ANOTHER LETTER PROM AMERICA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5988, 25 July 1887, Page 2

ANOTHER LETTER PROM AMERICA.

♦ Experiences of a New Zealand Workman. Subjoined are extracts from a letter received from San Francisco by Mr J. A, Berg, coachbuilder, Ashburton. The writer is Mr F. Spate. Mr Berg remarks that the letter is a pretty good answer to the absurd claim of the Freetraders, that Protection has the effect of lowering wages. JIB SPATE BAYS : — I left the Colony a week after I wrote to you from Christchurch. I went to the goldfields, via Melbourne, to Cambridge Gulf; but as the gold diggings had been turning out a failure, and my money ran short, I returned to Cooktown, via Townsville, Rockhampton, Maryborough, thence to Brisbane, Queensland. There I accumulated as much as I needed during the winter, and in the spring I made up my mind to go to the United States. I took my departure on Sept. 1, and arrived in Sydney from which city I left on the 9fch of the same month by the Alameda for San. Francisco, via Auckland, and arrived on Oct. 31. The first day I arrived I got work at four dollars per day, but subsequently I took enother engagement as foreman in the. ' M'Ene Carriage Company's works at six dollars per day. I have great responsibility, but am paid accordingly. In general THE WAGES HEBE are as high as in any place in the Colonies, but foremen are paid according to their capability. I can assure you I have made a lot of money the last six months, and have spent some of the happiest days of my life here. NEW ZEALAND DROVE ME OUT of the country, as I was not able to make a living there. I lost everything I had, which was a sad case. I therefore looked for new pastures, and have found them in the United States. I have here every comfort my heart can wish for, and live in first* class style. I don't do much, work, but have more mental responsibility. I now close with best regards, &c. Political.— Sir Julius Yogel has received a requisition- from Rangiora, asking him to deliver an address in that town. At present Sir Julius does not see hia way to fixing any time for complying with the request. The Mammoth Minstrels. —This re« markably clever troupe of variety artists had a very large audience on Saturday night, when the applause and laughter abundantly showed how much the several parts of the programme were appreciated. Now that the weather iB likely to be a little more settled than it has been, the management may fairly anticipate a larger attendance of that portion of the public that patronises the dress circle, and this all the more as the " business " of the Company, while exceedingly laughable, is free from objectionable vulgarity. Oa Saturday, before the close of the perform, ance, Mr Harold Ashton came forward, and, after thanking the public for their liberal patronage, took the opportunity of announcing that the season could not exceed twelve nights, and that there would be an entire change of programmes tomorrow night, and another on Friday next