THE Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 237, 23 September 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times.

" Inveniani viam out faciam."

DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23.

The last accounts from England iully confirm the worst anticipations of the state of the 'operatives in the cotton manufacturing districts in Lancashire, Cheshire, and Yorkshire, The hopeful tone in which even the representatives of those districts spoke of the extent to which the local rate* could be expanded to meet the emergency, has now been changed not, certainly, to the language of despair, but to the language of men who, seeing the full extent of the evil, look it fairly in the face. The millowuers have, at a great loss to themselves generally, kept their machinery going so long as they could find raw material, but the cotton supply had gradually decreased week by week until it was impossible any longer to keep the mills open. Week after week has witnessed the stoppage of factory after factory, the disbanded workpeople being turned adrift to swell the crowd oi famishing beings, with whom the streets of the manufacturing towns are crowded. Some idea of the extent to which the distress has spread may be gathered from the last returns of the number actually in receipt of parish relief. In Ashton-under-Lyne, the recipients of re lief numbered no less than 10,234, being four times as many as there were during the commercial crisis in 1857-8. In Blackburn Union there were at the last return 11,435 persons being relieved from the parochial funds. In Burnley Uuion the number was estimated at 3269, and in the Bury Union, 4075. In the township of Manchester, at the last date, over 15,000 persons were in receipt of relief from the poor rates. In the Preston Union there were 12,300; in Oldham, 3240 ; Rochdale, 4280 \ and in Stockport 6000 persons dependent upon parochial aid. There are also numbers of smaller parishes, which bring up the total to more than 140,000 people reduced by the scarcity of cotton, and the general depression of trade, to a state of abject poverty. It is •tated that the number of "paupers" in Lancashire is fast approaching that of the aggregate of persons aged twenty and upwards engaged in cotton manufacture at the last census. The figures just quoted must not be accepted as including all whose means of livelihood have been cut off by the stagnation of the cotton, trade. In Glasgow, Belfast, Carlisle, Bradford, Leeds, Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham, there are very important and extensive branches of the cotton manufacture, which must suffer from the prevailing scarcity of cotton,. but as yet, the cry of distress has* not been so loud in these districts. But every day aggravates the evil. Every bale of cotton withheld works the re duction of the earnings of the operative and every factory closed turns hundreds of our fellow-creatures on the streets to beg.

In vain have the local authorities endeavoured to allay public anxiety, by declaring that the poor-rates were capable of being expanded to meet the evil, and now the most that can be said by the President of the Toor Law Board is, that "there are sufficient

" means throughout the country to meet any " emergency." He thus clearly anticipates that the whole country will have to be called upon to share the burden at present borne and borne so bravely -by the manufacturing districts. It was anticipated at the earlie r stages of the distress that sufficient supplementary aid would be afforded by voluntary subscriptions, to keep down the destitution to a certain extent, but it is now admitted, that much as voluntary aid has done, and will do to alleviate the distress, the funds derived from this source cannot keep pace with the increasing destitution.

There is nothing in the aspect of American affairs to warrant any prospect of relief from that quarter, in respect to the supply of cotton. I n fact, £0 far as present appearances indicate, England -will be able to draw a sufficient supply from her own colonies before the sanguinary struggle in America will cease, and

the cultivation of, cotton .again be ifecus•tated. India,* Natal, Queensland, and Jama'tca,' **re gradually; out surely extendHig Itheif operations in the growth of cotton, and in ji few years England will be no longer dependent on America for her cotton supply. U»t in the mean time the cotton manufacturing interest in Great Britain will be much limited in its operations, and consequently, under the most favorable circumstances, many thousands of workpeople will be, to all intents and purposes, deprived of means of support for years, unless new fields for their labour can be opened out. The prospect of any large body of population bting dependent for any considerable penoJ, on eleemosynary assistance for a livelihood, cannot be contemplated without feelings of serious anxiety. Although driven to it by stern necessity, a lengthened dependence on others is fraught with the worst evils to the recipients. Self respect becomes deadened, the energies weakened, and the incentives to honorable industry lessened. To prevent this deplorable consummation should now be the aim of the philanthropists both in Great Britain and the Colonies.

In the copy of the letter which accompanied the draft for £500, forwarded by the relief committee in this town to England by tlie last mail, occur these v^ords, "should assisted emigration be thought advisable." In the scheme there hinted at is the only hope for a large proportion of the cotton operatives in England, and if the colonies and the mother country only do their duty, more may be done to save many thousands of our countrymen from misery by this means, than by the mostextensive pecuniary aid as at present distributed. Queensiandbas set the example, and the plan it has adopted has already been attended with success.

In dealing with the question of introducing large bodies of the manufacturing operatives into the colonies, it has too often been the plan to consider factory workers a3 the most unsuitable class of emigrants possible. A "weaver" i$ written about and spoken of as being a sort of animated skeleton, with gaunt features, and almost devoid of physical strength. But those who would class the factory workers of Lancashire and Yorkshire, with (he much quoted " Spitalficlds weaver," evidently know nothing about them. The operatives employed in the extensive ma nufacturing districts are superior iv intelligence, in education, and in physical endowments to any other working class, and far excel in these particulars the agricultural laborers of Great Britain. Socially and physically they are in every way admirably suitable as immigrants to this or any other colony, and a liberal scheme of free immigration, would far more effectually tend to lessen the great distress at present prevailing than any other plan that could be adopted. In addition to the mechanical skill of the operatives, it is well-known that some of the finest cultivated gardens in the north of England, are those owned by the factory workers, and with which nearly every manufacturing town is surrounded. Public subscriptions will do much to alleviate their distress, and we trust the efforts of the Dunedin Committee will not be relaxed, but a scheme of free mmigralion for the relief of the Lancashire operatives would do more. Let this province, with its abundant revenue, its boundless re■ources, and prosperous people, set an example which will make the name of Otago cherished in the memories of the grateful spinners and weavers of England, and ♦• familiar in their mouths as household words."

The subject of the price of meat, and the effect of the pleuro-pneuraonia restrictions upon the importation of cattle, has been exciting almost as lively attention in Tasmania as in Otago, notvithstan ding that for a considerable time it has been permitted to import cattle, (or slaughter onlr, from Port Albert, in Gipps Land, to Launceston! On the 7th inst. a large and influential meeting was held in the Theatre Itoyal, Hobart Town", the Miyor presiding, when the following resolutions were adopted.-— "1. That as the cattle disease called ' pleuro-pncumonia' lias so far disappeared in the neighboring colonies, especially in New South Wales, where it in said to have originated, &3 to warrant the authorities there in removing their preventive^restrictions ; this meeting is of opinion that the necessity for the continuance of the ' The Pleuro-pnenmonia Act * in this colony no longer txists. 2. That as the L'leuro -pneumonia Act has not only greatly increased the price of meat in this colony, but also established a monopoly and induced inferior supplies, thereby materially affecting the interests of all classes of this community ; this meeting is of opinion that the following memorial should be adopted and presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying him to order in Council the with_ drawal of the proclamation under the aforesaid Act" In the course of the meeting several speeches were made. One of the speakers, describing the pleuro-pncumonia 'Act a3 " a dog in the nringer Act;" and Capt Fisher, the mover of the second resolution, said—" he had heard that cattlo had been driven from Queensland to Port Albert to be shipped for this Colony. Ho believed they would deal with the matter as reasonable men, and if they did so they would get what they wanted. He spoke of the effect of the Act in the neighboring Colony; and said "'if was-a question whether the disease did not exist more in the brains of the concocters than elsewhere (a laugh.) The last cargo of cattle realised £20 but he had brought cargoes which realised £5 a head. If the meeting took up the question rightly, they would get what they wanted. It was their right-to get what they asked and without reference to politics, or party, feeling they could deal with it. Another effect was that this day a lot of sheep realised 265. a-head. There were large quantities of cattle at Twofold Bay which might bo obtained at a fair price, and a gentleman was willing to put on two or three vessels to bring them here to compete with Port Albert."

A special general meeting of the members ol the Garrick Club was held at the Provincial hotel on Saturday evening, when the following resolution" was unanimously adopted :—" That this meeting, learning that Mr. T. W. Standwell is about quitting Dunedin, desires to convey, to him its appreciation of his earnest endeavours, attended with so much success, to proirote the prosperity of the Dunedin Garrick Club from its commencement, and to express its regret that the club is about to lose his valuable co-opera-tion, A further resolution was adopted to the effect that the honorary secretary he requested to write to Mr. Standwell, embodying the resolution, and conveying the best wishes of the

members of the club for his future welfare. %%£x.:

Standwell" was also elected an.bqnqrary member; of the dubr* In addition to this flattering testifmohia!, we'iunderstand that Sir. Standwell, who ■;T^?^ ,cdsppsitor in the effipe of this paper, received from the> cbapeV of which he was " father," a-band6oino : gold ring with a suitable I^l^^:^-^ -'-'•;■'''; •■'.-. ' ■•.

The English, r Qpera Troupe are evidently an attraction at the Princess^ Theatre. There wa6 a really capita^house last;night, and we were pleased to notice that the proportion of ladies in the audience was igreater than'ordinary. The fine singing of Madame Carandini was evidently highly appreciated, whether singing^ in concert or alone, and she was encored in almost everything that she sang. This remark applies in almost an equal degree to the other performers, all of whom were frequently encored. Where everything was so well done, it is difficult to select any particular pitces for remark, but we cannot refrain from noticing the fine duet from Lucia di Lamniermoor, which was expressively rendered by Madame Carandini and Mr. Sberwiu, whose fine tenor voice told with excellent effect in the high notes. Another duet—"The Lilly and the Rose," sung by Madame Carandini and Mdine. Whyte—was also exceedingly well done, and very heartily encored. Mdme. Whyte sang several ballads with occelUnt taste and expression, the "Old Arm Chair" in particular. Madame Carandini also favored the audience with some old and favorite ballads, including " Annie Laurie," and the never too often repeated " Home, sweet Home," and we were pleased to notice that she sang them simply, and without any unnecessary ornament. Their effect was all that could be desired. Mr. Small came out with some new songs of a local character, in which the witty allusions were very happy, and were readily caught up by the audience. The evening's entertainment was to have concluded with "Out on the Sly," but, owing to the sudden indisposition of Mr. Tom Fawcett. another piece had to bo substituted, and the audience were quite satisfied with the " Lottery Ticket," in which, of coarse, Mr. Charles V oung appeared in the character of Wormwood, and equally, of course, delighted everybody with his wonderful representation of the malicious little cripple.

Dionßoucicanlt'Bdrama, "The Willow Copse,* was produced last evening at the Theatre Royal. The plot is a good one, complicated, but clear, and there is an abundance of startling points; while the language is generally forcible and often elegant. Mr. Holt made up admirably, and played well as the old farmer Luke Fielding; and ho was ably supported by Mrs- Holt, as the farmer's erring and repentant daughter Rose. The two villains Bill Staggers, and Richard Hulks, with tbeir cockney slang and brutal mirth, were very capitally done by Mr. J. Le Roy, and .Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Dale was a good Augustus Fuill. As Meg the servant. MadamaDuret showed that sbe possesses a fine rein of broad humour, and she called forth very hearty laughter. The great "situation" with the letter was cleverly sustained; and the drama was fairly successful. The farce was " The Irisb Tutor."

The following is the official description of the comet latfcJy observed in Victoria. We are not aware that the comet has been observed in New Zealand. The following is addressed to the Argus ;—Sir, —Last ereniDg we observed a comet in the northern heavens. From intimation received from a gentleman at Beeehworth, it appears it was seen there the night before. The sky during the fiist part of the evening being clear, we were enabled to make a few preliminary observations, from which its approximate position was found to be b.a. 15h. 46min. 55sec. Decl. 20 o 33' n. To the naked eye, the comet has the appearance of a moderately bright nebulous Btar appearing fainter by reason of the strong moonlight. The tail cannot be clearly discerned, except by the aid of a telescope, when it can be distinctly traced in an easterly direction, over about 3°. At seven o'clock last evening it had an altitude of about 30 °, bearing N.N.W. It is in the head of the constellation " Scrpens," being nearly in the centre of the triangle formed by the (Alpha) Corona Borealia, (Beta) Hercules, and (Delta) Serpentis. Supposing its motion not to be very great, it will set at about 9.50 p.m., the 26 ° north of west. lam happy to state that the inconvenience felt from not possessing an instrument adapted to conietary observations—to which I referred in a letter oa the occasion of the appearance of a former comet—is about to be remedied, as the ship Result has brought an equatorially mounted telescope for the Observatory, which we hope to receive in a few days. I remain your obedient servant, Rob&rt L. J. Ellery. Observatory, Williamstown, September 2.

It will be seen that the proclamation respecting the admission of cattle from Gipps Land has been amended, so as to confine the exemption to one port in Gipps Land, Port Albert.

The Government of New South Wale 3 are inviting competitive designs for a Public Free Library, for the erection of which L 25.000 has been voted by Parliament. Premiums of Ll 50 for the best, and LSO for the next best, designs will be given. The award will be left to a board to be appointed for tha purpose, but if there are no dtHjina of sufficient merit to deserve prizes none wili be awarded.

The'-Ovens Comtitution says :—"The Her. Mr. Steele, Episcopalian minister at Bombala has been committed by the local bench to take his trial at the forthcoming Cooma sessions, for unlawfully disinterring a dead body from the public cemetery. The case is said to be a very intricate one, and lilely to involve some curious legal questions. Great indignation is felt in the neighbourhood at the conduct of the reverend gentleman.

The ffobart Town Advertiser of September Bth says :—« An accident from fire-arms, resulting in the death of Mr. Thomas Bowden, of O'Brien's Bridge, occurred on Saturday afternoon, a little after five o'clock. It appears that Mr. Bowden had been out shooting for the afternoon with two young men, neighbours, Hickson and Connor, and when about a mile and a half from the bridge called at a hut occupied by a person named Hobby, to enquire about a dog Mr. Bowden had lost; while chatting they sat down outside, laying their guvs on the ground; on rising to proceed homewards, Mr. Bowden took his gun, up by the muzzle, and the hammer catching into the ground, raised it off the nipple, and on its. clearing the ground, went down with sufficient force to explode the- cap, discharging the gun ihe whole Cv? nt-? ntS ofvrhicll were received in the stomach by Mr. Bowden, who instantly fell to the ground only having time to say, " take care of my wife and children." One of his companions started for nudical aid. Mr. Bowden, however, died Ion" before any aid could reach, surviving the dis^ charge of the gjun only a few minutes. Dr. Doughty was on the spot as soon after the accident as possible, but all the medical skill in the world if on ihe spot at the time cculd not have rendered him any aid. Dr. Doughty expressed bis surprise that he even lived so long as he did Mr. Bowden's body was removed to his residence the samo evemng. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss—the youngest, an infant a few months old—and utterly* unprovided ior. An inquest wil| be held."