WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 33

WELLINGTON.

There ie considerable scarcity of labour in Wellington at present, and the Labour Departmjent is in need of 100 labourers for Government and private employment. Manufacturers are also in want of hands, and because they cannot get them have in some instances to refuse orders.' Girls especially seem more and more inclined to shun the factory. It is suggested that greater efforts should be made to obtain immigrants from the Old Country. A deputation of employers waited on the Minister of Labour in connection with the matter, but the meeting was private.

Two burglaries have taken place within by Mr W. A. Clark, M'Farlane street, was entered first, and a quantity of jewellery to the value of £34- stolen. On the 3rd inst. an entrance was effected into the bouse of Mr C. A. Hiclreon, Commissioner of Stamps, Fitzherbert terrace, and jewellery valued at £30 removed. So far the culprits have not- been discovered.

The hearing of the charge again.st Archibald M'Nab, alias Burn 6, alias Sullivan, of stealing £115 from David Sutherland, a deaf and dumb man, whose body was afterwards found floating in the harbour, was concluded at the Magistrate's Court to-day. Accused was committed for trial.

Mr H. Field, who returned by + he lonio on (he 4th after an absence of two years in Britain, said to a Times reporter that the Lanc&ehire cotton milk were working over time. In politics he foresees a are&i break-ing-up of old parties, and the coming to the front of the worker. Wages, however, are still low, hours long, and many unemployed. There seems no "oom 'or he people in the British Isles. Interesting details about the ;ruano depot known es Maiden Island, 3000 miles away from New Zealand, have been furnished by Captain Schroder, of the schooner Alice. The island, only cix mjle6 by four, is absolutely without vegetation Rain i? scarce, and "resh water is obtained by condensation. It belongs to Messrs Grice, fcuinner, and Co.. of Melbourne, and hundreds of ton 9of guano leave the island annually. It is peopled by kanakas and Cook L-landers, and six white men. The present manager. Captain Carlson, who has his wife and child with him, is known in New Zealand. There being no harbour, the mooring buoys are amchored in 70 fathoms of water. Recently a thousand cocoanuts were planted, but the islanders by stealth dug them up and ate them. An important land sale was held at Feilding on the 6th. About 20 small sections in Aoransri. two nulee from Feilding. and just outside the borough, averaged £150 an acre. The Wanganui Jockey Club on Saturday evening reappointed Mr Ryves Webb to the position of caretaker of the course. There were over 50 application's from all parts of the Dominion.