THE LABOUR MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 14

THE LABOUR MARKET.

Mr Skene reports under date Apiil 20 :— So far as work and busine?s are concerned, nil bus given place to holiday making. But now the tripping, picnicking, and racinf; are over, and all the looso money scattered, we must settle down to hard graft once again. It is well, however, that we are able to afford money and time for pleasure. JLate wages: Couples, £05 to £70; ploughmen. 17s to 20a; shepherds, £52 Io £55 ; cioks. 20^; gardeners, 20s -to SOs ; boys and lads for farms, 8s to 15i. Tiapp'.ng will soon be on.

Before Mr Hawkins, S.M., at Balclutha on the 14-tb, a number of settlers were fined for neglecting to destroy rabbits on their property. Fines were imposed of 10s, ICM, 15s. 20s, and 4-Oj, with 12:iC03tsin each case. Mr Hvwkins had a word to say for the unpopular rabbiD inspector. The Clutha Leader repot to his Worship as saying :— •• The inspector had au exceedingly invidious office, and most of the inspectors that he had seen had endeavoured to do their werk honestly, without fear or favour. Out; of some 100 notices which he saw from the books had been sent out only five had been summoned. He must say some of the remarks made about the inspectors by some of the defendants that day were very much uncalled for."

Walter Bentley— you all know Walter— was at his highest one night in " K ; ng Henry VIII " at the Wellington Opera House. •• Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness. This is the stite of man : to-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms and buars his blushing honours thick upon him, the third day comes a frost, a killing frost." Voice from <he gods (mimicking Walter) : " Then try Woods's Git cat Peppermint Cdbe." It brouuat down the house.