The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1891.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9124, 3 July 1891, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1891.

i m , 'We have not heard this month whether the scheme adopted by, the Government for the prevention of people 1 leaving the colony lias had, the desired effect. The reply to the enquiry sent by the Government to the police here, as to whether there were any men out of work in the district, has been in the ne_' alive, for not an application has been made to Sergeant Duma for employment. In Wellington' and the' bther largor cities it wjll, we expect, be jdifferent; for wo learn that strikes in dif-< jferent trades have not yet died out.. It is those unfortunate .occurrences that tend to injure the colony, The men are paid a fair price for, tjieir . work in proportion to the price the work they are engaged on is sold for, but some are so unreasonable as to jexpect more. They are, however, of that [class who would, kill the "goldon goose .for its eggs," and who have done much (injury to their cause. The" stiikes have [stopped the starting of industries, for persons with" capital have been frightened 'to enter into what might prove , profitable sundertakiags for fear that those Iwhorn they employed might render them unproiitable by leaving them after they bad put all their capital in the venture. In one of tho Canterbury papers the other day we saw a letter from a gentleman in England, who writes to a friend at Christchurch that he wont out to (New Zealand ' with the intention of (commencing business in manufacturing shoots, &c., thinking there would be a good opening in a new country with next to protective duties. To his surprise, howI ever, he found that there were plenty of manufacturers already in the colony. He then aBkB " How is it you still import thousands of dozens into New Zealand ?" He answers this question as follows :—: — " Firstly, we in England keep up to .the times in machinery, which is a great both to the trade and the public ; secondly, we have cheaper labour here at home ; thirdly, our workpeople are much quicker at a whole thao youre, wUiob wfttemlly \w%w tbe coit vf

production. What you want to find out are the means to lessen the working man's expenses so that he could afford to work cheaper and still have the same comforts henow enjoys." There may be something in this, but we fear that whilst we have agitators who lead men on to strikes we .must look for a disruption in trade. But the working men, wo think, are beginning to see that they are only being made "catspaws " of; and therefore we may expect to hear shortly of their turning on their leaders and joining with their employersand .working in friendly unity with them for the benefit of both: f • *'

A train to meet and join the Takapuna 1 going north will leave for the breakwater at 8.30 a.m. to-morrow (Saturday).

Captain Edwin telegraphed at 12.30' p.m. to-day:— "North-east to north and west gale, with rain and heavy sea ; glass further fall."

A real bargain is not often recognised' until it is too late, as for instance :— A town property was sold at a remarkably, cheap figure only the other day, and twentyfour hours after the salo the purchaser was offered £50 above the figure' he gave, for it.

The next attempt to float the Wanaka' will be made on Tuesday, providing, of course, the woather is suitable. A more powerful steamer than was used at the laBt; attempt will act as tug, and as far as can be learned the Takapuna will be tho boat.

Mr Harris Ford, hon. socrotaiy of tho Recreation Grounds Board, begs to acknow- j ledgo £2 from Miss K. Hamerton, towards ,' ropairing the bathing shed ; also 9s through \ the donation box in the gronnds. j

A most successful meeting of the Mutual Improvement Society was held on Thursday night, Mr N. K. MacDiarmid being in the chair. Readings were given by Messrs Pelham, Mofllin, E. Veale, W. Collis, and W. Skinner, and recitations by the Rev. P. W. Fairclough' (President) and Master C. McDiarmid. The resignation of Mr A. Morton as a committeeman was received and accepted with regret. Mr Moffin was elected to fill the vacancy in tho committee; Several now members were proposed and elected.

An incident illustrating the intelligent interest taken in life assurance has come before our notice. It appears that recently a local resident effected an assurance for £500 on his life in the Mutual Life Association of _ Australasia, receiving his policy last week.^ After reading the conditions of the policy, which had ■ been taken out Hnder Table A. R 30, he was so pleased with the contract that he immediately effected a further assurance under the same table for an additional £1000.

On enquiry we learn ' that the erection of a small freezing plant on the reclaimed land is thought of by a number of local exporters, who have written for particulars about the price, etc. The plant will, if purchased, be similar to that used by Messrs Hellaby Bros., butchers, Auckland. The object of the local exporters is to provide a proper place for storing butter.

A very pleasant evening was spent a short time since at St. Mary's Schoolroom in celebration of the third anniversary of the "Girls' Friendly Society" in this district. After a short service, the clergy, associates, members, and their friends sat down to a plentiful tea, after which the party adjourned to the adjoining room, where an excellent programme was gone through.' Amongst the contributions, Mrs A. Standi&h, President of tho Society, gave a report of the work of the Society during the year, and read an interesting paper prepared by an associate who was unable to uttend, Mr MacDiarmid gave a very amusing reading, and the Rev. Mr English made a short address. The musical portion was given by Mrs A. King, Mrs Weetman, Misses R. and F. Webster, Mrs Robinson, Miss Rodgers, Miss Devenish, and the Misses Hemptbn. After refreshments had been distributed, the party dispersed, well pleased with their entertainment. •

The frosts of the past month appear to have been general over the greatest part of the Colony. Near Greymouth a large dam was frozen over to the depth of some three inches. Mr J . T. Skoglund, who 21 years ago brought a pair of skates with him from Sweden," has resided on the Coast-ever since, and ' until the other day. never had the opportunity of using them. He polished up the old skates, and determining to have a grand old time, skated the greatest part of two days. Somo- ( where near Marton is a small lake which had ice upon it nearly six inches thick. Up the Wanganui river, a little distance past Upokenguro, is a email lake where the ice was two and i. half inches in thickness, , and skaters have boon holding high carnival there. , ,

Sir Frederick A; Wold, lato Governor of the Straits Settlements, was reported to bo .lying seriously ill at Singapore whea the last mail left.

Colonel Stapp returned to Now Plymouth from Wellington (where he has been on a short visit) on Thursday ievening, and we aro glad to say he is looking quite himself again. He tolls us that he has met with much kindness from every one during his trip, and the Press of .Wellington have advocated his claim for past services in a most generous manner. The following extract from the N. Z. 'Times Bhow how they view the question. The Time» says :—": — " With the petition of Colonel Stapp, of Taranaki, we have every sympathy, and if there bo a feeling deeper and more practical than sympathy ,wo have it too. The Colonel •is k soldier who risked his life in ,war for the honor of the flag and the protection of the country. Between him and the ordinary Civil sui'vant who' never is called upon to run any risk at all no difference whatever has been niado. It is monstrous. Retrenchment iB ruthless because the men who, force economy on Governments have no ideas above pounds, shillings and pence. But a nation > should recognise the higher ideas. After his career of brave service Colonel Stapp is petitioning Parliament in his hour ,of ruthless, ungrateful, retrenchment. Parliament is to be asked, wo hear, to toss him a small sum of money. Brave service should, as in America, be rewarded with a pension."