The Unemployed "Works at the Waiau.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5165, 21 November 1884, Page 3

The Unemployed "Works at the Waiau.

We have received the following letter .- — "Sir, — The experiences of Mr Arthur Lark among the unemployed here, and on his journey up, of which an account appeared in your issue of Nov. 5 and 6, were read, of course, with great interest here, and the general opinion seems to be that, so far as his experience went, he described things fairly and impartially as they really are. Many of his statements I fully endorse — with regard to the uniform assiduity, and courtesy of Messrs Fox and Wilson, the engineer and overseer, and other matters. However, his visit here was not made at the start, nor was it continued beyond lant pay-day, so that he escaped the whole cf the bad weather. He also seems to hav -i been lucky in getting a lift in a waggor. from the Waiau ; we had to walk, and, not< having the requisite 'Colonial Robert' to sport, we had also to ' hump our drums.' When we arrived we were thoroughly soaked through, swag and all, and found no bread or meat were to be got, as the butcher and baker had not arrived. They came at last, in the middle of a snowstorm ; then a rush for tucker. We managed, with great difficulty, to boil the billy, and got a cup of tea, after which we did not shiver quite so much. We then turned in, having fortunately met with three kind Samaritans, who gave us a share of their tent, and got through the night somehow. In the morning we were rather Burpiised to find that we had about two feet of snow to remove from the tent door before we could get out. Well, it snowed and rained for close on a week, and it -was Friday before we could do anything. We made three-quarters of a day that day, and half a day Saturday. On Monday we had fine weather, and, thinking we should have a Ling spell of it, we started with considerably better spirit. But, alas ! for us, it was hardly a fortnight before it commenced again, and continued for eight days. We have only been able to make four days and a-half since Monday week last, Nov. 3, till to-day, Nov. 14, and some gangs have done less still, as onr " claim " was rock, and could be worked between the showers, while soil or clay could not. With regard to the wages to be . made, if we believe what we hear some have made as high as ten shillings per day, and others have hardly ■ made tucker. Whether true or no, I believe it is possible for strong able men, who 4 are also trained navvies, to make vary good ' wages. There is one gang not far from us j who are an instance, and they work hard and long — to-day they were at it close on 12 hours. Now ordinary men, although healthy and willing to work, cannot stand this. We ourselves, although all young and used to work, are satisfied with nine hours, and would also be content with seven ; shillings per day, which is not too much if we consider the price of provisions here and the sort of life we have to lead ; and I think it will take us all our time to make it, even with fine weather. I think it shows a great want of management on the part of the powers that be to leave over one hundred men, shortly to be increased to nearly double that number, at the mercy of one butcher aud one storekeeper, who bring what they like and charge what they please, a id who, if it so pleased them, might neglect to come when expected, or might be prevented by stress of weather, rising of the rivers, or other accidents. This has happened once or twice, and we have had something approaching to a famine, some having mutri n but no bread or flour, and others ' il»u r but no , mutton, while some lived on 'bur«r«o,' tl-c storekeeper luckily not boiny quit-.' out. of .that articli 1 . In concluding. 1 may ay that a good spirit seems t> aHiuatv ':;•_• meu who remained here after the ii:;'t exodus, and even in the middlf of th«* l>ad weather there is not nearly co much growling as you would expect. Even those gangs who made next to nothing by the first pay day, are still wiring in hoping to do better next time, and they aro encouraged in doing so by the engineer, who, as well as Mr Wilson, seem to do their very best to give every man a fair show as far as his ability and industry will carry him. — I am, &c, " H.R., Gang No. 3."