PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1802 THE RETURN WAVE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6543, 9 December 1892, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1802 THE RETURN WAVE.

Dl'Rl.vo the nnmth uf November the arrivals in Now Zealand exceeded tho departures by 1100 porsons. The gain, which is a grim way of putting it considering the depressed state of the labar market in this colony, has been derived from Australia. Two causes mainly are operating to cause this accession to our population. There is a, great dearth of employment in Sydney and Melbourne, in each of which thousands of men are out of work, and a |MRSiio,e to Now Zealand is now remark ably cheap owing to the competition between the Union Company and the line recently established. The rivalry may be good for the travelling public, but it will certainly be productive of injury to the colony as a whole if it contributes to a larger number of people coining heie than can be absorbed by the demand for labor. In Dunedin, Christchurch, arid Wellington, there is a great dearth of employment', and fears are expressed that matters will become worse before an improvement takes place. Low prices generally for produce has checked the extension of enterprise, and, in addition, there has been an uneasy feeling amongst capitalists ever since (he Government brought down their taxation policy. But we think V at low prices have been the main cause of the depression. If the value of our exports had continued to advance by " leaps and bounds," most probably the ill-effects of the Ministerial policy would not have been appreciably felt. At the time the Government took office, the country was in a transition state from depression to prosperity, and there was great inside and outside confidence in its future. A heavy blow was dealt at that confidence, which has not yet been entirely recovered. The time was particularly inopportune for making a radical change in taxation. Mr Ballance prophesied that his policy would resuit in a return to these shores of the men who had left in large numbers in the three years ending in 1890. As far as the mere increase of population in concerned, tho prophesy is likely to turn out true, but he would be a bold man who would assert that the return wave is owing to-increasing prosperity of the colony, which it was promised would be brought about by the Government policy. The country is not so prosperous at the present time as it was when the balance of the emigration and immigration returns waf Against u& BuHbe Jabpr market is go&

nearly so depressed here as on the other side, though goodness knows what will bo tho position if people from Australia keep arriving hero in increasing numbers. The Govornment already experience difficulty in providing for the unemployed. The Ijabor Bureau may have to deal with thousands where it hns now only to deal with hundreds. The Government must see th it tho situation may become most sorious. It has been spread far and wide throughout Australia that in Now Zealand if men cannot find private employe™ the State will provide work for them. That is a mischievous and erronoous notion to get abroad, and the Government should lose no time in correcting it. The co-operative works in New Zealand have been represented as furnishing most remunerative fields of employment, whilst as an actual fact, the best pick and shovel men on these works do not earn on the average more than a shilliug an hour, whilsb men who are unused to that class of labor earn but a b:\ro existence. Up to the present the permanent officers of tho Works Department have^ucceeded in protecting the interests of tho public. The unemployed of the other colonies should bo made to understand that they aro likely to earn as good wages on the relief Avorks of their own Governments as on co-oporative works in New Zealand.

We hear that the freezing works will suspend operations for about three weeks after tl c loth inst.

Mr A. McKenzie ships by the Talune this evening 103 2-tooth Lincoln rains consigned to Mr A. McKenzie, Featherston, Wairarapa.

Amongst the prize winners at tha school this afternoon was a boy, Hugh Morrison, Avho has not missed an attendance at school for five years.

The programme of the Caledonian Society sports, to be held on January 2nd, is published as an inset in this evening's issue.

A prebby little song, " The Merry Singer," is being issued by Mr E. Chrisp, agent for the Singer sewing machines in this district. The music is bright and attractive, and the gift is a good advertisement for the Company.

The attention of those ratepayers Avho have not. yet paid rates to the Gisborne Harbor Board now overdue, is called to the notice in our advertising columns. Instructions have been issued to get in all outstanding rates by the 31st of December, Avhich is the close of the Board's financial year.

At the R.M. Court yesterday Mr Booth had before him the case of J. Wade v. Lieut. - Colonel Poiter, claim .€7 18s 6d for Avork done in erecting a fountain. The defence Avas that tho charge av;is excessive, and a good deal of expert evidence Avas called. Judgment Avas given for plaintiff for £7 and costs X' 3 19.5.

The Wkather.— Weather forecast for 24 hours from 9a.m. to-day: — Wind betAveen north and west and south at all places ; barometer rise everywhere ; sea heavy on western coast. Warnings for Avesterly gales and rain have been sent to all places. Synopsis of last 21 hours: Throughout ihe country the barometer has fallen steadily Avith moderate to fresh Avesterly Avinds and rain. — R. A. Edwin.

Better Avharf accommodation is at last to be provided at this port. The Harbor Board decided last evening to construct a wharf a short distance above (he present one, so that room may be provided to berth two more schooners than there is wharfage space for at present.

On Wednesday evening the final heat of the Turanganui (Junior) Rowing Club's trial fours was rowed off on the Taruheru river, the crews being as follows :— Jones (stroke), C. Piesse (3), Cox (2), A. Piesse (bow), and Johnston (stroke), Martin (3), Brewer (2), Ardcrn (bow). The race was a A r cry even one, and resulted in a Avin for Jones' crew by a length.

The man Avho murdered Robertson in Napier by ripping open his groin Avith a knife was sentenced to four years' hard labor. Finlay, Avho shot the seaman at Wellington, was sentenced to ten years' hard labor. Powell, the Auckland chemist, was sentenced to ten years' hard labor for causing abortion. If these three sentences are compared by thoughtful persons, they Avill conclude that legal procedure in the matter of sentence needs revision badly. — H.B. Herald.

Last night as a dray driven by Mrs McCormick was going along between Waerenga-a-liika and Ormond, a Native on horseback came racing down the road in the darkness and galloped on to the dray, the shaft striking his horse in the chest and being forced out at the shoulder. Tho poor beast fell dead instantly. The Native was thrown clear, and beyond a shaking Avas not hurt. The Avoman driving Ava=i, by the force of the collision, thrown forward and fell between the feet of the horse in the dray, fortunately she also escaped without accident. Natives are frequently guilty of reckless riding, and avc think that steps should be taken to prevent such danger to life and limb.

We regret to record the death of Ernest Sandlant, Avhich occurred at a quarter past two this afternoon. The caus-3 of death is supposed to be iiiUmim-it-inn of tho bowels, which was brought about by over-exertion, the deceased having heou one of tho oarsmen in a closely-contested boat race on Friday last. Ernest Sandlant Avas a fine, manly young felloAv, industrious and remarkably clever at his trade, which was that of coachbuildor. His death is a sad blow to his parents, who, we are sure, will receive the sympathy of all who were acquainted with tho you who has been cut oft' on the threshold of his nrinhood, and who had in all respects acquitted himself avull.

The last of the Gisborne Rowing Club's trial four races was rowed on the Turauganui river last evening from the lower wharf to Harris's bend between tho following crcw.s : — Ratclihe (stroke), Cosgrave (3), Dairy m pie (2), Murphy (bow) ; Miller (stroke), Harris (3), Fuller (2), Holmes (bow). The boats left the shed at G, and on reaching the starting post were sent away to a good start, but Miller's men getting a better grip of the water slowly forged ahead, and at the bridge led by a length. At the junction RatclitFe spurted and gained half a length, but could not get on even term 3 again. At Harris's both crews spurted, and from here to the post it was a real good race, both crews going all they knew, Miller winning by half a length. W. J. Green steered the winners.

The School concert last night attracted ■one of the largest audiences ever seen within the four walis of a building in Gisborne. The Theatre lioj'al was packed in all parts, there being barely standing room for the assemblage, amongst whom, as might be expected, the fair sex predominated. The success was well deserved, fur a better entertainment of the sort has rarely been Avitnessed in New Zealand. Mr Bull, wiio was the principal instructor of the children in tho preparatory work of the concert, acted as stage manager, and the orchestra was under the conductorship of Mr G. Davis. The entertainment proceeded without a bitch from start to finish, the lime and movement of the singing, bar exercises, and drill being remarkably good. Both on and off the stage the pupils of the Gisborne School were a credit to their instructors. Amongst the audience there Avas a large number of the rising generation, and it was pleasing to note the good order that prevailed, for it ia a matter of the utmost importance that the discipline and decorum of the school should be maintained outside— in the street and at public entertainments. A stranger visiting tho Theatre Royal last evening must have been favorably impressed with the behaviour of the youthful part of the audience. The members of the School Committee actively employed themselves in the hall, and did everything in their power to overcome the diiticulty of want of space for the accommodation for the assemblage, for surely "all Gisborne and his wife" were there. There is no need to enter into details of the concert, and we will content ourselves Avith stating that everyone present appeared to be highly delighted with the performance, and we are sure that the promoters must feel satisfied. with the result, financial and otherwise. At the conclusion of the entertainment, Mr Bull cordially thanked those present for their patronage, and invited them to be present at the distribution of p-izes which Avas to take place in the school play ground the following day. Tbe proceeds of the concert ar« to be devoted to prices.