THE STREET COFFEE STALLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 69, 4 February 1862, Page 2

THE STREET COFFEE STALLS.

To the Editor of the Otaoo Daily Tiaus. Sut,—There appears to -be an .inclination on the part of the. authorities to' prohibit the sale of coffee in the streets, and to do away witli^resent stands for that purpose. If this is the case, loan assure you that it will cause some amount of hardship on a large portion of the inhabitants of this city. The portion I refer to are those mainly dependent on the pick and shovel for their daily bread, as ■well as others out of present employ, who find itmore economical to resort to these (in my humble opinion) convenient places. There are hundreds who would willingly endorse the statement as to their utility to the poor'man. Can it reasonably be expected, a man receiving eight shillinga a day., even if he were certain of a lull week's work, c»in afford to pay the high rate charged for board and lodging here : the man that can willingly do it must do it for the love of work, and not of profit, he must have the heart of a lion, and regard only hard manual labor as t!ie very acme of comfort and IJiss; but this is talking nonsense, for the workingmanlikeshis recreations, end has a strong desire to bettor his condition, if possible, by saving a few shillings weakly. How can he do this if the clear profits, of his week's labor be eight shillings only.? which.'would certainly be the case if he were compelled lo be a resident, even in the cheapest board and residence establishment in Duncdin. Such being the case, what inducement will these men have for taking employment here ! On the contrary, is not a farther and stronger incentive for them to quit the province, supposing they were compelled to work their passage to do so ! Surely, Otago has not so suddenly fallen from its high position advantageous to the working wan, as to Jead the authorities to believe thatinen could be found to willingly work for eight shillings a day. I presume upt, yet I cannot shut my eyes to the fpt that, wore it not for those street Coffee vendor^,'such' would be the position of a great many of the working men in DunediM. There are some, perhaps, who may say, that board and lodging are cheaper than T have stated. Of this I am well aware, but not for the class 1 speak of, some of whom are unable to pay a week's board in advance, while others who could, are unwilling^ seeing they are not certain of a week's constant work, and are undecided whether they will return to the diggings, or leave the country,—consequently, if the coffee shops are done .away with, they having no tents, work or no work, are under the expense of seven shillings a day. I argue from this, that the time has not arrived for doing away, altogether, with these useful places, and trust that [the authorities' may, before finally deciding on thoir removal, to re-con-sider the matter, and allow some few to remain. Were they to stipulate for any of them to erect a more suitable building for the purpose, I am sure all or any of them would be too glad to comply at all events, be the issue as it may, whether they sanction any or all of them to remain. Of this I feel pretty certain, that their conclusion, will be that these places are as necessary to the class resorting to them, as the Provincial Hotel is to the higher or inonied class. Besides, as you are well aware, variety in all sorts and conditions of things is the chief hydraulic of trade ; it expands, enrols, compresses it into channels to suit the circumstances of all equitably. Variety of commodities, variety of the prices of tiiese commodities, all tend to humour trade. Variety in the opinions, tastes, occupations, expectations, and grades of men, show an accumulation of instincts which, in part, constitute the world. A criminal should exist before a judge is required ; a swindler before a detective—so likewise aie such street coilee shops necessary to the class attending them. In some measure they are a public benefit, and therefore ought not to be. abolished. There is certainly one great drawback to these stands—the want of architectural beauty. To this, I believe, they never did make much pretension, except we take under • our especial notice the advertising bills so numerously stuck around these otherwise humble dwellings. Some may think them an ornament that tends to embellish the city. I think differently, perhaps from the fact of my natural abhorrence of bills of all kinds,—unpaid one's in particular. 15e that as it may, my opinion in that they disgraced these really useful little domiciles where one can procure a cup of that delicious beverage for threepence. ' •- Yours respectfully, Oceanic Fkarlks?.

To the Editor of the Otago Daily Times,

Dunedin, Feb. 3, 1862. Dear Sir,—ln your paper of this morning, Mr. Parkinson asks, why a Musical Association cannot be ionmcd in Dunedin. I am a " New Ciium," aud consequently know nothing about the musical talents of this place, but I should suppose that enough with good voices could be got together who, under a competent leader, would very soon be able to give a concert that would be well worth hearing. I think if all who take any interest in the matter would get together some eveningl, an association could be formed with but little trouble. Will the gentleman who proposed it, give notice through your paper, where and when those who wish to take pait in it can meet.' Respectfully, B.

To the Editor of the Otaoo Daily Timks.

February 3rd, 18b'2.

Sir—ln pleading to yourself and .the public, I would preface my remarks with the assurance th.it I am not doing it for myself, but for a fellow-creature in (at the present-time) a dying state. Mr. Isaac M'Culloch, of JJendigo, arrived from Gabriel's on Sunday morning, afflicted with brain fever, accompanied by his mate: The mate finding the helpless condition in which Mr. M'C'ulloch was, applied for his admission into three different Public House.?, and was refused; his last resource was the Dunediii; Hospital, and on inquiring at it, the resident physician-(lioliue, I think is the person's name) would not adujit him, nor even walkout t) see him ; hi=> answer to. Mr. M'Culloch'u mate was that ha " would eec no one that day."

Now, I ask you, sir, as a redrcssor of public wrongs, to give this a .space in your valuable journal, and ia conclusion, ■would say that too much praise cannot bi given to Mr. Bird ot Messrs. Jones, Bird, and (Jo. for Die kind manner iv which he has behaved to Mr. M'L'ulloeh, also to Dr. Wilson,'.of Kvneton, who have by their attention supplied a favorable contrast to the unkind and unfeeling conduct'-of the person at t'.ie hospital. I remain., Sir, Your obedient sen-ant, Danikl CwiAMKn.