final decisions upon vital points of policy will be difficult if not impossible of attainment. We do not mean to say that such judgments would not have the force of law, but that they should fail to receive the support of general opinion. It has been already stated that the consequence of passing the present Bill would be the complete organisation of the industrial powers, beginning with the unions and associated unions on both sides, which may be registered, with the effect of rendering them subject to the jurisdiction of Boards of Conciliation and Courts of Arbitration, and liable to j all the provisions of this Act, also of binding the members by the rules of the Union or of the Association, as the case might be, to which they belong, and by all industrial agreements and awards affecting the said Union or Association. A character of originality is given to tho Bill by the proposal therein contained for the making and enforcing of industrial agreements between Unions, Associations, and other persons, in relation to industrial matters, for the prevention and settlement of disputes in connection therewith, or for any other object or purpose for which any such agreement may be made under this Act. Every such agreement duly made and executed shall be binding on the parties thereto, during the term of its currency, under penalties therein made or fixed by the Court. Thus encouragement is given to the making of arrangements by all the parties immediately concerned in the affairs of trade, whereby obstacles may be removed, difficulties lessened, conveniences increased, and friction smoothed ; and as such agreements can be enforced under penalty, they will no doubt be entered into with due deliberation, and are in this way likely to become the most important feature in the new industrial organisation, because, if wisely used, the mutual understanding which will result from those agreements ought, in great measure, to supersede the necessity for appealing to the Courts created by the Act, namely, the Boards of Conciliation and the Courts of Arbitration. The object of those creations is generally to afford authoritative means for the settlement of such disputes as cannot be adjusted by industrial agreement, the Boards of Conciliation dealing with trades' misunderstandings, the Courts of Arbitration fulfilling the higher function of determining definitely, and without appeal, all cases of industrial dispute, technical or other, referred to it by Boards of Conciliation, industrial associations, or industrial agreement; also upon petition, or by way of compulsory arbitration upon intervention of the Minister (Colonial Secretary). The constitution of the first of these, which is sub-divided into Trade Boards of Conciliation and District Boards of Conciliation, the two really fulfilling analogous duties, with somewhat greater powers given to District Boards, is by the election of members by the unions, who shall equally represent employers and employed, the chairman in both cases to be elected by the members, only in the District Board he shall not be a member of it, and, like the members, his tenure of office shall be only for three years. For the Court in the last resort, that of arbitration, a different constitution is provided. It is to be appointed by the Governor - in - Council, and to consist of three persons only, a president and two assessors, of whom the former receives his commission direct from the Governor, while his two coadjutors may be re- , commended to His Excellency by unions of employers and employed within the provincial district. The members of the Court hold office for three years, and-may be re-appointed. The juris- i diction of this Court, in which any evi- ' deuce, whether strictly learal or not, j may be received, has been already de- ( fined; to which it may be added, that i the President is invested with all the ( powers of a Resident Magistrate, and , the proceedings of his Court are assimi- t lated to those of JR.M. Courts. It is « proposed by the Bill to make the J management of Government railways j an industry within the meaning of the i Act, so as to bring the Commissioners, i consequently the whole system of rail- ( way operation, under the control of \ the Courts thereby appointed. Inde- J pendent of tho many arguments by { which such an arrangement might be i assailed, it is obvious at first sight that 1

8 the position of the Railway Commissioners differs widely from that of independent employers of labour; v also that tfoe business which they superin- . tend as paid agents of the colony, has. '• few features in common with pri. ii vate industries, is, in fact, a national '* concern,? involving interests far wider d and j more 'important than those belonging to transactions between man and man.' These consideraa tions alone are sufficient to show how strained must be any analogy which can lead ;to the conclusion (that the railway department ought to be made subject to tribunals designed for the settlement of trade disputes. But it may be taken for certain that the Railway Commissioners will decline to be parties to any industrial agreements, merely for the purpose of laying themt selves open to persecution by men B resentful of injuries real or supposed. '; Within the limits of this article, it only II remains to observe that any union or * association may sue or be sued, in the s name by which it is registered, and that • every proceeding for any offence against i this Act, not being indictable, may be i determined in a summary way before - a resident magistrate or two justices i of the peace. _.''..'" J To sum up, upon the whole it may be - said that the intention of the Bill is for ' good, but if it becomes law, as at pref sent drawn, the consequences for good f and for evil by which it may be folr lowed have not probably been foreseen i by its authors, because it unites and , strengthens both sides in all disputes 3 between capital and labour, and pro- ', vides them at the same time with a £ tilting ground, which is not likely to be - often vacant, so long at least as the ' pretensions of the latter remain unabated. ... •.-.:•." - .'.'.',,.;■,.-■ > The project of whether it would not be » advisable to sell our railways has been often mooted, but it has really never ; been seriously discussed in New Zealand, either by the public or by Parliai ment. It comes upon us, therefore, as i a surprise that our enterprising towns-: ; man, Mr. Witheford, has advanced mat- ; ters so far as to feel himself entitled to open up negotiations with Mr. Bal- ' lance. We are further informed that i "if the Government entertain the pro-* r posals, it is ; expected -a representative ; of the English syndicate will proceed . to New Zealand forthwith." It will . strike most people with astonishment • that in Sydney there should be the re--1 presentative of ; a syndicate prepared to sco into a gigantio transaction of , this kind. New Zealand would want for its railways something like fifteen millions sterling, and that amount is not to be raised easily, even in London. Besides, the first point in a matter of this kind would be to ascertain that the . Government is willing to sell the rail- ' ways. Before anything at all could be done the majority of the people would have to be convinced that it was good policy, and Parliament would have to be brought to the same way of thinking. No Ministry would dare, on their own responsibility, to commence negotiations for ; a sale of the railways. And certainly the present Ministry would never dream of doing anything of the sort. The, Labour members would not allow them, even if the Ministry themselves entertained the notion. The railways are regarded as being a very important factor in the labour market. The men employed know quite well that they would not be so well off if the railways were owned privately, and they have ; of themselves sufficient political power to prevent the Government parting with the lines. As might have been expected, the Premier, on receiving a cable message from Mr. Witheford, roplied that the proposal was preposterous. . It will be seen that a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of • Commerce has been called for Thursday to consider the question of the Government taxation proposals. The Chamber has been stimulated to action by a telegram received from Christchurch, in which Mr. G. G. Stead forwards certain resolutions which he intends to propose at the meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce at Christchurch on Wednesday. The Government proposals have not received that discussion throughout the country which certainly should be bestowed upon them before they become . law. There have been several reasons for this. It was difficult to see, from the information given in the Financial Statement, how these proposals would operate in practice. The Taxation Bill has now been brought down, but copies have not yet been circulated throughout the colony. And as it is, it is mainly a machinery Bill ; the precise amounts to be charged are to be in another measure. Besides all this, a feeling of something like hopelessness prevails. The Ministry are so strong, and are supported by so many who are reckless of the consequences of their action, that resistance to the most mischievous proposals seems almost useless. The resolutions forwarded by Mr. Stead deal with the main features of the policy, and indicate the dangers involved. We believe that an energetic dealing with the subject would yet be productive of good, and that Ministers and their supporters are open to reason to a greater extent than is supposed. The Government are I than supposed. to pay attention to far more likely to pay attention to pressure from outside than to the speeches of Opposition members. There is still time greatly to modify the Government proposals. ■*■""■ * A terrible railway accident has occurred in France, at St. Maude, near Paris. An excursion train collided with a goods train, and great losa of life resulted. To add to the horror of the scene the carriages of the passenger train, which were probably piled on one another, as usually happens at accidents of this kind, took fire and many unable to extricate themselves from the blazing debris perished in the flames, their charred remains being quite unrecognisable. It is proposed to double the strength of the French navy. The Queen lias invited the French fleet to visit Portsmouth on the occasion of the Czar's visit next month. The result of the trial of the zone system on the railways of Austria-Hungary has proved eminently satisfactory, the passenger traffic and receipts showing a largo increase. I «A cable message from Sydney gives a very gloomy account of the condition and prospects of the intercolonial shipping trade. The severe depression which existed in shipping previous to the great strike was intensified by the labour struggle, and now the condition of things is causing anxiety among owners and investors of capital. The reason for the present unsatisfactory state of affairs is largely due to the circumstance that the expected expansion of trade for which many of the companies had provided thomsolves by largely increasing their fleets at very considerable cost, has not taken place. On the contrary, since each colony has been provided with direct steamers, the intercolonial coastal trade has been steadily falling off, until now the outlook has become serious. It is proposed to lay up a number of steamers, while the companies are talking of entering into an alliance for their own protection against outside competition, which is becoming a very disturbing factor in thoir businesses. But in spite of the dullness of trade an effort, it is said, is being made to form a now company to enter the New Zealand trade.

>. - .A London paper has the following i ßfi «<" { article respecting the Rev. Mr. £&£ *! " 6 Wolverhampton, who is now on fcfe iS'gffl ■ the .colonies failure of Mr" bSSI j- health is a sore blow to ; English ConW*T • tionaliam. whioh just now has so . national men in the prime of ltfetwW . canill spare, one 0 f them even iSSI* , 1 I happened to be fa^olverhamptoVK r Sunday and was attracted to Mr. Bern? l e church- by the rumour that he ■ wouSSSSi i bably speak a few farewell words to £ 1 congregation .after the i morning servit " " £? W ?fr ? ob .>wever, able to be pre S' * r The -Wolverhampton people, who *£ _ naturally all the • more attached tj ffi#| J because of his refusal of the £ , » tempting offers to leave them. Wi given him a furlough till • the endol 'til I year, and his medical advisers,; koowS the active temperamanfbf. their pa ti en T *> have sent him on a voyage round the worM 5 ever since Mr. Berry was invited to tekn ) the vacant place of Henry Ward Beeohe** , he has been living at too-high a pressor- » The calls upon him have been inc*»«&Ml - and he has -too amiably complied It £ W l one of the weak points in Congregationalism > that no proper provision is made for iu ' national men. A popular Congregational f minister is expected to fulfil his duties^B r the people who furnish his stipend, 'andf# 5 over and above that- to-do an equal fee . greater amount of work by all, sorts and • conditions of men who have no real claim. a upon him. •*.This has been the ease.»lt|.M ) Air. Berry. The most exacting of all } claimants upon the time of such men as hall* are the Liberal and Radical Associations IP » who have no mercy upon a man-if he happens to have a name that will draw j Mr. Berry, their latest victim, should beaW , warning example to bis fellows, • r !po uav e to hand the draft scheme c£ . federation devised for the Trades and) Labour Councils and unions of New Zeal • land. The preamble states that for the* i furtherance and maintenance of unionisnl [ in the colony a definite federation of th* Trades and Labour Councils is proposed ill 1 which federation, while leaving to each inf dividual Council, or local union where}!! , there is no Council, full self-government irTlSs the case of any difficulty, will be a means) <W; for securing unity of, purpose and action! i on all general matters, and facilitate tbi material co-operation of affiliated unions®! necessary for the common welfare. Tha federation is to be known - as "The Federated Trades and Labour Councils of New Zealand." According to the constitution, the federation will consist of two representatives from each Trades Council, or union where there is no Council, who shall meet'•" in confer? ence annually in February, the conferences being moveable, and the expenses . borne pro rata by the federated Councile. : Delegates to be paid 12s 6d per day, in ad|lft dition to travelling ■ expenses, whilst engaged on Conference* business. '" The object of the Federation is stated to be.to form a dei ; liberative and representative body possessed of a special knowledge of the matters com} , ing under its cognizance, which, by an, aggregation of power can enforce the carry r ing out of legitimate and necessary reforms, where a single Council or union might find the task beyond its individual strength. It is provided that the Fedora- , turn is not to be dissolved so - long as two Councils remain federated, and any Council seceding shall forfeit all claim to any money or description of property- belonging to the Federation. Revenue is by ac entrance fee of £1 from each union foi every 50 members up to 250, a quarterh subscription of not less than 6d from eticl financial male member, and not less that 3d per financial female member. Calls oi lock-outs in any two centres at one and th« same time are to be avoided, and al conciliatory means must .be tried to settle disputes without resorting to extremt measures, provided the principle of union ism be maintained. A reserve fund ib to bt established as soon as -possible. Any union affiliated to the Council, ~ being a branch of any Australasian body, is to be free to act in conjunction with the sam< upon any question not affecting, the otbet unions affiliated to . the. - Council. Th« Councils shall nos be dissolved so long as two unions remain affiliated, and the cedera are to have no claim to money a property. . Among the recommendation! are.(l) that every effort be made by th* several Councils to form -Trades and La, Councils in all' towns where two or more unions exist ; (2} that the Federatioc endeavour to establish a small uniform entrance fee and rate of contribution, also an interchange of clearance cards, to b« accepted by all unions connected with the' Federation, I : The "Sydney Morning Herald, in a lead* ing article, eays :~" There is visible in, ! different parts of the House a disposition to ." show a spirit of adulation and. abject sub-' serviency towards the labour party, and to, we do not say the opinions, but the nassionf} ' of the labour party, in and out of Parliament, which, unless it be restrained by a sense of 6elf-respecfc, must -prove des* tructive of the manliness and independence, and ultimately of the honesty of our public life. To any attentive observer of the debates during the -opening days of this session this creeping influence has made itself felt like an enervating and disease-laden miasma. Surely, it does not require to be stated now that the true spirit of democratic equality is as much opposed to . base flattery of the working classes as it is to cringing subserviency to an aristocracy, or to a throne. ", If modern democracy cannot stand erect before any ■'"',' class or interest, and if it is ,not contented with equal justice and equal rsspeot to all, then'> we must reconsider our, claims to political advancement. In the view of these considerations, and of the cynical assertion made by a spokesman of the third party, that it means to 'hold the balance of power, giving support in return for concession,' we musli look the fact in the face that our Par. liamentary life is at the present moment threatened with a danger of degradation different from any by which it has beet menaced heretofore. - No object of th< :; maintenance of a Government, or even th< upholding of a, policy, is worth purchasing / at the cost of the degradation of public life, ■■; a and the debasement of public men. If a ; Government is overthrown, it may be re> ' instated. If an important policy is changed, it may be re-established. Bub if the spirit and honesty of our Parliament tary life are impaired, an injury will havfl been sustained which ib would be bard in" deed to make good." When the ship Piako was coming op to her anchorage on Monday night late, a nasty accident befel her chief officer, Air. Davidson. He bad been standing on the forecastle - head giving directions, and stepped backward to come aft, when heun-; ty < expectedly lost his footing and fell to the main deck, a distance of about eight feet. The mishap was observed and he'was.. ■ promptly picked up by a couple of seamen, and conveyed, unconscious, to his stateroom. He was examined there yesterday by Dr. T. H. Lewis, who found that tha unlucky officer was severely bruised about the head and had broken his collarbone. These injuries are not in themselves deemed U; very dangerous, but without great care it id . feared concussion of the brain may supervene. According to accounts last evening, Mr. Davidson was doing as well as could M anticipated under the circumstances. It will be seen by our obituary column that Mrs. Macpherson, wife of Mr. John Macpherson, of Pincgrove, Drury, ha* died suddenly, at the age of 60. No par* ticulars have as yet come to hand. Another , old settler has also passed away in the person of Mr. J. W. Darroch, of Mahurangi, at the ago of 67. Mrs. Mnhoney, wifo of Mr. E. Maboney, of the firm of Messrs. E. Mahoney and Son, architects* *. also died yesterday, at the ripe age of 70, at her residence, New-street, Ponsonby, Quite a number of old settlers have succumbed during the present winter. In yesterday's issue appeared a Dnnsdin telegram stating that a married woman with three children, whose husband is an invalid, was charged at the Police Coord with the theft of a doormat. She made * . oiteous appeal to the Bench, pleading she '. had been obliged to steal "order to procure bread for her children. As a result, a conviction was recorded, and she wad ordered to come up for sentence when called on. Yesterday Mr. J. O'Meagher, solicitor, who had read the particulars of the distressing case, with his usual good* heartedness, devoted the whole day to collecting subscriptions for the unfortunate woman, and succeeded in raising a goodly" * sum, which will be transmitted by telegraph to her at Dunedin. Meeting of Lodge United Service will W . held in the Freemasons' Hall, Princes-street-this evening, at -past seven.

:■';;'.;■!.■■: "v ;: -■•••, -•■■- r - *m nil, m iiifii' We havo to band a copy of the annual ro-' «.(. 0 the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, * to be submitted to the first annual meeting to held on Thursday afternoon, at three ■ o'clock, at the Mayor's office, City Council Chambers, After recounting the proceed, 1 ■ in£» of the past year, the report goes on to mv the Executive Committee are now able to report that a suitable building has ■i been secured in Manukau Road. The total cost of painting, papering, draining, and improving the property bas been about S and cost of furnishing £200. A "'■' farther consignment of bosks has arrived '■- rom England value £30, and a complete brushmaking plant and models for basketSing value about £20. It will be further necessary to proceed with erection of gymnasium and workshop or to rent suitable S near. Mr. TThi * he ' the blind 1 master has now seven pupils, all from the South ' Parents and friends of children *ra admitted once a fertnight. Mr. 1 S^j, e Bus been two journeys South ; with his attendant. The financial results «f the two journeys were :—First journey: Amount collected, £210; expenses, £88. <?«Uid ioumey J Amount collected, £310 ; S IV* £109. ■'''■ Mr. Tighe's salary has S Creased by the committee to £156 a IS id that of his attendant to 10s per y 63 ir The question of appointing other ' Shew to assist Mr. Tigta, and to take «hareo during his absence, is engaging the Mention of the committee, also the question of incorporating the institute, and these objects are likely to be speedily accomplished. The financial position at the commencement of the first year was that * they had a fund collected by Mr. Abbott, which, including the sum of £155, balance of the Auckland Jubilee Celebration Com- ■'■ mittee, amounted to £1238. There was a further sum handed over by the Associai tion of the Friends of the Blind of £275, ;/ making a total amount of funds in hand of | £1513. The financial position now is that the committee have on deposit in the name of a the trustees, at 4£ percent., £2813, and on mortgage for five years at 5£ per cent., £1000, making a total of £3813. , Of 1 this amount £3660 is capital. This amount is capitalised, with the dual object of I/—firstly, assisting the revenue by the inte- | rest accruing ; and, secondly, providing a ' fund from which to erector repair buildings, or purchase freehold building site, etc., m when deemed advisable. In view of further large outlay the members of the managing committee are urged to secure a number of annual subscribers, as it is principally on . that source the institution depends for •• revenue. A minimum subscription "of 10s ;. 6d per annum constitutes membership, and j the amount has been fixed so small with the. view of largely increasing the number of subscribers. The cost of pupils per annum is fixed for fir3t year at £25 per annum, and *no child is to be admitted under seven years, or retained after 15, unless under exceptional circumstances, bat a large discretionary power will require to be exercised '.'■>- in the incoption of a new institute in this colony, as the education of many of the blind beyond this age is found to have been almost entirely neglected in the past. '' The old man, Walter Leatham, who was ' picked up by Sergeant Kelly on the Dock ' Road, Devonport, on Monday night, and brought over to Auckland, was yesterday ■ sent to the auxiliary depot in Princes- " street by the Charitable Aid Board. He V belongs to Hokianga, and probably the | Board will forward him to his friends in •; the North, surcharging the Hokianga district with the expense. ■ };'; The Otago Daily Times of the 22nd July '■:- las the following paragraph in regard to a subject which has recently become promiv nent here, namely, the possibility of the expulsion of prostitutes from a neighbourt hood:—"A deputation recently waited 1 upon Inspector Hickson and presented him ] with a petition, signed by 66 owners, leases holders, occupiers, or persons otherwise interested in property in the neighbourhood '-:-'■ of Chalmers Place, who requested that he would take such steps as the law allowed for the expulsion of prostitutes and other undesirable characters from that vicinity. '•Tho deputation represented to the inv spector that respectable tenants complained bitterly of the annoyance to which they were subjected, and the consequence was that they were with '> difficulty retained in their tenements, the result being that property in. the locality was seriously depreciated."' In view of those representations, summonses were issued against three women of ill-repute living in Chalmers place, and occupied the m attention of the bench at the City Police Court yesterday. In the course 'of the ; prosecution it was stated by SergeantMajor Bevin and th J constables who gave evidence that not only was the . locality a nightly scene of immorality and filth, but a place of personal danger, where violent robberies were no uncommon occurrence. The bench granted an adjournment for a week, in each case, in order to give the defendants an opportunity to leave their I premises." * [

I The Rev. E. 0. Perry delivered another of his interesting lectures on "Memory and Memory Systems " in the ¥.M.C.A. Rooms yesterday evening, and considering the' state of the weather, there was & good attendance. Tracing the origin of memory systems right back to the times of the ancient Greeks, he gave a short description of each that had been known to the world, and explained its fundamental principles. In conclusion, he gave examples of what may be attained under the particular system he teaches, and two' of his pupils supplemented his personal efforts by performing a number nf i clever mnemonic feats. Mr. W. Brakenrig occupied the chair.

Mr. Napier, solicitor, has as yet received no further information than that already ? published by us relative to the case of the boy Walter Humby, at present serving a sentence of imprisonment in the Mount Eden Gaol. In our advertising columns a Mr. James Andrews gets somewhat emphatic on the Humby question, and asks this pertinent query, "Will Mr. Napier convene a public meeting to impel the Minister of Justice to liberate the boy :| Walter Humby V Another case arising out of the boot makers' strike was heard at the Police Court yesterday morning, but in this instance the non-unionist complainant failed to establish his case against the unionist *; defendant, and was mulct in costs. In the : opinion of the Court the complainant's own evidence showed that, even had the defendant used bad language towards him, great provocation had been given, and there was no reason to fear that it would be repeated if the defendant was not molested. The application to have the defendant bound over to keep the peace was therefore refused.

Some further particulars have been received by the police authorities from Constable McKnight, of Papakura, relative to the burning down of Mr. Robt. St. Clair's ', house at Maketu, near Drury. The bouse was insured in the North German Office for £250, and the furniture for £600. Although the weather was unfavourable • there was a crowded audience at the Beres-ford-street Sunday-school last night, at the /entertainment which was held in aid of the :.""'•-'•"' Congregational Sunday-school funds. The entertainment consisted of a concert and a :; c series of tableau vivatits, the latter being ; very effectively and artistically arranged. -The first was " Ophelia," then at intervals followed "Faith, Hope, and Charity," , ''The Soldier's Dream," and *' The Coronation of Queen Victoria." The remainder of .: 'he programme was as follows :—Musical se- • lection, operatic, Mi9sesChew(2)andHayles; song, "The Blind Girl to Her Harp," Miss Edmondes; selection, "Quarrel between Brutus and Cassius," Shaksperian Class; ];■ song, " Caller Herrin " (in character), Miss -."/A," Edmonds; song (selected), Air. TV. /Forbes Forbes; 'cello solo, selected, Miss E. Chew; selection, " The Merchant of Venice," trial scene, Shaksperian Class; musical selection, operatic, Misses Chew and Hayles; recitation, Mr. Kekwick ; «>ng, "Our Boys of England," Mr. R. S. Abel; song, Miss Walker. The selections throughout were heartily appreciated, and the applause was warm and frequent. At a meeting held last night in the Imperial Hotel, the Association football Players of Auckland decided that they would, in view of the forthcoming Wel- . lington match, begin to practice at once. Mr- C C. Dacro reported that he had secured the use of Mr. Hall's paddock, at Epsom, behind the Rugby Union's ground, , »nd it was agreed to have a practice match j hereon Saturday afternoon. About thirty Payers have signified their willingness to Pl*y, and many more are expected. Altogether this revival of the Association game here promises to develop into a permanent Wand of fixtures.

The Otago Daily Times, referring to devices of efficient and reasonably-priced packages for export of butter says :-— "Among . the most recent candidates for , public favour is a box patented by Mr. , James ' Foster, of South Dunedin, which ' has the desideratum of being absolutely ' air-tight, exceedingly strong, and at the ' same time moderate in price. The main ! feature is a block tin box capable of hold- 1 ing 60lb of butter, to which is fitted a ) flanged lid, intended to be soldered on ; after the butter is packed. A butter cloth • is put in the box in order to keep the i butter from immediate contact with the < tin, though no harm results even if this < precaution be neglected. The edges of the J tin are folded over and soldered on tho i inside, which has the effect of very materi- < ally strengthening the box, which is ; then onclosed in an outer shell of wood, so ' arranged that there shall be an air space between the two boxes. In order that the inside box may be kept steady, this space is packed with clean straw, and thus concus- ■> sion is avoided. The whole affair can be turned out at the reasonable price of 4s 6d. An experiment on a large scale has been tried to test the efficacy of the box, and with the most satisfactory results. Two thousand pounds of butter were packed at the Taieri in these boxes in November and December last. Of this a few boxes were sent home, and arrived in capital condition, while the remainder are now being opened out, and the contents sold locally. A specimen of the latter has been shown us, and it is certainly a good sample of powdered butter. There is no waste on the outside edge, and the butter is as good as when it was packed. The bottom' of the tin, which is cut off with an ordinary tinopener and the contents turned out, does not show the slightest sign of rust or other deterioration. Altogether, this is the most promising form of package we have yet seen." Last evening Constable Donovan brought up from Coromandel a man named Samuel Blair, on a charge of larceny of a silver watch and gold albert chain and pendant, value. £5 10s, at Auckland. Blair was arrested at Coromandel on Saturday last on warrant from description furnished. There were in the lockup Inst evening two lads named William Skerett and William Turner, on a charge of breaking and entering the warehouse of Mr. Robert Furness, Parnell, and taking therefrom liquorice, value 10s ; jelly, 6s ; three pack- ' ages pain killer, 13s 6d ; pencils, indiarubber, etc. The usual weekly meeting of the Tabernacle Literary Society took place last even ing. Mr. W. H. Carter presided. Mr. A. G. Jarrett was elected treasurer and reporter,' vice Mr. E. Kretschmar, resigned. Mr. Potter, the editor, read a very amusing journal, consisting of the editorial, " How I Edited my First Journal," "Adventures with a Shark," " The Possessions of India," etc. Each of the articles wore criticised by members, and the editor replied. A pleasant and instructive evening was spent. An extraordinary meeting of the Archhill Brick and Tile Company (Limited) will be ' held at the office of the , company, Insurance Buildings, on Monday, the 10th August, at three o'clock, with a view to the voluntary winding-up of the oompany. A general meeting of shareholders of the luvicta Gold Mining Company will be held at tho company's office, New Zealand Insurance Buildings, on Friday, August 7, at half-past two p.m. The adjourned annual meeting of the Carbine G.M.C. will be held at the company's office. New Zealand Insurance Buildings, on Tuesday, 4th August, at half-past two p.m. A cake and apron fair will be held to-day in the Grafton Road Wesleyan . Schoolroom, commencing at half-past two o'clock, at which hour Mr. Thomas Buddie will open the show, and continuing throughout the evening. It is somewhat ot a novelty to find that " Mount Egmont will be on view, sending out a useful eruption, each item of which can be had for sixpence." A lively promenade concert will take place in the evening, under the leadership of Mr. F. Forbes. In addition refreshments will be provided from half-past five to seven o'clock at reasonable rates. To crown all, admission is free. *

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18910729.2.19

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8631, 29 July 1891, Page 4

Word Count
5,902

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1891. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8631, 29 July 1891, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1891. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8631, 29 July 1891, Page 4