The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3269, 19 March 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1885.

When we have meetings of the unemployed m the height of the harvest season, it- must be confessed that the spectacle is anything but satisfactory. It appears good evidence that there must be something wrong m some of our social arrangements. A deputation of men out of work who waited on Sir Julius Yogel at Christchurch on Tuesday had a good deal to say on the subject, and it may be interesting to examine into some of their statements, with the view of seeing, if possible, what may be the cause of such an anomalous condition of affairs. . The Mayor ' of Ohristchurch accompanied the deputation, and agreed with them | that there was a large number of men who could not get work through the ordinary channels. There was very little building going on, he explained, m the factories the number of hands was being reduced, and this also had been a cause of depression m the labor market. There was a superabundance of labor m Christchurch, and little or no outlet for it. There were no Government works m or near the centre, and the men had to go a long way out to them. Apart from the professional loafer and platform ' agitater, His Worship declared, there were a large number of men badly m want of work. This statement is important, as showing that there is at any rate some foundation for the agitation. Indeed if the assertions of another speaker, a carpenter named Gibbs, are to be accepted, Christchurch must be m an exceedingly bad way just now. Mr Gibbs stated that there were 1000 empty houses m Christchurch and Sydenham, which the people had left because of the scarcity of work. There was no work, he added, for carpenters. His own history, as given to Sir Julius, is probably typical of a good many others. He arrived m Adelaide thirty years ago, he said, and m 1862 came to Dunedin, where he worked for twelve years. When he came to Canterbury he obtained 11s aday, but that did not last, and he had been round Taranaki, where he built the railway station ; to Blenheim, where he built the Institute ; to Akaroa, where he built the Bank ; and German Bay, where he built the public school. When his woi'k was done he came back to Christchurch, and now could only get 8s a day on casual jobs. He had been to Hurunui, and could only earn 7s a day, and he had a family, and a father-in-law who was seventy-eight years old to keep. He asked for a pass to take him somewhere to look for work, as he had no money to move about with. Another carpenter named Robins made a similar request, and said some carpenters had gone to Wellington where he understood there was plenty of work. Some of the deputation complained of misleading statements made m the English papers and by immigration agents, on the strength of which they had been induced to come out here. One man said he had been m the colony sixteen months and had only been able to get a week's work. Another man stated that he had been for three weeks up-country trying to get harvest work, and all that he earned was eight shillings. The farmers, it was explained m the course of the interview, were, m consequence of the low prices, doing with less hired labor than formerly, more of the work being performed by themselves and their families. Sir Julius Yogel seems, on the whole, to have taken a very judicious view of the matter. It was a question, he remarked to the men, which he was sure their intelligence would show them was a difficult one to deal with. If the Government were to go m and offer to employ men who could not find employment elsewhere, they became a competitor with the labor market, and they would then altogether upset the business of the country. In fact, while he recognised that it was the duty of the Government, as far as possible, to see the people employed, it would be more m general measures than specific ones. He need not tell those who had been m large cities that there were at times periods of depression. Those gentlemen who had recently come out had come out to a city which at one time was exceedingly prosperous, and one which would be prosperous again. Its two chief products, wool and wheat, were very low m prices, and it had reduced the expenditure, resources, and enterprise of the people to a material extent. That the state of things would change he had not the slightest doubt, but, as it had been said, while the grass was growing the steed was starving. In reference to dealing with the present emergency he mentioned various local works whicl were to be gone on with, which he thought would be a means of giving employment. In a few months he hoped the East and West Coast Railway would become a reality, and then there would be woi'k for all. This statement, however, did not exactly satisfy the deputation, who pointed out that contractors would be likely to employ their own men, and that first-rate navvies had always been able to get work and good wages. They suggested that the Government should themselves cany on the works and let the unemployed work on them by piecework. This was a proposal to which Sir Julius did not like to commit himself m the absence of the Minister for Public Works, but he promised to see what would be done j& the matter. He also gave passes to the men who were anxious to try their luck m Wellington. In regard to the future he said " the Government were anxious to see the people of the country settled upon the lands, and his colleague, Mr Ballance, would be down here m a few days, and he (Sir Julius) believed he had m his mind to try to some extent the remedy which the Royal Commission suggested^ viz., the establishment of village settlenifents. He could not help thinking, as regarded the laborers having wives and families, taking the type of Mr Gibbs, who during a period of prosperity bad earned a

deal of money, that if tbey had been able to occupy near a town some three or- four acres of land, m difficult times it would have been a means, by cottage industry, of his family making money while he was away looking for work, and tbe Government thought that a great deal could be done to assist tbe labor classes m large towns iv that way. It was not well to remove the laboring classes from one town to anotbev and it would be well if anything could be done to, fix the people on the land — not only for . purposes of agriculture, for there again they would be out of their element — so that by laying off a small area by means of their wives and children, they would have a stand-by." Looking at the whole position it seems to us, m the firat place, that renewed care should be taken to warn people frbm coming to the colony unless they aye tolerably certain of finding an outlet for their energies. It would be m the highest degree impolitic for carpenters to come out to Chvistcburch at the present time, judging from the statements made by the deputation. Secondly, it is time tbe working classes should realise tbe fact that the labor market ia liable to fluctuations here as well as m older countries, and tbat it is their duty to provide for the " rainy day." Happily, m spite of all tbat is said as to the depression, we believe that they have better opportunities here of doing so than m any other country m the world. Our '•' unemployed " distress is a very trifling affair compared with tbe appalling misery witnessed at times m Great Britain, such as, for example iv tbe Tyne district lately, where a whole country-side has been brought to a pitch of absolute starvation and horrifying suffering. Tbe village settlement scheme may act perhaps as an incentive to thrift ; at any rate we shall be interested to see how it .works m practice. It must be evident, however, that the great point to be arrived at is the encouragement of thrift among the industrial classes. Sir Julius Yogel especially referred to the case of Mr Gibbs, and urged that if he had been enabled to invest his money m a village allotment m the days of his prosperity, he would not have had to apply to the Government when the dull times came. It seems to us that the same argument would hold good if Mr Gibbs had put his Bnrplus cash m the Savings Bank or m any other secure investment. We shall be glad, however, to see any scheme tried which has the object of improving the position of tbe working-classes, and we wish the village settlement scheme every success.

That well-known and Popular Front Bar of (he Ship Hotel is now Selling Marshall and Copeland's Ales at 3d per Glass and 9d per Quart. — [Advt.] An Unfoetcnatb Dog.— An itinerant dog came to grief yesterday on the wharf, the shunting engine running over and completely crushing one of its hind legs. Some good Samaritans were at hand, and soon put tho poor .brute out of its misery. Woodwabd's Japanese Tboope.— This troupe played for tho last time m tho Theatre Royal last night to a good house. All their feats were characterised by tbe same ncatnesß and cleverness as on the opening night, and the whole perforniance passed off very successfully. ' 'Blondin. — The Australian Blondin is announced to appear this evening on a vacant plot near the Lynwood Hotel. Blondin appeared here some months ago, and his performances were well patronised, and Bhould the weather prove favorable this evening there will no doubt be a largo attendance. Annivbbsaby Sbbvicbs.— The tea festival m connection with the Congregational Church, held last evening m the Assembly Rooms, was very successful, and the fair attendants at the several tables were kept very busy for more than an horn 1 ministering to tho wants of the visitors. After the tea an adjournment was made to the church, North street, where a very pleasant evening was spent. Resident Magistrates' Court, Temuka. — At this Court yesterday, before S. D. Barker and J. Talbot, Esqs., J.P's., Thomas Morrison admitted a charge of using insulting language m a public street with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, and was fined 10s. Judgment was given for plaintiff for amount claimed by default m the case W. Budd v. Thomas Housley, claim £4 16s. German Honors for Prince Albert Victor. — Prinoe Albert Victor has been created, by the Emperor Wilhelm, a Knight of the Order of the Prussian Black Eagle, which ranks with the Garter m England, the Golden Fleece m Spain, and the Order of St. Andrew m Russia. He was invested the other day at Sandringhaui, by Count Munster. The Ribbon of the Black Eagle is orange color. Weak Sight. — Tho last number of the Australasian Jfcdical Gazette contains a leading avticle on " Amblyopia Alcoholica," byß. Schwarzbach, M.D., L.F.P.S. Glasg., setting forth the connection of abuse m alcohol and weak sight. The author, who is at present on a professional visit to Timaru, has also examined the public schools m Christohurch to ascertain the percentage of short sight among school children. In his report to the Secretary of the Board of Education tho amount of short sight is stated to be 7 i m a hundred. In English schools it is 16 per cent, and m German schools 26 per cent. Boating- Club. — A Committee meeting of the Timaru Boating Club was held yesterday afternoon, Mr Geo. Wood (Captain) presiding. The Hon. Secretary (Mr Mackay) reported that Mr McKenzie had finished his contract for pulling down and re-erecting tho shed, and his account for £40 was accordingly passed' for payment. The Treasurer stated that but few subscriptions were now owing, and that he hoped by the end of this month to be able to report that all had been paid up. The member of tho Club who bad charge of the Waipa, the boat which unfortunately got smashed, had an interview with the Committee, and stated how the accident occurred on the 14th. After he retired, some discussion took place, it being ultimately resolved that the member pay half the cost of repairing the boat. 'Xho question of the Club being represented at the regatta to be held at Oamaru on May 24th, was then discussed, it being unanimously agreed that the Club should take part m the regatta and that tho following members go into training as soon as possible, viz : Messrs Geo. Bhirtcliffe, Jos. Cameron, A. Mackay, and Frank Cameron ; emergency — Mr A. L. Haylock. Tho race they will row m is the inriggod fouroar race. Some small accounts were then passed for payment ; some details, connected with tho fitting up of the shed were left to tbe Captain and Hon. Secretary, and a vote of thanks being passed to the Chairman, the meoting terminated. "Gobdon's Way." — Sir E. W. Cumming, who is ndw iv Auckland, and who accompanied Gordon up the Nile as far as the second cataract, has been interviewed by a Neio Zealand Herald reporter. He states that on the voyage up the Nile, General Gordon was gloomy and silent, as if he had a presentiment of his fate. He never came to the table, nor spoke to the company. Occasionally he would address a few words, m whispers, to Colonel Stewart. The mental strain occasioned by the responsibilities of his mission appeared to affect his mind, and gave one an impression of fanaticism. He kept the seclusion of his cabin, and occasionally would peer out of the- door with a. suspicious and exoited look. Ocoasionally he would come out about 11 o'clock lat night, sit silently smoking a cigar, then get up with a simple " Good night," and return to his cabin again. Some of the i company ventured to auk Colonel Stewart

vhy General Gordon acted m that way. Jtewart simply shrugged his shoulders and laid — " It is Gordon's way, he is peculiar, but [ like him." Sir K. W. Cumming says Stewart was a quiet gentlemanly fellow, who "rom his amiability was loved by all. He iras wholly devoted to Gordon, and the affec;ion was mutual, as Stewart was the only [win of whom he made a confidant. Both alficers were extremely reticent as to the future and their plans. General Gordon, however, seemed to think his personal influence would carry everything, and conquer every difficulty. It was strange to see him clad m poor apparel— the humblest-looking of the company — and the officers cdmingand' gome, bowing before him, clad m moat gorgeous uniforms. Threatened Visit of the Claimant to Australia. - The Tiohborno claimant (says the London correspondent of the Dunedin Star) is trying to persuade the Government to let him visit America. If he succeeds h« will, it is said, continue his tour to Australia (via San Francißcoand Auckland), with a view to investigating the now evidenco said to have been discovered m his favor m Sydney. A Wise "Deacon. — " Deacon Wilder, I want you to tell me how you kept yourself nnd family so well the past season, when all the rest of us have been sick so much, and have had the doctors running to us so often." " Brother Taylor, the answer is very easy. I used Hop Bitters m time, and kept my family well, and saved largo doctor's bills. Four shillings' worth of it kept us all well and able to work all the time, and I will warrant it has cost you and most of the neighbors £10 to£!00 apiece to keep sick the same time. I fancy you'll take my medicine hereafter." See [Advt.] We believe that if every one would use American Co.'s Hop Bitters freely there would be much less sickness and misery m the world, and people are fast finding this out, whole families keeping well at a trifling cost by; its use. We advise you to try it. Read '[Advt.] SYNOPSIS OK NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Maclean and Stewart— Want to purchase a saddle hack. Jonas and Bourn— Sell horses, drays, etc., on Saturday ; invite offers for leasing White Rock Farm. E. R. Guinness — Will sell sheep and cattle tomorrow. N.M. and A. Company— Want to hire a grass paddock. Alex»nder, Australian Blondin— Will perform tonight. S. Manning and Co.— Have first-class hotel property to let. j T. B. Craig— Business notice. James Granger— Has a quarter-acre section for aale. Canterbury Farmers' Association — Are booking orders for Newcastle coal. Wanted -One notice.