THE CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3571, 11 March 1886, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH UNEMPLOYED.

(By Telegraph.) Chbistchtjbch, March 10. The Mayor received the following telegram this morning, signed J. B. Russell, from Napier :—r" Labor here very dear and scarce, send hundred." Ho attempted to read it to the gathering of tho unemployed m Cathedral Square, but Biltcliff, the principal agitator, refused permission till he himself had finished speaking. Several men, however, interposed, asking the Mayor to read it, which he did. He has telegraphed to tho Mayor of Napier for a comfirmation of statements. Government have arranged to send the single men to tho Hokitika-Ureymouth Railway to-day. Napibb, March 10. The Mayor of Napior received a telegram to-dny from the Mayor of Christchurch saying ho had received a telegram from Mr J. D. Russell stnting that labor was scarco and dear at Hastings, and requesting 100 men to be sent without delay. The Mayor of Christchurch wished to know whether the information was reliable. The Mayor of Napier replied that what Mr Russell referred to was connected with a drainage contract at Hastings. Thero were plenty of unemployed m the district willing to work for wages, and he requested that no men be sent on any account. Chbistchubch, March 10 (Later). In reference to tho unemployed difficulty the Mayor of Christchurch has received the following telegram m reply from the Mayor of Napier : — " Russell is agent for Scott, contractor for drainage at Hastings. Dodge to obtain cheap labor. Good men here out of work, if contractor could pay ordinary wages, say 7s. Do not send men on any account." '