THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1894.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10200, 7 November 1894, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1894.

Most of our readers are doubtless pretty well acquainted by this time •with the main provisions of the Shops and Assistants Act, which is to come into force on the Ist of next January, the task of seeing that the law is duly carried out being placed in the hands of the inspectors of factories. "It shall be the duty of every inspector to see that the provisions of this Act are properly carried out, and to prosecute all persons guilty of any breach thereof." Shopkeepers -will naturally be on the alert in respect of this new law, and each occupier may be expected to furnish himself with a copy ofthe Act with a view of carefully studying ita provisions. The day to be set aside as a half-holiday has, of course, yet to be fixed by the local authorities, but our present purpose is to remind those whom the fact may concern that the title of the Act does not fully express the nature of its contents. It is not merely a Shops and Shop Assistants Act: it is also an Offices and Clerks Act. Not only shopl keepers, but bank managers and occupiers of offices generally (with a few j exceptions) will be among the people

whom the inspector of factories will have the task of watching. The Legislatire Council is responsible for this addition to the original proposals—an addition, by the way, of which' the Minister for Labour does not altogether approve, The new provision is to be found in clause 18, which' reads as follows:—

The closing hour of all offices shall not be later than 5 o'clock in the afternoon of each week day except Saturday, when the closing hour shall be not later than 1 o'clock in tho afternoon: provided that cashiers, ledger, keepers, and cashbook keepers in any office may, before leaving their offices, balance the books in their charge of the day's transactions; and provided further that exception shall bo; made in respect of not exceeding sis days in each calendar month, when employees may be required to continue at work* or to return to work for not exceeding three hours in ah^ 6ne day: It is further provided that this section shall not apply to shipping, tramway,, and newspaper offices.

■/It is also provided that for the purposes of balance-making, offices^hall be exempted twice a year for periods of four weeks each. It will be observed that the exemptions are 6f an important nature, and they may go far to reconcile employers to the main provisions of the clause ; but a more con- ' venient plan would have been to state | -the number of days in the year upon which exemption would afpply*, and to allow employers the discretionary power of allocating those days. There may be certain months in the year (over and above the two months specified) during which overtime is necessary on a considerable number of days, whereas in other months there may not be a aingle call to exceed the ordinary working ti^e. Moreover, it has been pointed o^t that while the Act specifier the, t{ me a t which work in offices mn^t close there is no mention of a t^ Qie a t which the work must, or may, "fe eg i n . an( j clerks, unlike the Minister's other proteges, are not limited to .m many hours' work per 'week.' We -'do not suppose that clerks are likely to be required to go to work.: earlier than' heretofere on account, of • the provisions i of this Act, but the possibility none the less exists; ' -it -is- noticeable that shipping, tramway," and newspaper offices are exempted from the Operation of the clause, and we may add that a careful j persiial of the'-"wordingsugg&rte more than one possibility of evasion. We have no wish, however, to dwell upon this view of the matter, and-we repeat that employers,' however arbitrary and unnecessary they may Regard the provisions of the Act, will -do ,weU,rt6 bear the nature of those provisions in mind with a view to ordering their arrangements accordingly on the Ist of next I January.

"We remarked on Saturday that the death of Ai/exajjdek 111, the peaceloving Czar, -would necessarily cause a considerable amount of anxiety in reference to the state of European politics. The anxiety arises not merely from the loss of the peace-keeper, hut from considerations and doubts concerning the character of his successor. Not much is known about Kichoias, and that little is not altogether favourable. There have been rumours of marked eccentricity on the part of this' young man whe/ is now raised to so august and responsible a position, and it is understood that the late Czar at one time entertained the idea of diverting' the succession from his eldest son in favour of the Grand Duke Geoege.' The" Czar's power in respect of peace or war is so enormous and direct that any intensity of .anxiety or curiosity may well be pardoned; and it is so far satisfactory to .note the' pacific character ancl the favourable effect of- Nicholas's initiatory manifesto. According to the cable, "the peaceful nature of the manifesto issued has satisfied -Europe, and has prevented a fall on the bourses." Too much must, not be made of the edifying phrases of a more or less formal document, but if the young Czar indeed " remembers the legacy of his father," and if he really makes " the happiness of his subjects his sole aim," neither Europe nor Russia will have cause bf complaint. There has been a fear that Nicholas would prove too easily influenced by the reactionary nobles, but in this connection there is a striking suggestiveness' in the statement that " the aristocracy believe that the Czar Nicholas is likely to effect startling social and political reforms, partially in recognition of the popular demands." The assassination of Alexander II and the supposed necessity for repressive action gave a sternness to Alexander Ill's .domestic policy which was probably foreign to his nature an«l to' his ' earlier intentions : it may be that the Czar Nicholas will revive the milder and more popular methods .of his grandfather. Putting aside the irreconcilable extremists, he has an easy people to deal with. The bulk of his subjects will venerate him as Czar, even if they do not love'him as a man. Even now the Eussian capital is wavering between grief and joy after a fashion that provokes a smile. The cable states that jubilations are being made in honour of the accession of Nicholas, and public mourning for the death of Alexander is postponed till Saturday ! Doubtless this mourning will be sincere enough, though the mourners are able to deliberately postpone the lacrymose display; There is a call for rejoicing and a call for tears, and joy is a more pleasant thing than sorrow; so the capital naively settles the matter by feting Nicholas without delay, promising themselves ■ a hearty lamentation in honour of Alexander on Saturday.

The flnal sitting of, the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland for this year was held lasfc evening, when a large' amount of business was transacted. Some of the business was of a, formal character, but this, does not apply, to the bulk of ifc, as several important reports, including the oue oa missions, were considered. The Rev. D. Borrie was nominated as the next moderator, .apd the nomination was all bub unanimously accepted, the Rev. Mr Bsrrie himself being the only dissentient. The Rev. R. Waddell and the Moderator (the Rev. Mr Sutherland) were appointed deputies to the Northern Church, and ib was resolved thafc fche nexfc meeting of synod should commence on the last Monday in October.

Mr Paulin sent ns the following forecast last evening :—"Light to moderate S.E. to N.E. winds, with heavy rain showers and mist."

A labourer named Thomaß Nailon, aged 55 years, whose wife resides in Main street, South Dunedin, died suddenly while at breakfast afc the Lee Creek Hotel yesterday morning. He was aboufc fco proceed fco Middlemarch to work for B*".r W. Meade, contractor.

The output of coal from the Westport and Greymouth mines for the month of October was as follows -.—Westport, 16,147 tons 16cwt; Greymouth, 10,157 tons Scwt.

The directors of the Roslyn Tramway Company have decided to give a trial to the running of Sunday trams during fche summer months, commencing with Sunday next. ~__

We understand that the Moa Creek School Committee have declined to receive Miss White as teacher, and have closed'the school. The building used as a school, ifc appear?,'does not belong to the Education Board, but to a member of the school committee. The isommifctee's objection to Miss White, it will be remembered, yfas that she is a Eopaan Catholic.

Tiie following have been appointed by the Standing Committee to sit in the Diocesan Synod :—Mr D'Arcy Haggitt for Balclutha, Mr J.-M. Eitchie for Dunstan, Mr Spencer Brent for "Waitaki Plains. - ■

About 80 gentlemen attended Mr Alf, Dawson's general committee meeting, held laifc night, in, the rooms, Princes street. Mr S. N. Browu, chairman of committees, presided. After congratulatory remarks on the large aud thoroughly representative gathering, tho chairman , read reports from, the various ward committees, all of these beiug of an encouraging eharacteir. • Some routine business having been got through, tbe meeting closed in due form. '-...'

: 'Mc A.- Blatheson, the present *3S&y&r of Eoslyn, seeks re-eleotion.

Mr" D.-Harris. Hastings was yesterday presented with a req«i6it'o)A, signed by over 100 ratepayers in fcho borough of West Harbour, asking him to allow .himself to be nominated for tho mayoralty for.the ensuing term. Mr Hastings agreed to offer himself for election.

Mr William Aitken; nominated by Messrs J. Pollock and W. Robertson, wk8s: elected unopposed yesterday as Mayor uf Maori Hill. \

: A very interesting meeting was held on Monday evening last in the vestry of Moray place Congregational Church. Mrs W. Saunders (wife of- tbff Rusts*), >>iesided;- and lady representativesfrom Po it Chalmers, Ravensbourne, St. Clair, M<- jta y pl ß ce,J and Great KiDg street CoilS"r«gational Churches were present. The of the meeting was to make fihal arrangements for a sale of work, which is to take place on December 4- and s^' uuder the auspices of the Otago District Committee of the Congregational Union. The proceeds of the sale are to be devoted to tho wiping out of a debt and assist*' ing in the erection of a caretaker's residence in connection with King street Congregational Church. The matter has been taken up by all the Congregational churches in such a hearty manner that the highest expectations are likely to be more than realised. ~..-.*

Mr W. Earnshaw, M;H,B., Will address his constituents this evening.

A ,correspondent: writes us as follows:—"I have received' tiie enclosed paragraph from,- a friend "at Ho*ihe. He ha* also written to Dr Viquerat for full particulars, and has promised! to write me with same when he gets a reply. When: it comes I shall send it to you, knowing how many are interested in any remedy for this dire disease": 'Dr Viquerat; of Genfeva, after a long study of tuberculosis,,has reached some •extraordinary results. Twenty-seven tuberculous patients of the second or third degree have undergone £>is "treatment (subcutaneous, injections of the serum of asses), and 25 who had been given up by their physicians as lost are, to-day entirely cured. An authoritative report gives the names and addresses bf 25 patients, treated. ; As a result of this success a philanthropic Genevan has founded in Geneva the Viquerat Institute for the treatment of persons whose case is looked upon as ..hopeless,""..

The general meeting of the Commercial, Property, and Finance: Company will be held on Thursday, 15th inst. Messrs A. Lorie and Co. will sell fruit to-day. Messrs James Samson and' Co. will sell household furniture and effects to-dayi Messrs Fleming and Hedley will sell at Oamaru on Saturday, 17th inst, a freehold improved farm near Oamaru. • t

Messrs Miles and Co, will sell at Ashburton on Tuesday, 20th inst.,'store merino wethers.

The annual missionary meeting in connection: with Trinity Wesleyan Church will be held thi? evening. :.-• : i The ordinary monthly meeting ofthe Gaelic Society will be held this evening. - '~'*., " .' : ,; "* Messrs A. and T. Inglis; will keep thf ir warehouse open to-morrow, and close on Friday. Passengers and periodicals by the Ruahine arrive by the Mora on Friday. The returning officer of South Dunedin announces in this issue that the nomination of candidates for the offico of mayor will be received until 12 o'clock noctn on November 18. Business depression causes endless trouble to our digestjye functions, and upsets the liver and stomach. Wahoo" mends matters speedily. 2s 6d grocers and chemists.—[Advt.] Large stock of Taylor's bowling green bowls at wholesale prices, lis & T. Young's, 88 Princes streefc—[Advt.] Specially-prepared- sodawater for invalids, as supplied'by Thomson and Co. to the'Duuedin Hospital, Union Company's entire fleet, and other public'institutions. In nearly1 all cases of sickness Thomson and Co.'s sodawater is held in high 1 esteem by,physicians for its purity aud-iwhole-soine action in assimilating,with-milk and other nutritious liquids. Labelled with name and .trademark,.—[Advt.],; --. s'.'T 7/7',//y J "Messrs A, and J. M'Farlank beg to call attention to their advertisement over the leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive tha best attention.—[Advt.] ' John HisLof, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes Btreet. The oldest'established house in town.-;Repairs,of all kinds. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit"all sights.—[Advt.] :.'-.- iWehave much pleasure in drawing attention to D. Dawson's advertisement announcing that he is retiring from the watchmaking and jewellery business; and that he isi giving large'discounts in order to ensure a speedy and cdmulete sale of his large and varied stock. The public will be wise ia taking advantage of this opportunity to purchase watches, clocks, and electro-plate at wholesale prices.—[Advt.] * ~: A gqo4 tailor is a boon to mankind; coupled with cheapness he is doujbly so. For well-made, stylish Suits try W. Scon and Co.—[Advt.]