SENDING MEN FROM ENGLAND FOR THE GUMFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11619, 5 April 1901, Page 6

SENDING MEN FROM ENGLAND FOR THE GUMFIELDS.

On two occasions lately we have had paragraphs from our London correspondent about an agency which has been established in London to send men out to the Auckland gumfields. Truth published two letters from Mr. Gaubert, who advertised to the disappointed candidates for Baden-Powell's Police Force that they could go gumdigging in New Zealand by paying him £20. _ The advertiser stated that his own fee was only £2 10s, the balance of the £20 being made up of passage money and railway fare. He denied that he booked passages or received any commission from the - shipping companies. Mr. Gaubert explained in a letter to the editor of Truth that he gave each emigrant " a letter of introduction to a storekeeper on the fields, who will assist him with his advice, supplying him with necessary stores and utensils." The advertisement read as follows: — Men (British subjects) who can dig may hear of healthy, lucrative, and permanent occupation, and without capital be their own masters, in North Island of New Zealand, by applying personally to Mr. Gaubert, 37, Essex-street, Strand, W.C. Must be able to pay £20, which includes passage and commission." On this subject we have been • shown by Mr. J. A. Gille't, storekeeper, Waimauku, several letters, which explain what is being done. The first letter is dated November 9, and states: —" Dear Sir, —Finding on my return to London that the struggle for exist- ! ence, especially amongst the working classes, had increased enormously during my absence of 15 years, I thought there must be many men here who would be glad to earn what you told me some of the man earned digging at Waimauku,' viz., 15s pev day, and which (according to the official Year-Book of New Zealand for 1897, published at Wellington) the Austrians earn. I have therefore inserted an advertisement in the newspipers from time to time, a copy of which is attached hereto. The first appeared on September 7, since which date it has cost me £2 per week, including rent of office, etc. Up to the present I have booked but three men, viz., F. Johnson, leaving per s.s. Aberdeen, the 12th inst.; R. Allen, leaving per s.s. Damascus, December 4; and R. Young, date not yet fixed. My commission is £2 10s per man, having abandoned the idea of getting a further payment after he lias been working, so that you will not be troubled on this score. I should feel greatly obliged if you would assist each man with your advice, and treat him with your customary fairness. When you write, please let me know how long the Waimauku field has been worked, how far your store is situated from railway station, and what distance diggers have to tramp (say, from store), to find gum. I have been unable to answer these questions to my own satisfaction. , Hoping soon to receive your news.—l remain, yours faithfully, A Gaubert." ■'■■"'•>

Another letter is dated November 24, and states:— have carefully avoided holding out any extravagant prospects to anyone coming to me, basing the earnings of a digger on what you told me men were making in your district, leaving a margin, of course between a new chum and a man of experience. As I should be sorry for any of those who may go out through me to be disappointed in their expectation, I beg you will kindly keep me informed as to the condition of your district, and when overmanned to acquaint me accordingly, at same time advising as to the most desirable field where to send,men, giving the name of a respectable storekeeper there to whom please write, and explain what I am doing, so as to prepare him when he hears from me. What about Waiharara and Waihopo? I think that if the men made £3 per week after being at it for two or three weeks' they would, with a word of encouragement from you, ;be satisfied." >'■ • , _ A letter.; of December . 1 states that Mr. Uaubert has received a letter from a London him who are in a position to take 25 tons of gum per month, and to pay cash for it and asking for samples and prices. ' Mr. Gillet has no recollection of ever having been made acquainted with Mr. Gaubert but may have spoken to him casually. Several men have, come to him with letters of introduction from Mr. Gaubert asking him to start them with tools and stores. "Some of these, Mr. Gillet says, are not by any means adapted for working on the gumfields and he thinks that Mr. Gaubert may be the means of causing much disappointment.