AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) September 29.

Otago Witness, Issue 1913, 9 October 1890, Page 22

AUCKLAND. (From Our Own Correspondent.) September 29.

Considerable regret is expressed at the retirement of Mr J. B. Whyte for Waikato. He is one of the few men who refuse to occupy the position of a mere delegate. Another member who will probably be frozen out by the readjustment of the electorates is Mr Moat. The arrival of Mr Mitchelson and Sir George Grrey will put an end to the uncertainty which at present prevails as to the candidates for the different districts, as he is expected to settle the plan of campaign for the Ministerialists, and Sir George for the Opposition. It is not anticipated that there will be any "independent" candi- i dates to upset the little arrangements. I One of the most singular features of the strike has been the exodus of union seamen from the ! Sailors' Home. Like most troubies, it had a very small cause. It was discovered that one or two of the men were " kuocking down" their cheques about the town, which they had received on being " called out," and the management of the Home, seeing that such men being now out of work are not likely to be iv a position to pay their board bill, gave stringent orders that all board must be paid in advance, and the regulations which had in ordinary fames been leniently administered, carried out to the letter. Unfortunately, in carrying out the orders, the manager was, with the "best intentions," a little injudicious, both in the manner of giving the necessary notice and the terms in which they were couched, though no practical injustice was done to any man. However, the seamen who had not complied with the regulations as to paying their board in advance, when their fortnight had expired took umbrage, felt their honour impugned by being presented with their ''little bill," and left. Jack acted on the good old service maxim, " when you touch one you touch the tribe," acd those who had paid up to the very letter also cleared out in sympathy with their comrades in their deep affliction at being dunned by the landlord, and in " the assertion of a great principle," as the cant phrase runs. Some of the men, however, declined to budge, and remain in the Home to this day, and say if they were to be " murdered " ashore, as well as afloat, and told where to board, and how to live, they have had quite enough of unionism. The least that could be done is to let them have their liberty ashore. As soon as the strike is over, the unionists will be all back again at the Home, as they can get nothing like the accommodation and advantages elsewhere for the money. It is admitted, all things being considered, that it is the finest Sailors' Home in the Southern Hemisphere. Two delegates from the Trades and Labour Council have just started on a mission to the north, for the purpose of " organising " the bush mill hands and gttna diggers. The former are estimated at 4000 and the latter at 6000 stiong. The most amusing part of the affair is that ife is not a fortnight ago since the Northern mill hands notified the Kauri Timber Co. that they had not a single grievance, every demand having been conceded, and thanking the company for its action. A3 for the gum diggers, their grievance is popularly believed to be that they want rum (Jamaica) 25 per cent, overproof, instead of "logwood and tobacco wash," acd want it at half-price. A couple of months ago I was travelling in the wilds of the North, when I came across a string of pack horses steadily wending their way, girth deep in mud, into the bush. My guide said significantly to the advanced guard, " I suppose there's more vinegar ' going up to to the boys ' in the creek," and the sweet smile which overspread the face of the leading bullock-puncher would not have disgraced the countenance of the heathen Chinee. It would puzzle even Mr Millar himself to better the social condition of the great proportion of the men of this class, who "earn their money like horses and spend it like asses," and who, when they cannot imbibe any more, which is not fin infrequent occurrence, want the balance of the liquor poured over them " as they like the smell of it." Trade is now flowing back into its accustomed channels, and the various factories and industries again working full time. The ordinary train services are being resumed, owing to the mines being reopeued. There hsve beeu some whispers of trouble in the boot rectories. The Auckland tariff is below that of the south, and the southern unions desire it to b& uniform, to"pre->

vent Auckland cheaper-made boots competing in southern markets, and against southern manufacturers. It is contended that if there is a uniform scale there is then a fair field and no favour, and the best manufacturers will win. The new" statement "oi the Auckland Operative Bootmakers' Union is inteuded to meet the views of their southern brethren. The active part taken in the labour troubles by the pastor of the Tabernacle has led to very strained relations between himself and his congregation, with the exception of the "Holiness"' ■ section. The church and«ongregation are the largest in the city, so tfiat the matter has excited great public interest. Pastor Birch is a veuy well meaning man, whose discretion is scarcely equal to his good intentions. Among the trifles which have occupied his attention since his arrival in Auckland, a few months ago, from Manchester, he undertook to assist, by lecturing, the Gospel Temperance mission to £50 in aid of its- work- (of which they are yet in patient; expectation after months of waiting) ; endeavoured to get his congregation to establish two Churches, but they failed to respond ; projected a mission to the Solomon Islands (which never reached the sfcage off a preliminary, meeting); undertook the regeneration of the boys of Kohimarama Industrial' School^ the coalminers of Waikato, and the pensioners of the pensioner settlements; inaugurated a Good Samaritan Society (which died with the preliminary committee of inquiry), and propounded a scheme for settling the people on the land, which would make Mr Ballanco himself smile, and which exists solely on paper. That is nob a bad record for eight months, but when it culminated in a life membership of the Trades and Labour Council, and his profferin g, on behalf of labour, to negotiate with the Employers' Association for a settlement of affair, and his avowed intention to fix up a cablegram for Sydney which was to settle the strike in a couple of days. The faithful and the general public protested it was too much, and asked the clerical 'patriot and sooial reformer to stay his hand and "rest and be thankful." It was in vain, the famous [•scene in the Tabernacle" ensued,— meetings of ■irate church members — but the pastor "holds the fort" against all and sundry. Both sides ■have been poring over the churoh deed, and seeking counsel from fcbe gentlemen of the long robe, so that there will be some fnn before the present incumbent is got out of the Tabernacle. An attempt is being made by Mr Udy, the new chairman of the Board of Education, to introduce a new scheme for payment of assistant teachers. His object is to have fixed regulations so that members may not be coming to the board and proposing increases without regard to the quali6cations of the teachew. It is very improbable that Mr TJdy will succeed,, as ao many interests are involved. Mr Lube has still further complicated matters by rai6ing the question that teachers be paid' the same salary, according to classification or rank, whether male | or female, but he is in advance of public opinion. One of the oldest pioneer settlers has passed away in the person of Mr R. C. Barstow,, formerly resident magistrate of this- city. There is reason to believe that his- sudden death i was precipitated by the care and worry he hadi i experienced over the affairs of the Kaihu Railway Company, iv which hewas largely concerned. "In this and in other enterprises for developing the industrial' resources of the colony he had generously undertaken heavy responsibilities, and in consequence had been heavily hit. There were few better colonists than Mr Barstow, and his sad 1 death has produced universal regret.