THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1865.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22956, 11 August 1936, Page 3

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." [Established November 15, 1861.] DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1865.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO

In the general discussion of the Immigration question, the same ambiguity prevails that has already called for comment in the answer given by Mr Dick to an interrogator at one of his late meetings. When a man is called on to answer categorically to the question whether he is in favor of the continuance of emigration to the Province from the home country, it is not only fair to him, but necessary to the proper understanding of his views, that some definite explanation should be given to what the querist really means by emigration. . . . ... Taking the case of tltc hardworking man wanting employment, the fact remains attested by ample evidence, that the Gold Fields of Otago, under the present development of mining enterprise, are capable of absorbing a far larger amount of labor than is available to supply them. Upon this point all witnesses agree. At this moment in various directions, operations full of promise are seriously embarrassed by want of labor. High rates of wages are being offered, but the demand keeps steadily in advance of the supply. ... At the Dunstan, we are told, " there is a large " amount of gold being obtained ; but labor is exceedingly scarce—few men at " present being inclined "to work for wages." The last thing a miner is inclined to do on a prosperous gold field is to sink to the level of a hired laborer. His natural impulse is to take his chance of realising higher earnings than moderate fixed wages. But, so long as those wages call be commanded in the event of a more adventurous enterprise failing, and so long as the cry continues to reach, town from the diggings—labor is scarce—it is preposterous to give currency to the idea that the tide of immigration had better be checked, because there is no employment for the new comers. The establishment of manufactures, and the prosecution of great public works, will of course furnish additional occupation for thousands. But as it is, the development of the mining resources of the Province awaits the assistance of extra hands. In the rush that has taken place in Hokitika we see nothing more than the ordinary phenomena of gold fields history. A digging community is essentially restless and excitable—always impulsively yielding to new attractions. The richest of the old fields suffer as well as the poorest. If twice as many of our miners had left the Province as have actually departed, the fact would be equally valueless as an evidence of the diminished productiveness of its gold fields And so long as those gold fields remain only partially occupied, and still more partially worked, it is puerile to talk of the " redundancy " of the present population of Otago. BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday, 4J p.m. The Lord Ashley arrived from Wellington. Pipiriki was relieved, after being besieged for twelve days. The Colonial forces behaved with great gallantry. 300 rebels were engaged, and suffered great loss. There has been severe fighting at Warea. Lieutenant Bally and three soldiers were killed, and Lieutenant Tylden and five soldiers wounded. Thirty Maoris killed. . . .